​This is quite an interesting article on how healthy soil contributes to the overall health of the planet – and how mankind is generally not implementing land management practices that maintain or restore healthy soil.  Many farmers and ranchers are beginning to integrate regenerative farming and ranching practices, but many more are not.  Even if you don’t have a farm, ranch, or large plot of land, there are things you can do to help maintain soil health in your little corner of the world. 

• If you have a yard or a small plot of land, you can work to make your soil healthier.  Check out regenerative farming techniques and learn about native plants.  Use the least toxic pest management methods and use them as seldom as possible.  Encourage native insects, birds, animals, and reptiles, and do your research before you bring in a “beneficial” species that may actually do more harm than good.  Control non-native invasive species so they don’t crowd out the natives.
• Be aware of what you pour down the drains in your house or workplace.  Some of these chemicals will make it into the environment where they can cause mischief. 
• Pick up litter.  It’s never beneficial. 
• If you don’t own or manage land, consider joining a habitat restoration organization or similar group.
• Cut your carbon and methane emissions to help slow associated climate changes that also degrade soil health.

https://earth.org/soil-restoration-is-the-fastest-way-to-cool-the-planet/
 

​When you’re looking for information on sustainable practices (or anything else) it’s important to look for reputable sources of information but it’s also important to ask lots of questions.  I was recently looking for information on an ecologically sound way to get rid of a serious flea beetle infestation that was killing my evening primrose flowers but nothing else in my yard.  The evening primrose flowers support a wide variety of night-feeding moths and other interesting insects that I want to keep around.  I started by looking for natural ways to get rid of pests and got several listings of ideas that included neem oil, soapy water, and nematodes.  However, then I asked a second question.  Will these natural methods also harm the insects I am trying to support?  Well, yes.  Neem oil will kill a wide variety of insects, not just flea beetles.   Soapy water will also kill a wide variety of insects, including the ladybugs that were eating the spider mites that were also attacking the primroses.  And the soap residue on the plant leaves will keep indiscriminately killing insects until it’s washed off.  Nematodes are also non-selective, and some varieties can migrate fairly long distances through the ground to places you don’t want them.  So, on to more questions.  How can I selectively kill the flea beetles and nothing else?  Oh, and also slow down the spider mites so they don’t get out of hand.  Don’t laugh, but I finally ended up listening to a great audiobook and picking the flea beetle caterpillars off by hand so they couldn’t hatch into adults that would lay more eggs.  I also used the hose to blast adult beetles off the plants.  As of this writing, there do not appear to be flea beetles on my well-munched primrose plants and they did bloom enough to feed the night insects and produce seeds for next year’s crop (they’re a biannual plant).  Fingers crossed for next spring.  If I had not continued to ask questions, I would have eliminated the flea beetles, but also all of the beneficial insects I want to keep.  

​Many of us work at making sure empty bottles, cans, and paper get into the recycling bin.   However, putting things into the recycling bin is only the first step in recycling.  The recycled materials need a market.  Many factors are included in the marketing side of recycling, including how pure (meaning uncontaminated by other materials) the reclaimed materials are and how the materials can be used.   However, if no one buys items made from recycled materials, the entire system falls apart.  When you are shopping, compare items to see if some are made from recycled materials.  Post-consumer recycled materials include items put into recycling bins by people like us.  However, materials recycled as part of a manufacturing process are important, too, so that these materials are not wasted at the factory.  Once you start checking labels, you will see that many things can be made from recycled materials, including packaging, paper products, and some kinds of plastic items.  Aluminum in particular is valuable as a reclaimed material and has a ready market.    

