It was there he lost weight and developed a prison-style fitness method, but with a specific focus: he wanted to start a business that would employ only formerly incarcerated people. His mission to provide wraparound services to people reintegrating into society is exactly what people need, he says, instead of “pushing them to the edge and having them commit another crime to survive.” 

Marte’s focus is one of the multifaceted goals of harm reduction—a practice aimed at minimizing the negative health, social, and legal impacts associated with drug use. Examples include creating safe spaces for drug users, clean needle and syringe programs to reduce the spread of illness, sealing criminal records to make employment easier, and housing initiatives that aren’t contingent on sobriety.

Experts in harm reduction envision a future where cutting-edge strategies transform a system that also disproportionately targets Black Americans. 

“Although African Americans make up only 12.5% of illicit drug users, 33% of drug incarcerations are Black. This leads to major roadblocks in treatments for substance abuse among the population, as there is a fear in self-reporting,” American Addiction Centers reports. 

Here’s how advocates are working to change that.

The cost of criminalized marijuana

Fewer than half of U.S. states have legalized marijuana. To reduce disproportionate rates of incarceration, harm reduction advocates say the drug should be legalized across the country. Marte also believes communities that have been most affected by drug policies should have an opportunity to be legal distributors. 

It’s extremely unfair for a wealthy white man to be today’s legal marijuana dealer and minorities be left out most of the time out of the business. — Coss Marte

With legalization also comes greater oversight and safety, points out Tracie Gardner, senior vice president of policy advocacy at the Legal Action Center, who also works with the Black Harm Reduction Network. 

Gardner spoke recently at a virtual summit on harm reduction that brought together advocates and leaders seeking to change the current system. There’s a high cost to criminalizing someone for simple drug possession, Diane Goldstein, a retired police officer and executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, explained during the summit.

“In California, we spend over $100,000 per year sending an offender to state prison. That’s $100,000. That’s a University of Southern California education with books, housing and meals, and plenty of money left for a kid to spend,” she said. “So do we want to invest in systems upfront or on the tail end right now?” She is pushing for proactive, rather than reactive science-backed solutions that “save people’s lives and protect their rights.”

A bridge to services

Some of the science-backed solutions Gardner is talking about remain controversial. Gardner says the first legal syringe exchange program in New York reduced HIV transmission rates and became a bridge to treatment for some users. 

“It engaged people in a way that said ‘we value your life. You can recover from addiction,’” Gardner said. 

Still, many clean syringe opponents believe programs offering syringes promote drug use, furthering the problem.

A report by the Association of American Medical Colleges on the first U.S. government-funded clean syringe programs—including controversial supervised drug-use sites in New York—showed that offering supports like overdose-reversing medication and street-based health care has a positive impact. Research has shown a decrease in diseases transmitted by sharing needles, more people seeking treatment, and no increases in crime in nearby areas.

Multiple speakers at the Harm Reduction Summit also pointed out the reduced healthcare costs that would come with fewer drug users contracting HIV from shared needles, as they are sometimes not insured.

Rethinking the role of life-saving drugs 

Buprenorphine is a drug that doctors can prescribe to help treat opioid use disorder, and is typically recommended as part of a recovery treatment plan, alongside therapy and other resources. David Poses, who wrote about his lifelong struggles with drug addiction in a recent essay in The Philadelphia Inquirer, said that Buprenorphine saved his life. Poses points out that changes in France allowing all physicians to prescribe the medication resulted in a 79% drop in heroin overdose fatalities in four years.

Gardner says that on-demand treatment that includes the availability of this potentially life-saving drug is essential for true harm reduction. Yet, only around 1 in 3 rehab facilities offer the drug. This has to change.

In addition, Gardner says that everywhere there is a defibrillator there should also be overdose medication, as increased access would save lives. Only one Naloxone prescription is dispensed for every 70 high-dose opioid prescriptions nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports: “The overdose-reversing drug naloxone saves lives – but only if it’s readily available when an overdose occurs.”

Gardner is also involved in advocating for drug users who aren’t getting the help they need in emergency room settings, a “discriminatory response.” She says they are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act in health care settings. 

“If that’s the case, why are people who go to emergency rooms in withdrawal treated so poorly when they are displaying the symptoms of their health issue in a health[care] setting?” The LAC’s report calls out these legal violations.

Supporting re-entry back into society

The most dangerous time for a formerly incarcerated person to overdose is just after reentering society, because as Gardner explains, their tolerance could have decreased during a short jail stay, but they may think they can still handle a higher quantity of drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 65% of the U.S. prison population has an active substance abuse disorder, making the Medicaid Reentry Program, which covers some services for 30 days leading up to release, all the more important. 

[The time when formerly incarcerated folks are returning to society] is such a vulnerable period as they transition. — Tracie Gardner

Some reports show that recently released drug users are 129 times more likely than the general population to die in the first two weeks after reentry. Complete access to healthcare benefits without restrictions and red tape is essential to harm reduction, but it’s far from the only necessary measure. 

Gardner supports the Clean Slate Act, which would automatically seal certain felony records after seven years, and eligible misdemeanor records after three years, helping New Yorkers access jobs and housing. This could potentially decrease drug use as formerly incarcerated people would have access to employment (and therefore the money to continue treatment if needed as well) instead of returning to drug use or selling drugs for money. In addition, Gardner pushes for job readiness, reentry programs, and access to tuition assistance programs. 

Marte’s business structure is built on reentry support as well. One of his initiatives is to give inmates a purpose and mission by beginning a certification program before they are even released from prison. In addition to the certification program, CONBODY partners with other reentry organizations to provide housing, health, wellness, and mental health support to participants. Individuals also have access to economic assistance in the form of financial stipends. 

“Everyone deserves a second chance and at CONBODY we do just that,” Marte says. 

