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Preparing for Plastic Free July 2026
Plastic Free July 2026 is only a few weeks away! It’s a great time to start thinking about not only how you want to participate this year but also about the plastic that keeps sneaking back into our lives. What is Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July is a global environmental campaign that encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics during the month of July and beyond. It began in 2011 in Western Australia and has since grown into one of the world’s largest plastic waste reduction movements, inspiring millions of participants across nearly 190 countries. Plastic Free July is a chance for people to learn practical ideas…
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No Spend June: Spending less, living more
Between birthdays, Mother’s Day, and a nearly completed kitchen renovation, it feels like the past few months have involved a lot of purchases. With summer vacations just around the corner, June feels like the perfect time for a reset and that’s what drew me to the idea of doing a No Spend month this June. Despite the name, a no-spend challenge isn’t about deprivation or avoiding every purchase. Instead, it’s an opportunity to become more intentional about spending and take a closer look at the habits that often happen on autopilot. A coffee on the go, a sale that’s too good to pass up, or another item that promises to…
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What are the Environmental Impacts of Large Scale Sporting Events like the FIFA World Cup?
I’m a fan of a number of sports, but none of the others hold a candle to soccer for me. Soccer has been number one since I was a kid. The fact that the men’s FIFA World Cup is coming to town is a big deal and an event I never thought I’d see locally. With the event coming to town and all the preparations, it’s a reminder of the environmental impact of large scale sporting events. The FIFA World Cup is coming to town The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest tournament in FIFA history. The number of teams participating has increased to 48 and…
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Borrow, swap, rent: 10 things you probably don’t need to own
These days, buying something is almost too easy. Need a thing? A few taps, one quick checkout, and it’s on your doorstep tomorrow. But a lot of what we buy only gets used once in a while — and could just as easily be borrowed, shared, swapped, repaired, or rented instead. Finding alternatives to buying new isn’t about deprivation. It’s about saving money, reducing waste, and making better use of the things already around us. In many cases, it can also create more connection with neighbors, friends, and community. Here are some everyday things we often rush to buy — even though there are simpler and more sustainable ways to…
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7 Sustainable Thoughts to Take with you into Summer
Warm weather and approaching summer months has me in a thoughtful mood. I’m thinking of all the opportunities that the summer months provide that we don’t get all year round–at least not on our rainy west coast. So here are some sustainable thoughts that we can take with us into those sunny summer months. Sustainable Thoughts for Summer Summer months provide some unique opportunities for sustainable living. Here are some sustainable thoughts to ponder as the warmer months approach. 1. It’s garage sale season I’m always excited for garage sale season. As a kid I would spend summer weekends heading out to find treasures with my grandma, so garage sales…
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7 Eco-friendly beach essentials for sustainable summer days
Beach days are one of those outings where it’s easy to make choices we might not normally think twice about—grabbing bottled drinks, individually packaged snacks, disposable cutlery, plastic toys, or other single-use convenience items simply because they feel easier in the moment. With summer approaching and vacation planning underway, I’ve been thinking more about the kinds of beach items that I want on hand for this year—simple, thoughtful essentials that help make beach days easier, more practical, and less wasteful. If you’re also looking to build a more sustainable summer routine, here are some plastic-free beach essentials to consider! 1. Reusable water bottles A beach day without enough water is…