Buying clothing that uses high quality fabric and construction is important to sustainability, as is careful laundering to increase the useful lifetime of the clothing.  However, the type of fabric is also important for sustainability.  Some fabrics easily shed synthetic fibers that can get into water, soil, and the creatures that share our planet.  Other fabrics, such as many acrylics, do not hold up to wear and laundering.  As the attached article discusses, the origin of the materials in the fabric is also important, because some textile materials have a significantly smaller impact on the environment. 
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https://theorganizedeclectic.wordpress.com/2025/06/20/fabric-matters-the-truth-about-what-we-wear/

This article on reducing food waste includes a table that gives you definitions of the various kinds of dates on food packaging so you can decide when food is truly past its “eat by” date and when it is still good to eat.  While food safety comes always first, a lot of perfectly good food is thrown away because consumers are confused by the dates on the packages.  In addition to tips for individual households, the article discusses things that businesses and larger organizations can do to reduce food waste.  As the article states, reducing food waste can make a big difference in your sustainability footprint. 
https://earth.org/solutions-for-food-waste/

When you’re making choices about how to live more sustainably, remember that your safety is more important.  Don’t put yourself in a dangerous position just to make a tiny difference in sustainability.  Think about what could go wrong, and check at least one other reputable source when you’re looking at tips and hacks online.  Here are a few thoughts to get you started. 

• If the stairs are in a place that is unsafe, take the elevator if there is one and it appears to be the safer option. 
• Don’t use essential oils in the dryer and be careful not to use the dryer for rags that were oil-soaked before they were washed.  There is a potential for fire. 
• Never vent the exhaust air from a gas-powered clothes dryer into the house. 
• If you bicycle or walk to work or school, choose a route that is safe (traffic or otherwise) or pick another option such as a bus or car. 
• Don’t drive below the speed limit or slower than the flow of traffic.  Yes, you use less gas when you drive slower, but it’s dangerous for you and the other drivers around you when you impede the flow of traffic. 
• Check gently used items before you use them to make sure they’re safe.  Look for things like frayed electrical wires, missing safety guards, broken latches, or unguarded pinch points.  Safety standards have changed significantly for baby and child items, so make sure these used items meet safety requirements.  

I really like this article on xeriscape.  As the article states, many people think of xeriscape as a barren field of rocks; however, the barren field of rocks is actually zeroscape.  I have never liked the idea of zeroscape for all the reasons stated in the article (bad for the environment, creates heat islands, and is generally ugly) but am very much in favor of xeriscape.  Xeriscape uses native plants and careful watering strategies to create areas that support the environment, use much less water, and generally are much prettier.  I am currently planning a project to turn another area of lawn into a xeriscape area.  So, if you are considering xeriscape to reduce outdoor water use, think about the difference between xeriscape and zeroscape.  Xeriscape takes more planning and care, but is worth it. 
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https://landscapeunite.com/zeroscape-vs-xeriscape/

According to the attached article, Americans use about 13 billion pounds of paper towels each year.  Add in the use of toilet tissue, facial tissue, and paper napkins, and you’re looking at a huge volume of single-use paper products in landfills and sewage treatment plants.  In addition to the impacts of paper disposal in landfills (including producing methane as the paper decomposes), large areas of virgin forest in Canada are harvested each year to produce these throw-away items.  The article has a link to information on which products are most sustainable (based on use of water for processing, chemicals, and effect on forests).  The best thing is to reduce your use of these items.  When you do use them, look for brands made with recycled paper and use the smallest amount needed for that job.  It may take some experimenting to find the brands that work for you. 
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https://earth911.com/home-garden/paper-towels-tissues-and-napkins-americas-13-billion-pound-waste-habit/

One good way to reduce food waste is to learn proper storage methods for each item to preserve the quality and flavor as long as possible.  This article provides a lot of information on produce items that should not be stored together, as some types may have a negative effect on the quality of the others.  Those who are cooking aficionados may disagree with the statement that most fruits and vegetables should be stored in the refrigerator, and you are welcome to disregard those instructions.  As an example, tomatoes retain better flavor if never refrigerated; however, if you are more concerned with how long they keep, you may choose to store them in the refrigerator anyway. 
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https://cookthismuch.com/blog/dont-store-these-foods-together-a-complete-guide-to-keeping-your-groceries-fresh

Almost everyone can find ways to reduce the waste they generate at home and combine that with finding better ways to manage the waste they do generate.  Proper waste disposal protects the planet in many ways, reducing pollution and allowing reuse of the raw materials.  The article discusses several aspects of managing waste in the home, including reducing the generation of waste, reusing items, recycling, and disposing of hazardous waste. 
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https://www.wikihow.com/Manage-Your-Home-Waste