Finally, harm reduction aims to target the stigma around people who use drugs, validating their humanity and basic rights, in spite of addiction. If people want to get involved, Gardner recommends they explore the National Harm Reduction Coalition site, which has a four-fold goal: to build the harm reduction movement, infuse harm reduction with racial justice, end the overdose epidemic, and expand syringe access to all 50 states. 

Check out these related articles:

• The Response: Practicing harm reduction in a climate of disasters
• This co-op gives formerly incarcerated people jobs and community
• Higher Ground Harm Reduction: A conversation with Christine Rodriguez

The post How equitable strategies in harm reduction are keeping communities safe appeared first on Shareable.

Around one in 10 families in the United States might not know where their next meal is coming from, and they don’t always have enough to go around. So while the average American spends close to $150 on Valentine’s Day, others are hoping to find enough food to get through the week.

The nonprofit Move for Hunger started the #spreadthelove campaign in 2019 to raise awareness that food insecurity isn’t just a problem we should care about over the winter holidays but all year round.

Move for Hunger partners with moving companies to ask people if they will donate their nonperishable food items as they move out of their homes, and the moving trucks help transport the food to local food banks. 

Moving companies collaborate with those who host food drives, helping to transport the food. 1,100 moving companies in the U.S. and Canada have participated. The non-profit also works with apartment buildings to encourage those moving to donate, and they’ve built relationships with 600,000 units so far. In total, 37,500 meals have been donated and volunteers have organized 739 food drives.

Reducing waste, feeding children

Adam Lowy, founder of Move for Hunger, says they are working to both reduce food waste and redistribute it to families in need. Up to 40% of the food we produce ends up in the trash, yet 1 in 6 American children don’t have enough to eat (in some places, such as Louisiana, it’s much higher — one in four). 

The #SpreadtheLove campaign encourages communities nationwide to host a food drive with a particular focus: peanut butter and jelly donations. The moving trucks take care of the heavy lifting for any volunteers who end up collecting more than five boxes, and Move for Hunger provides volunteers with a starter kit.

“We want to change the way people think about hunger and food drives — you can make a food drive fun, and it shouldn’t just be taking everything out of your pantry, like Tobasco and garbage that people don’t want. Be more thoughtful and more purposeful,” he says. 

#SpreadtheLove focuses just on peanut butter and jelly because it’s shelf-stable, high in protein, and one of the most commonly needed items at food banks, Lowy explains. “It’s also typically a bit more expensive and out of reach for the folks that really need it when you’re on a limited budget or food stamps. You know that’s one of those items that you’re probably just not going to be able to put in your grocery cart.”

Scott Stephens, CEO of the food bank Reach Out Lakota, outside of Cincinnati, says they are always looking for peanut butter donations, particularly because it’s accessible for kids. “It’s easy to use if kids need to make their own sandwiches as they often prepare their own food at home,” he says. 

Move for Hunger doesn’t forget peanut butter’s favorite sidekick, jelly, and pushes for those donations too.

Reenvisioning food drives

When you picture a food drive, you may envision a lone box hanging out in the corner of a classroom or religious organization, but Lowy has much bigger plans. He wants food drives to be both more thoughtful and more exciting. 

“We want to make food drives fun, right?” he says. Volunteers for #spreadthelove get social-media images, flyers, and decorations for their boxes. They promote tuna donations with Shark Week and “Baby Shark”– related marketing. 

They also take care to educate communities about the best peanut butters and jellies to pick to donate, exploring sugar content and taste. This helps people rethink just buying the cheapest or easiest item to find, and helps them put more thought and care into donations.

Arielle Jackson, Executive Director of the Community Food Basket in Idaho Falls, Idaho, calls peanut butter a “hot ticket item” and participated last year in #spreadthelove, collecting more than 1,200 pounds of food. In addition to peanut butter, she hopes more people will donate protein-rich foods: 

“It’s always hard to come by tuna fish,” she says.

Donations that make a real meal

What can a family do with peanut butter, but no bread? Or macaroni and cheese, but no butter or milk to cook it? These are the problems that food pantries are trying to solve, by helping donors rethink what can be done with the food they want to give away. 

Jackson, for example,  provides shelf-stable milk with macaroni donations, and both the jelly and loaves of bread with peanut butter. 

You can’t give somebody Hamburger Helper if you don’t give them hamburger. — Arielle Jackson, Executive Director of the Community Food Basket 

But, just because you can’t donate pounds of meat doesn’t mean you shouldn’t donate at all. 

Stephens of Reach Out Lakota says that cases of corn and green beans are cheap enough for most families to donate. Though they won’t form a whole meal, they are side dishes typically well-liked by many people. 

If you are rethinking your next food donation, our experts specifically recommended focusing on:

• Tomato products that add to many meals, such as diced tomatoes for chili or marinara sauce for pasta
• Peanut butter, jelly, and a loaf of bread or crackers
• Cereal and shelf stable milk
• Tuna fish and other high protein canned meats
• Hygiene products including soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene, and more
• Oatmeal 

To start your own #spreadthelove food drive, register here.

You can also support a number of food sharing projects across the country. 

Check out these related articles:

• These apps aim to reduce the social and environmental impacts of food waste
• Fighting for food justice in a Texas food desert
• How public libraries are part of the solution to food insecurity
• 5 innovative solutions to food deserts

The post Move for Hunger helps #SpreadtheLove this Valentine’s Day appeared first on Shareable.

Now, a growing array of citizens, contractors and community activists are reimagining the ways the lots can be utilized—with solutions ranging from temporary housing sites to plots for shared gardens. 

Mapping the problem

One of the first hurdles to addressing the issue was simply identifying it. For years, there was no central map or database that interested parties could use to locate (and subsequently develop) the vacant lots. That changed recently when Community Health Councils launched their project LA Open Acres.

The Open Acres project map came to fruition, partially courtesy of a collaboration with 596 acres, which has created similar database projects in other cities. A labeling project 596 acres orchestrated in New Orleans even contained information explaining who visitors could call for more information on the lots and leasing options. 

