helpforhumanity

[helpforhumanity]

chapters 7 & 8

It resonated with me when Cait talks about how skilled her parents are, how she didn’t really bother to learn anything from them because I’m the same way with my parents. Mostly my mom, though. She’s really good at sewing and mending things, I always bring her clothing that has holes to fix. She even had her own Etsy for a while, selling handmade kitchen sets (mittens, aprons, etc).

I guess I was just lazy growing up? I had a pretty comfortable life and my parents weren’t incredibly strict about making sure I stayed productive. I was always under the assumption that since my parents knew how to do everything, I didn’t need to learn how to do those things. Or, I thought that whatever they already knew (or didn’t know) how to do, I would learn to do those things in school. Spoiler alert, I didn’t. Consumer ED was helpful AT THE TIME, but I didn’t retain any of that beyond highschool. Balance check book?? I couldn’t fill one out right now if you asked me. But in 2016, I probably could. Miss 2016...

In this time, convenience is so easily accessible to those of us living in the U.S and are fairly well off. This is amplified with the help of technology. With our smart phones, EVERYTHING is at the tip of our fingers at all times. So, why would we bother doing something ourselves or going somewhere ourselves or learning something ourselves when there will always be an easier option? Why do we always opt for the easy way?

It doesn’t particularly feel good not knowing how to do much. I’ve got the basics down, like knowing how to cook for myself, knowing how to put oil in my car, knowing how to make one kind of friendship bracelet. I want to learn new skills, I want to be more sustainable and buy less and it would feel good to be capable of building, fixing, mending, restoring things. It would probably give me a new sense of independence, something I don’t think I’ve ever really had whether I wanted it or not.

[helpforhumanity]

If you're lucky enough to have your own backyard, build a mf garden in that b*tch. I asked my mom what she needed to make this happen, and she told me "dirt and seeds". Well, and wood obviously. I'm sure there are lots of ways to build your own backyard garden.

Here's a link I found for how to do this:

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-build-raised-garden-beds/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90b41bb0da

Home-grown food almost ALWAYS tastes better than the sh*t you buy at the store. Seriously. Had some home-grown raspberries once and they blew my mind. I imagine it's because no one is spraying god knows what over them, disinfectants or pest repellant idk.. Growing your own food is not only saving you money and trips to the grocery store, but it ensures you know exactly what you are putting in your bosy and you can feel good about it.

#homegrown #sustainability #sustainability2020 #garden #gardenbox #organic #DIY

[helpforhumanity]

One of my favorite life hacks right here . Saving napkins / sauces / utensils from fast food bags. Most of the time I dont even use any napkins (cuz Im rlly good at inhaling food) so keeping them is really helpful for when I make a mess in my car or something. Just in case yknow.

#sustainability2020 #ecofriendly #life hacks #daily tip

[helpforhumanity]

AC tips y'all! Having an AC is awesome. But paying for one sucks, and it uses a ton of energy. There are times you can turn it off, such as in the evening when the sun sets and the temperature usually drops a little. Or if you need the breeze, turn on just the fan and not COOL.

[helpforhumanity]

Tip for today is to unplug! Anytime you leave your house, unplug things like chargers, lights, and anything else you can that doesn't absolutely need to be plugged in at all times. Be mindful about your energy use! Energy can still be used even if you're not charging your phone.

#unplug #energy #mindful #environment #eco friendly #electricity tips

[helpforhumanity]

[helpforhumanity]

Ding ding ding

[helpforhumanity]

[helpforhumanity]

The High Five ♻️

5 HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT items to swap out for the new year 

1.     Reusable Mug / Water Bottle

2.     Reusable Cutlery

3.     Reusable Shopping Bag and Produce Bags

4.     Reusable Napkin and handkerchief

5.     Reusable Take Home Container or Jar

Swap out…

Plastic Disposable Water Bottles for a Reusable Mug / Water Bottle

·      Check the thrift shop first instead of buying new, they always have lots

Disposable Cutlery (Fork. Knife, Spoon, Chop Sticks) for Reusable Cutlery

·      Try to check the thrift shop first for a set of steel cutlery before buying a new set

Plastic, Single-Use Grocery Bags and Produce Bags vs Reusable Bag/Tote and Produce Bags

·      Tip: most produce doesn’t even need to go in a bag. Keep it loose in your tote or opt for cloth or mesh produce bags

·      Only have a few items, just carry them in your hands!

Paper Napkins and Kleenex vs Reusable Napkin and Handkerchief

·      I always keep 2-3 in my bag in case a friend needs one, I spill something, etc. They really come in handy!

Reusable Take Home Container or Jar

·      I always keep a small mason jar stuffed with two napkins in my bag. It has saved me from using disposables so many times when taking home leftovers or little treats from work. Or if I wanted to make an unplanned stop for something small at the bulk store

·      If you know you’re going out for dinner and will probably have leftovers, slip a container into your bag instead of using a take home box (especially when they’re styrofoam)

BONUS: If you’re into using straws (not everyone is) carry a stainless steel or bamboo straw

HOORAY FOR ZERO WASTE 2019!! WE CAN DO IT!! 🌎♻️✌

[helpforhumanity]

This tip works best for people who live in small 1 bedroom or studio apartments. After you bake something, turn your oven off and leave the door open to warm up your place a bit. It conserves energy!

#hometips #ecofriendly #conserve energy #life hacks

[helpforhumanity]

Tip Of the Day. Save water!! Turn off your faucet when you're brushing your teeth. Or when hand washing dishes! Time your showers! These are some small ways you can cut down on water use in your home and save money.

[helpforhumanity]

Oops I never made an introduction post. Hi, my name is Sophie, and this blog is for my humanities course this summer. I'll be trying to post every day about one thing I've done each day that is environmentally conscious/friendly and that saves you money at the same time. But like everything you read on the internet, you can decide for yourself if this stuff is really helpful or not. Like for example, today I used a little bit of a singular makeup wipe to take care of my day old face and rather than throwing it away, I stuffed it back into the packaging to use again another time (later today probably). Believe me, I am not endorsing the re-usage of makeup wipes as that probably is not super hygenic or safe, but I mean do it at your own risk. It saves wipes (reducing waste) and saves you trips to the store.

#environment #tips #ecofriendly #reducewaste

[helpforhumanity]

Tip #13

When grocery shopping, avoid plastic wrapping and look for paper instead. When buying produce, bring your own bags, instead of using the plastic ones!