“The most important thing an individual can do is be less of an individual.” -Bill McKibben, on what individuals can do to help the environment.
At Green Life, we do the heavy lifting of researching and sourcing eco-friendly products so you don’t have to take on that work as one person. But beyond refilling, being a part of a connected community that shares your values is important, for your own wellbeing and for the resilience of your community. Something as small as eating meals with other people strengthens health, wellbeing, social connection, and even economic prosperity. So how do you reap all of these benefits? Here are some ideas we love for bringing people together, helping the environment, and just having a good time!
Host a swap
Host a clothing / book / tool / toy swap. Many of my favorite clothes and books have come from swaps, and I love thinking about my friends and family whenever I wear their old clothes or read their old books. For a successful clothing swap, set up a mirror in your living room and designate another space for a changing room. And everyone always appreciates a snack! These gatherings can be as big or as small as you like.
Host a community meal
Simply invite people over for dinner, or with a little more planning you can organize a low-waste or plant-based potluck. If you’re not using your own space, you can invite guests to bring their own utensils, and make sure a dishwashing station is available. We have lots of great products to help you eat on-the-go, minus the waste. I love using this cute little portable spork, “Paperless towels” rather than disposable napkins, and a stoneware container or beeswax wrap to take home leftovers.
A meal prep swap is also fun - everyone in the group makes a dish and portions it out to swap with others - so rather than eating your own leftovers over and over, you have a range of pre-prepared food to enjoy.
Repair your broken items or fix them for others
Have you heard of a repair cafe? These are community events where volunteers fix broken items for free. Check the Zero Waste Madison calendar for upcoming repair fairs locally, or if you’re not in Madison, you can check with iFixit to find repair events near you as well as guides for fixing your own items.
Share wisdom
Teach and learn skills like canning, mending, etc. My friends and I have planned craft nights where we rotate teaching the others something we’re good at - like crocheting, sewing, etc. I’ve also loved jewelry-making lessons with my grandma.
Or, you could host a nonprofit or business to speak or do an activity for a group you’re a part of. For example, the local Climate Changemakers group does traveling “Hours of Action” where everyone learns about a climate policy issue and takes action on it, all within the hour.
If you’d like a Green Life representative to speak on zero waste topics at your business, school, or community event, email outreach@greenlifetradingco.com to set something up.
Host a scrappy craft night
Do you have stashes accumulating - paper bags, jars, scrap paper, etc. - that just aren’t getting used? Invite some friends over to do something with it! Personally, I love the idea of turning brown paper bags into decorative garlands - just cut out and paint fun shapes like stars, flowers, or seasonal leaves for fall, and then string them on some twine.
Volunteer for a nonprofit
You don’t have to start from scratch. There are over 3,000 nonprofits in Dane County, many working at the intersection of environment and community support. They’re always looking for volunteers! Zero Waste Madison is a great place to start if you’d like to get involved in community waste-reduction efforts. A great time to join in is a potluck happening on October 12 - find more details on the ZWM Events Calendar here. Hope to see you there!
This is just a small list to get the juices flowing - we would love to know your favorite beginner-friendly activities that bring people together and help the planet. Drop a comment below!