The mapping initiative has led to progress, with parks and walking paths being developed on some of the lots. In South LA, Serenity Park is one such success story that came about through efforts by local activists and Community Health Councils. Meant to be utilized as a communal recreational space, the park has state-of-the-art play structures for children, and also houses exercise equipment for adults.  

The “root root root” issue

So, the need is there, and nonprofits have proven plans for solutions. Why does the vacant lot problem persist?

Matt DiBara, the “Undercover Contractor,” is an LA-based masonry business owner, and author of a book and podcast by the same name. Clients have hired him to build walls and foundations for projects on the lots, both to improve privacy and security, and for business owners attempting to develop them. He says that neighbors sometimes pitch in to mow grass and remove trash, but “it’s tough” navigating the lots’ existing conditions. 

He attributes the vacant land dilemma to what he calls the “broken window theory.” 

“…As soon as there’s one broken window, if the city patches it right away, it sets the precedent that broken windows aren’t allowed here,” he says. “If they don’t, the psychology becomes, ‘Okay, this isn’t a big deal.’ Then there are more broken windows.” He says similarly, people are accustomed to seeing trash-ridden empty lots, and city council members have grown accustomed to the complaints they get about the lots. “The standard has slipped,” he says, calling that the “root root root issue.” 

This inaction and complacency on the part of the city has made it difficult for folks to navigate both compliance and development opportunities. “In my conversations with developers I haven’t found the city to be overly accommodating…there’s a lot of bureaucracy,” DiBara said.

Utilizing the lots for temporary housing

On the flip side of this issue is a more systemic problem: houselessness. 

In 2022, the greater Los Angeles area saw a 16% increase in homelessness. Coalitions like the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, say that rehousing efforts do work (88% of people who were rehoused in 2018 never returned to the streets), and these lots can become a part of the solution. 

Aside from parks, the parcels have long been part of a vision by local organizations trying to solve the homelessness problem. Elizabeth Funk, Founder and Executive Chairman of Dignity Moves, leads interim supportive housing initiatives that have succeeded in other California cities. The tiny portable houses can be set up very quickly, using vacant land, and are temporary, so when someone buys the property and it’s developed, they can be relocated with a forklift. The only thing they need? Permission. She says it’s an easy ask that’s held up by bureaucracy. The city, to her knowledge, already has money set aside for utilities on the properties, and many are already set up for that.

“They don’t know what they own, and they don’t know how to get permission, and to get permission to borrow it takes some act of council,” she says. “We aren’t asking for it for long.” Their goal is to move into LA next year, easing the strain the pandemic caused on traditional homeless shelters, where the virus can run rampant.

Speaking up for government action 

To clear the way for these groups to be “allowed” to use the lots for the community’s benefit, LA residents have to make their requests known, a mission that Ben Tyson, Director of Rise Together, a nonprofit working to inspire and educate voters, is pursuing.

He says people in LA suffer from the “California effect,” meaning they think their voice and vote won’t matter. “Homelessness, affordability, and crime — We know from our polling that over 90% of Los Angeles voters believe that some combination of those three issues …are the top issues in the city,” He points to policy failures over the past 10 years leading to the homelessness issues and lack of leadership over land, saying that they haven’t truly had a comprehensive plan to address homelessness since 2015, but nobody knows where the $1.2 billion allocated to the homelessness problem has really gone.

“Now we need to have the voters vocalize in order to hold them accountable [saying] ‘Hey this is not the way things are anymore. We’re going to demand a better of you in the future,’” he says. “Politicians respond to that.”

Check out these related articles:

• Are community land trusts the answer to Chicago’s Large Lots Program issues?
• ‘This land is your land’: Reclaiming public land for communities in Brooklyn
• How the power of cooperation transformed a vacant lot in South Chicago

The post How communities are reimagining LA’s vacant lots appeared first on Shareable.

A recent OnePoll study of over 2200 Americans with Republic Services, in collaboration with Recycled Simplified, revealed that the pandemic woke us up to our ability to impact environmental problems: 44% of us became more aware of our own impact on the environment, 43% are trying to purchase more eco-friendly products, and 41% are trying to waste less.

But sometimes it’s too late to just want to waste less when we’ve already purchased non-eco-friendly packaging with our grocery store items, or have overestimated how much food we will eat in a week, resulting in food waste. Journalist, author, and Earth-loving guru Kate Bratskeir recently turned her fascination with sustainable food shopping into a book aimed at educating us just how we can shop smarter to do our part to help climate issues.

Here are a few tips she wants everyone to know from her own life, and from her book “The Pocket Guide to Sustainable Food Shopping,” and her own experiences as she works towards a lower waste lifestyle with her family.

Engage with community organizations to shop smarter

You don’t have to go at it alone, and you aren’t the first citizen in your area to want to shop smarter to reduce food waste and help the planet. Community organizations are already available to aid in your efforts, and instead of fighting an uphill battle to change things by yourself, you can partner with them and use their resources to ensure your success. 

If you’ve never heard of a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) this can be a great place to start, as most benefit both local food growers and consumers. Instead of simply supporting local farmers at your summer farmer’s markets, you can help them even out cash flow throughout the year so they don’t experience an income drought during the winter and spring months.

This also helps the community shoulder some of the responsibility for crop variations or less successful growing seasons. While you may not be saving money, you are reallocating resources to create a more stable and sustainable food system in your community. What you might gain is a larger variety of vegetables that you hadn’t thought about purchasing before, diversifying your diet and palate. You will also benefit from ultra-fresh produce instead of settling for what’s available on grocery shelves that week.

A variety of other community organizations exist to help minimize food waste, including a special organization meant to “keep fruit off the streets and safely in jars where it belongs” — the League of Urban Canners. Based in Somerville, Mass. this group created a low-cost sustainability model by mapping fruit trees in their city, and helping owners harvest the food to create delicious jams.

