8 Great Sustainability Tips

You can help preserve our county’s natural beauty and the Earth’s resources by incorporating sustainable habits into your daily routine. There are countless ways to be kind to our environment (and your pocketbook). Here are some ideas to get you started.

1 Ban Single-Use Items: Have a reusable on-the-go kit filled with essentials like a metal straw, metal utensils and a reusable water bottle. Bring along a favorite coffee cup from home, too.

2 Encourage Pollinators: Plant native plants, wildflowers and flowing trees and shrubs. Because pollinators are active in different seasons, pick plants that flower from early spring to late fall.

3 Invest in Canning Jars: They’re good for so much more than canning (though that’s a good use, too). Use jars for storing bulk-buy items, spices, leftovers and freezing homemade soups and stock for later use (remember to leave some head space or the jar will crack).

4 Ditch Dryer Sheets: Use wool dryer balls. They’re natural, nontoxic, hypoallergenic, energy-saving and sustainably made. You’ll be helping sheep ranchers with a market for their wool, and you’re not throwing away a dryer sheet after each load. What’s more, the Environmental Working Group recommends skipping fabric softeners in general, as they may contain unhealthy chemicals and compounds. Dryer balls are available at The Refill Shoppe in Ventura (TheRefillShoppe.com).

5 Ditch Paper: Use cloth towels and napkins instead of their paper counterparts. Even better, use organic cotton products. If you opt for recycled-content paper products, remember to keep up the good work: In 2015, 66% of paper and paperboard was recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

6 Ditch Plastic Wrap: Wrap foods in parchment paper, waxed paper made with soybean wax or beeswax-coated material. Bee Kitchen Wrap (BeeKitchenWrap.com) is a Ventura-based business that makes beeswax food wraps.

7 Swap: Participate in a local harvest swap with friends and neighbors. Have too much produce to use before it goes bad? Swap with someone for their homemade jam. You’re not only reducing food waste, you’re creating connections. Also, check out Fallen Fruit (FallenFruit.org) for an Ojai foraging map.

8 You Know These, But They’re Still Worth Mentioning: Buy produce in season; plant a garden; compost; buy only what you can eat; catch rain; shop at resale shops; and reduce, reuse and recycle.

—Amanda Galvez and Edible Staff