From there, they share the wealth, with 10 percent of the fruits going to property owners, 70 percent to preservers, and 20 percent to harvesters. They’ve saved nearly 5,000 pounds of fruit annually from more than 300 trees. Finding initiatives like these in your own town can change your shopping habits permanently, and enable others to benefit as well.

Don’t fall for greenwashing

Bratskeir is passionate about educating the public on the topic of greenwashing, which involved companies and their public relations departments spinning, deceiving, and misrepresenting just how environmentally sound a product is.  She gives the example of ice cream cartons, which have just recently become fully recyclable for some brands, when we really think we’ve been recycling them all along, but parts of the products have never been recyclable, negating our efforts.

She also worries about General Mills’ new Nature Valley Granola Bar, which she says has promoted its recyclability on Twitter, but in reality, it’s made with a type of recyclable plastic that you’d have to drop off at a recycling center. “It’s important to understand what your materials are made of and not fall for greenwashing,” she says. “We are terrible recyclers and it’s not our fault…it’s been intentionally confusing. Just because it says ‘recyclable’ doesn’t mean the whole thing is. I’m constantly in awe of our recycling room.”

Mind the milk and meat aisles

An entire chapter of Bratskier’s book is entitled “How to Buy Milk: So. Many. Milks,” pointing to the confusing and endless selection of vegan and nonvegan milk options. While she has no intention of convincing people to adopt a vegan lifestyle, she says “I do outline evidence that vegan sources of milk and meat are environmentally less taxing.” For example, cow’s milk is responsible for more carbon emissions, land, and water use than rice, soy, oat, and almond milks.

“The same is true of meat alternatives…as much as people hold onto their hamburgers and think eating chicken will help, evidence shows it’s about reducing meat consumption,” she says. If you plan to still eat meat, start checking out the labels on the packaging, which she examines in her book.

For example, before you confuse “natural” with “humanely raised and grass-fed,” think again — it simply means that it doesn’t have artificial ingredients or that it’s minimally processed. Instead, look for 3rd party labels including “certified humane” and others, some of which minimize physically painful treatment of the animals. 

Stop “aspirational produce” buying

So you’ve been buying a head of lettuce every week, but have only made one salad this month. While we think throwing away the remaining lettuce isn’t really a problem (it will disintegrate, we think) food waste is causing more stress on the environment. It could be composted instead, or you could simply get real about your buying habits. Bratskeir explains 40% of food is wasted and a new study has shown 10% happens in our own homes, calling it one of the most tangible ways to make a difference.

“Personally, I’m a big aspirational produce buyer,” Bratskeir says. “I’ve gotten better over time at using what I have. I keep a physical but a mental list too: ‘These are the fruits and veggies I must incorporate in some way’ and that’s how I decide what’s for dinner.” She jokes that by the end of the week her family might be having a dish with those leftover mushrooms whether they like it or not. 

By changing your meal planning to revolve around the food you need to use up rather than the food you need to buy still, your habits slowly change. “I’ve started buying less produce, but I buy things that last longer like canned beans or frozen veggies.” She also details how to make produce last longer in her book, and what to do about the eternal problem of leftover herbs after you’ve purchased them for one recipe.

Time to go dumpster diving — Conduct a waste audit

“The concept of riffling through your own trash isn’t the most fun,” Bratskeir says, but it’s a necessity if you want to truly understand your impact on the environment. She says some people who try this realize that plastic wrapping is the most common culprit, while others will find out it’s yogurt cups or food scraps. “You can only address the problem once you take account of it…start with the most wasted items first.” 

If you are trying to build environmentally friendly kids of the future, get them involved with the waste audit (they may find trash trolling more fun than you!). You also may realize that through the pandemic, and spending more time at home, you are producing more trash. “People have said they can’t believe how much garbage they make,” she says. Her waste audit helps people dig into why they wasted the item, and alternative plans for next time. (Check out this guide for community leaders to prevent food waste on a larger scale as well).

In the end, Bratskeir reminds us to go easy on ourselves by first dealing with the guilt associated with making changes through grocery shopping habits. “We have to get over it or accept it to move forward…nobody is going to be perfect. Accept that you will mess up and celebrate your wins.”

For even more resources on sharing initiatives and food sustainability, check out how sharing gardens produce free food here.

The post How to share and shop with food sustainability in mind appeared first on Shareable.

Melanie Mannarino, the author of The (Almost) Zero-Waste Guide, wrote about working up to a zero-waste life in whatever ways we are comfortable in all aspects of our lives. Instead of focusing on that intimidating “zero” number, she explains how she did it: “For us, it wasn’t so much a focus on becoming zero waste, but on reducing our waste as much as we could–and to keep going, every time the opportunity presents itself.” For her tips, along with other experts’, check out our guide to living a zero-waste life below.

Identify the “easy wins”

Mannarino started in this way and then used the success to create a “positive snowball effect” to other more challenging zero-waste situations. She asks the following questions:

• Do you need to dry your hands with a paper towel while prepping dinner, or would the dishtowel work just as well? 
• Can you collect fruit and vegetable scraps and start a little compost bin outdoors (or does your community offer compost services)? 
• Have you checked the local antique or second-hand shop or site for a coffee table, instead of defaulting to the idea of buying new?

She says you will be inspired by your success with these easier trade-offs and will want to continue in all areas of your life. 

Buy from companies with a zero waste pledge

When CEO Matt Bertulli started his zero-waste company, Pela, he felt he had a “debt to pay” for the role he’d played in selling products throughout his career that would do environmental damage. So, he started with the lofty goal of keeping 1 Billion pounds of plastic from ever being made. Now he sells zero-waste phone cases, AirPod cases, smartwatch bands, and other products. “I truly believe all products should be designed to have no waste at the end of their life,” he says.

Living a zero-waste life doesn’t mean you will never need to buy a new item, but it does mean you can support sustainability-focused businesses when you do. While many of us are living in cities and states without waste mandates for companies, we can be inspired by entire towns that are living zero-waste as well. To shop zero-waste stores, simply begin compiling a list to replace many of your currently non-eco-friendly items you can’t live without. Start with this list of stores.

Focus on tiny but significant behavior shifts

It’s not all about choosing different items, but also different habits and routines. How many times per week do you purchase to-go coffee, Bertulli asks. “By far the most difficult things to change are daily habits…but the combined impact of everyone making one small change is significant.” This could include canceling a recurring order for a product such as paper towels because you know you can use a cloth towel. Also, having a plan to replace your purchased coffee by brewing your own in a reusable cup, takes a bit of forethought but is doable. “As a consumer, the hardest part is resisting the urge to keep buying ‘things’, especially useful items that can now be replaced with reusables,” he says.

Designer Sarah Barnard, who creates spaces with an eye toward environmental preservation, recommends putting a little DIY love into repurposing furniture instead of throwing it out. “A fresh coat of paint or reupholstery can breathe new life into something old and is a wonderful alternative to buying something new,” she says. She also recommends the laundry room hack of switching to woold dryer balls, which she uses in her studio, rather than paper dryer sheets which she says are “full of chemicals and end up in landfills.”

Grow your food; finish your food

You probably remember your grandma scolding you for wasting food. Mine used to check the trash can to see who hadn’t finished their dinner and was wasting her food! Mannarino says that rethinking leftovers will go quite a ways in reducing food waste in your home, a problem she says is “huge, both in this country and globally”. She has found ways to rethink what constitutes a typical breakfast or lunch, describing a hodgepodge of leftovers she combined to make her own “riff on a lunchtime salad nicoise.” With some leftover homefries from Sunday brunch, leftover lemon garlic shrimp from dinner the night before, and her son’s green beans from leftover school lunch, she has a new creation of foods that otherwise would have landed in the trash.

She also encourages others to grow their own food, a practice her family starts doing as soon as the winter ground thaws. “There are so many reasons to grow your own food: not only is it the most direct way to eat, eliminating resources such as fuel to transport food from farm to supermarket, but it is also a lot of fun, a great way to get kids to try new foods, and incredibly convenient to look out at the garden when deciding what to eat at your next meal.

Increase your own buy-in by committing to causes close to your heart

Like anything that takes commitment, inconvenience, and perseverance, you are going to have to have a strong “why” for both yourself and your family to progress towards a zero-waste lifestyle. Kristen Fulmer, is the CEO of Recipric and Head of Sustainability at The Bridge, a real-estate company that transforms old properties into eco-villages. She recommends pairing your passions for the environment with your zero-waste transformation choices:

• “If you love the beach, tap into ways that reduce your single-use plastic consumption that is the biggest contributor to ocean waste.”
• “If you like gardening, try to recycle food waste into compost that can be used to grow your own produce or flowers.”
• “If you’re simply fed up with spending a lot of money on garbage pick up, just try to find small ways to reduce how much is being sent to the landfill.”

She says that by buying into the “part of the zero-waste story” that interests you, you will be more likely to succeed.

Push for politicians and businesses to support your mission

Fulmer explains that the reason it’s so tough to be zero-waste is that we don’t yet live in a zero-waste economy. Sometimes, there are no alternatives she says, giving prescription medicine as an example of a necessity. “The critical step is that more people transition to zero-waste habits that push the economy to adapt. If enough consumers of prescription pills will support a less wasteful alternative than the current market, for example, the ‘traditional’ drug industry will need to catch up,” she explains. 

Start composting!

If you are still dropping your coffee grounds in a trash bag, you have a clear place to start. A wealth of composting resources are available to help you figure out how to get started on this key component to a zero-waste home. Fulmer says that this can be tough living in a city due to space constraints, concern for pests, and other reasons, but she utilizes city and local organizations’ compost initiatives to bring her items to compost collection points. 

Mannarino recalls her grandparents’ compost bin as a worm-filled box at the edge of their yard, which both “repulsed and fascinated her” as a child. “As an adult, I had no interest in saving produce scraps and creating a wormy compost bin of my own. But I love to cook and eat good food—which led me to want to grow my own herbs and vegetables, and if I’m going to do that, why wouldn’t I want to nourish the soil with compost, and keep that food waste out of the landfill?” Now her family composts, noticing a huge reduction in the amount of household waste they put out for the garbage collectors each week. She calls it “gratifying” to see the fruits of her family’s efforts.

Apply zero-waste to transportation choices

So you’ve figured out how to use fewer paper towels, how to compost your coffee grounds, and you are seeing much less waste exiting your home. Now you can expand to other aspects of your life, and decisions you make surrounding other potentially environmentally damaging behaviors, including travel. Whether you plan to start biking more or have an option to share school transportation responsibilities with another family, your gas and Earth-saving activities add up. 

When Mannarino was researching for her book, she found out that you can reduce your flights’ fuel consumption by opting for nonstop flights over connecting ones. She explains that planes burn most of their fuel during takeoff and landing. The collective increased use of nonstop flights may eventually reduce the airlines’ offerings, helping to make major fuel-saving changes.

Whether you are a beginner at reducing waste or looking for specific ways to fine-tune your already eco-friendly practices, remember that each small act is contributing even if you aren’t perfect every day.

The post How to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle appeared first on Shareable.

Speakers will include:

• Susan Aitken, Leader, Glasgow City Council, United Kingdom
• Angie Fyfe, Executive Director, ICLEI USA
• Lisa Helps, Mayor, City of Victoria, Canada
• Bill Peduto, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, USA
• Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor, City of Malmö, Sweden; ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member
• Carolina Urrutia Vásquez, Environment Secretary, City of Bogotá, Colombia
• Vico Sotto, Mayor, Pasig City Government, Philippines (pre-recorded video statement)

Here’s a preview of what to expect from cities leading in sustainability, including the progress already made in each city, a glimpse into what to expect next, and details on how these leaders fight to overcome significant challenges around the globe.

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

When you picture the year 2030, you can bet Glasgow will have achieved its ambitious goal to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral city, aligned with Scotland’s net-zero emissions target goal for 2045. Recognized as one of the world’s top five cities committed to sustainable business tourism in 2019, Glasgow leaders are pushing the boundaries of what the world thought was possible, in spite of their traditionally industrial history. The ranking measures the Global Destination Sustainability Index and can be partially credited to one of the key features of their People Make Glasgow Greener Campaign, which recognizes and leverages some of the city’s most sustainable businesses to make further change around the city. Susan Aitken, a leader of Glasgow City Council, will address the topic of “Embedding climate justice and social equity at the heart of plans to tackle the climate emergency,” acknowledging the inherent relationship between equity and sustainability.

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

It’s hard to not admire Victoria’s sustainability mission and vision: “Victoria, as a community and municipal corporation, is an urban sustainability leader inspiring innovation, pride and progress towards greater ecological integrity, livability, economic vitality, and community resiliency confronting the changes facing society and the planet today, and for generations to come.” Late in March, the government announced details of an over $9 million Public Transit Infrastructure System to create more inclusivity and resilience, as well as more equal and eco-friendly access. The next steps, according to Mayor Lisa Helps, include motivating the city, which she says on her website has “become complacent” and is behind on their goal to reduce GHGs 80% by 2050. To accomplish this, Victoria is creating policies and incentives for low-carbon high-performance buildings, managing waste more sustainability, and more. Helps will be speaking on the topic of “We’re all in this together–strengthening community cohesion through constructive dialogue.” 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Mayor Bill Peduto recently illustrated how intertwined economic development and environmental sustainability are, explaining that the “shift must ensure no one whose job or community could be adversely affected is left behind.” This comprehensive view proves leadership in the sustainability community, which can sometimes focus on isolated problems without an overview of the trickle-down effect for jobs and individuals. Peduto said in a recent mayors webinar, “The transition must win people’s hearts and minds, and in order to win [them] you’re going to need to speak to their pocketbooks.” One of his clear stances is in rallying the federal government for more involvement and support, as well as proving to the community and nation that the Ohio Valley has built the country once before, and can do it again. In 2019 Peduto also committed to adopting the United Nations’ 17 sustainability goals for his city. He will be speaking on the topic of “Weaving the local cultural fabric into the sustainable post-industrial transition.”

Malmö, Sweden

Considered a hub of global sustainability initiatives, this city runs all municipal buildings on 100 percent renewable energy, a goal they’ve also scheduled to attain for the entire city by 2030. With a combination of wind energy, waste incineration, and industrial leftover heat, they are well on their way. You can expect to see biking as one of the main forms of getting around town, as 25% of all outings happen on bikes, reducing the carbon footprint immensely, and launching Malmö to one of the top ten best cycling cities in the world. The city operates on seven sustainability goals, making it a top destination for other leaders worldwide to come to for sustainability and equity learning. These include: No poverty, Good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, and peace, justice, and strong public institutions. Much of the policies they started implementing early, in the late 90s, are now integrated into Sweden’s national policy. ICLEI Global Executive Committee Member Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of the city, will be discussing, “Creating a sustainable city of all: The importance of embedding people and equity at the heart of sustainable development.”

Other major speakers will address citizen engagement in the climate action planning process, safe and sustainable transport for all, and integrating nature-based food systems for healthy communities. The session will take place April 13, 2021, 16:00-17:00 CEST, and can be accessed here. 

Related stories: 

• 5 ways to achieve circular development on the local level

The post Leaders of the most sustainable cities gather to share lessons learned appeared first on Shareable.

One such location, Lake County Library in Madison, OH, started seeing visitors coming in to get help with signing up for COVID vaccines online, a notoriously difficult process to navigate. They rose to the challenge, aiding community members who weren’t able to operate a computer, and hadn’t ever sent an email, to receive the potentially life-saving vaccine. At some locations, specific registration stations helped seniors navigate a potentially overwhelming virtual sign-up process.

Barb Scott, a Children’s Librarian of 35 years at Bucyrus Public Library in Ohio, explained that their branch was contacted by a member of the health department, who informed them that they could have access to free rapid testing kits that people could pick up at the library. The library staff’s role was simply to distribute them, and keep a record of who picked one up.

“She provided close to 100 kits. The box in the lobby is less than half full now,” Scott says. After posting to Facebook that the kits were available, community members started making appointments to pick them up and to access them through the curbside option. A neighboring location, Crestline Public Library, also helped distribute tests. Their director told Scott that she was happy to help community members know their positive results more quickly, and isolate days sooner than they otherwise would have been able to. 

As vaccines become more readily available, libraries are a potential distribution site, and some locations have already been repurposed for this. Pinal County, Ariz. Public Health Services for example are using libraries such as Florence Library as vaccination sites. Scott sees the potential for this in her library’s future as well. She says the integration of public health initiatives and library spaces is a “fantastic idea,” saying it’s already a community hub where so many programs happen anyway.

Dr. Noah Lenstra, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, has authored Healthy Living at the Library and is the Director of Let’s Move in Libraries. He says that libraries are the perfect institution for public health collaborations across the country.

“The key thing is all of their funding comes from local [government] sources; almost 90 percent comes from city or county government. Because it’s so local, there’s nobody really pulling strings at a national level. They give support and guidance but a local library can do whatever it wants,” he says. This freedom allows libraries to identify and fulfill specific needs in their communities, from helping students on free and reduced lunch plans access meals when in-person school isn’t in session, to helping people access COVID testing and vaccines. He explains this longstanding relationship (or the potential for one in some places) dates back to World War II, in NorthEast Appalacian Georgia, where a bookmobile would bring along a primary care nurse to do well checks within the community. 

“People have trust invested in [libraries], so it makes sense to leverage that trust responsibly into community partnerships,” he says. Lenstra hopes to see an exchange of personnel, cross-promotion of programming, strategic planning, and coalitions to close the gap between libraries and public health initiatives. 

“It’s one of the few places you can go in no matter who you are, what you look like, or if you are a citizen or not and nobody is going to ask you or check…you are welcome. People know that,” he says. “That’s extremely powerful and leads to a lot of trust.”

Not every library is offering COVID-19 resources, testing, or vaccines, so reach out to your branch in particular to determine their specific programs and opportunities. 

The post Libraries bring COVID relief to communities appeared first on Shareable.

Ending the cycle of mortgage debt

While a select few may see one too many episodes of HGTV and decide to take the plunge, most successful tiny house buyers have more concrete reasons. Ryan Mitchell, author of The Tiny Life book and website, has been living tiny since the great recession of 2008 when he lost his job and decided he never wanted to be in the same financial situation ever again. He owns a tiny house in Charlotte, N.C.

“I realized…I can be a relatively smart person with a degree who works hard and performs well and still not have job security…I remember sitting in the parking lot thinking I don’t know how I’m going to pay rent,” Mitchell says. “I never again want to be worried about paying for basic necessities to get by. Half of my income was going towards housing.” His drive to eliminate such a large line item from his budget is a common reason people choose tiny living. His rent, utilities, and insurance used to cost $1500 per month. Now he pays for water, propane, and some land taxes for just $15 per month. “It makes the financial picture dramatically different.”

Reducing your carbon footprint

Think you aren’t hurting mother Earth? You may be, just by having a typical house. In fact, 5% of emissions come from residential housing, according to the EPA. Mitchell says the average house build produces four to five tons of construction waste, “which is more than what my tiny house weighs in its own self.” 

Builders such as IKEA are zeroing in on this need, creating tiny home projects to reduce the impact on the environment. Their focus on creating sustainable housing means that some people will be able to buy $50,000 tiny houses that are already eco-friendly.

But it’s not just the building process that creates an eco-friendly tiny house. Mitchell says you have more control over the details, and greener materials and options become more “financially viable” due to their smaller sizes. Matthew Davies is the founder of Harmony Communities, a Stockton, Calif.-based affordable home building company. He renovates RV and other communities by building park model homes, which are 400 sq. foot base small homes. For his clients, solar panels are already built into the community projects so they are getting the benefit of reducing their environmental impact at minimal costs. His company uses small, energy-efficient appliances, and says all of these small endeavors result in “millions in savings and oodles and oodles and tons of carbon.”

Mitchell explains that solar power is more practical and that he’s “completely off the grid” in his tiny house. “By me not using the power and getting it from solar [I’ve saved] 2 tons of coal (the local powerplant is coal) and it’s basically 2 tons of coal less a year that doesn’t get burned on my behalf. I use 90 percent less water, due to shorter plumbing runs. Hot water gets to the shower faster.”

Starting a backyard village

The size of tiny houses means that there’s an increased focus on getting outside, which comes with the added benefit of getting to know your neighbors just a bit better. Some tiny home communities have been formed in close proximity with this exact intent–community. These backyard tiny home villages sometimes feature a “main house” which serves as a lodge and allows people to live small but with the added benefit of additional storage, entertaining spaces, and full-sized laundry facilities. 

Sue Thomas and her husband Bill have designed and built tiny houses for years through Hobbitat Spaces, a small and tiny house company from Oakland, Md. She says, “If you have a tiny house community you can have communal buildings for storing your toys if you have bikes and kayaks and that kind of stuff. Also, it can have a larger lodge feeling where you can get together and have a bigger kitchen where you can do more entertaining…Tiny houses are…small.”

She emphasizes that most people looking for tiny houses don’t want to spend all their time in it, but to use it as a low maintenance living space so they can spend the rest of their time enjoying the outdoors.

Providing affordable living for low-income families

Davies paints a grim picture for working families in expensive cities and states, such as most of California: “The median home price in Gilroy, California is $850,000,” he says. “That’s insane. You want to buy that house? It’s a jumbo loan. For at least 20 percent down, you will need $200,000 to buy that house, then taxes, insurance, and mortgage will be four grand per month. You are going to need to make $125,000 per year with no other debt,” he says. He adds that the median income in the area is $140,000 for a family of 4, and poverty level is $80,000. His company is passionate about solving this housing crisis for those in his area, and tiny living can solve it in other places as well. In fact, he says park models make up 95% of tiny homes, mostly in existing communities, and 80% of his clients are lower-income families.

If he can replace life living in an “old dingy fifth wheel” for people who can’t afford larger homes, he will have accomplished his mission. “That’s not a quality of life.”

“The real story with park models is that these are going to the working class,” he says.

Make a mind shift before a home shift

Tiny house living isn’t for everyone, especially those who haven’t done the mental work to determine just how big of a shift it can be from a larger house. Mitchell says, “They see the house and think they just need to buy one and that’s good. In reality, it has nothing to do with the house, it’s all about intentional choices we made for our lives.” Instead, he calls the house just a tool to do that. “People can have that mental shift, to be more intentional with choices, and learn to say no, in an apartment or larger house.”

While they are super cute, he says that people who think like that haven’t really examined the reasons to move: “I wanted to have better financial security, more control over time, money, and freedom. I wanted to do meaningful work…you’ve got to do the legwork to shift your life.”

Thomas has also heard the “it’s so cute” line and says people need to be actually prepared to downsize their stuff. “Then they start to move in all their stuff…No, you don’t have much closet space.” She encourages people to carefully consider it before “diving in.”

Read more tiny house articles from Shareable: 

• How to create a tiny house village
• Tiny house villages grow as more are pushed out in housing squeeze 
• Inside the rise of the tiny house movement
• 11 tiny houses redefining home 
• Legalizing the tiny house 
• The world’s first tiny house hoteliers
• How to live off-the-grid in a tiny house
• 5 tiny dream homes 
• The tiny house infographic that proves less is more 
• 25 incredible tiny houses available on Airbnb

The post Pros, Cons, and Trends in Tiny House Living appeared first on Shareable.

For years, Ian McBurney, bHive’s Cooperative Secretary, and his team have searched for a solution to the world’s most challenging problems. In a presentation on the future of local government, McBurney presents what he believes to be the most significant challenges we face: 

• Soon we are going to have more plastic than fish in the ocean. 
• Full-time employment is dropping. We are creating just as many homeless people as billionaires. 
• 83% of animals (other than livestock) have disappeared in the last 30 years. 
• Consumption is tied to ego, so a resource crunch is coming. 
• After 30 years of “talks” the planet is heading towards 4 degrees of warming
• The growth of politics of fear
• Epidemic levels of social isolation, depression, anxiety, and homelessness.

His solution involves “localism.” When a fictitious member, he calls Nicole in all his examples, joins bHive, here’s what happens. First, she is linked up with those 250 nearest homes, and “she can make announcements, ask for things, give away things, ask for advice, set up sharing registers for free stuff, set up local events, and more.” Basically, they picture a hyperlocalized sharing of stuff, time, money, skills, spaces, transport, work, logistics, and more. 

But don’t we already have Uber for that? Good question. bHive seeks to create an alternative to platform monopolies (other social media) taking over, and to give another option where each member is an owner (which is the definition of a co-op). In this way, the co-owners will control their own privacy, data, and reputation. He jokes that there won’t be any issues with people tracking Beyonce in her Uber. Instead, you will have your own choices about what personal data is and isn’t shared. “It’s increasing trust,” he says.

From there, maybe Nicole decides to share veggies with neighbors. Maybe she teaches them how to prune the fruit trees that line the yards of her street. She pays a joining fee, and then pays just for the apps and services she wants from there. Her money is split between bHive and local charities of her choosing, but more importantly, all of the money stays local. Nicole can also earn money, rebates, and discounts. 

McBurney uses the example that Bendigo families spend $2.5 billion, but most of it goes out of the country. With this platform, it would be recirculated back into the local economy, contributing to solutions for some of the world problems listed above. He hopes that people launch this platform in their own villages, all over the world, not just in Bendigo.

So the next time your child’s school abruptly switches to virtual, and you are wondering how many other parents are scrambling to give or find a ride to neighbors, consider the efficacy of your current social media, and what other options might soon be on the horizon.

The post It takes a village: An alternative social media platform seeks to end the epidemic of loneliness and isolation appeared first on Shareable.

1. Split the cost with a neighbor or friend

How many times have you checked on your Wi-Fi connection, only to see a long list of other available Wi-Fi signals listed, some with even more connectivity bars than yours? Personal finance writer, market investor, and YouTube celebrity Ryan Scribner suggests this tactic for savings. “These days, there are long-range routers and even signal boosters that make this a feasible option. If you don’t need maximum speeds, you could slip an internet plan with your neighbor, assuming you live close by…why are we all paying for internet?” Sharing Wi-Fi might bridge the digital divide.

The same concept can be applied to streaming services, and sometimes cable. Customers have long dreaded engaging in what they feel to be necessary services while resenting purchasing them from monopolies, with few other options. Luckily with more streaming services available, the main competitors are not the only choice anymore. Jake Hill, CEO of Debt Hammer, says “I personally believe cable and internet companies have held near-monopolies for too long, and anything to undermine their tactics is a positive thing in my book. That’s why I always recommend collective action or groups of people looking to save money on services that should be regarded as essential, like internet.” He recommends sharing account information for streaming platforms and other services, which he says the companies can’t really police. “While they can tell if you’re “stealing” cable (in theory), this is something that would take too much digging to find, and it’s such a huge thing that they’d be going after someone in every household at this point.”

Participating in the Open Wireless Movement can be beneficial to others as well at no cost to you.

2. Call to cancel your account, with the goal of getting a lower rate

Nothing says you’re serious about saving money like a call to cancel your services, and often these calls can result in companies making you their lowest and best offer to keep you as a customer. Be prepared for these calls by bringing:

• The rates you have paid in the past (to show they’ve raised prices while adding no additional benefits)
• Other additional services you’d be willing to accept if they don’t lower the cost (for example, maybe they can’t go any lower, but would be willing to add a home phone or DVR box for the same price)
• Information from your current bill, including how much your bill has been raised, account numbers, and current services you are receiving
• Competitors’ current rates to show that your company is too high
• Your bottom line number, above which you really will walk away and switch companies

Don’t take their first offer, but rather persist in your logic that you need to quit because they have moved beyond your current budget. You may find they can offer a second rate even lower than the first.

3. Cut the cord entirely

We’ve all heard of someone who has made the switch, cutting the cord completely and ending their relationship with cable companies forever. Lauren Keys and her husband Steven started a blog to talk all things finances, and they get specific on how to quit cable forever while still enjoying shows you love. Keys’ recommendations include:

• Getting a digital antenna: “We’ve been able to reliably get all major programming and sports for just one upfront cost of the antenna itself,” she says. Digital antennas are a one time purchase of under $50 in most cases.
• Share a streaming platform by going halfsies with a friend for Netflix, Hulu, YouTubeTV, Disney Plus, and more. Just be prepared to remember where you left off in your favorite series in case your friend is watching the same show!
• Remember the trusty old library? Check for DVDs of shows and movies. 
• Utilize free trials from streaming services: “You can also bounce around the streaming services’ free trials to catch up on any new [shows],” Keys says. “You can also always wait until a show completes its season (or run its course entirely) then sign up for a free trial to binge it all before the bill comes due. Hulu usually gives you a one-month free trial, and that’s what we did to watch Dave.”

In addition, it can help to be more flexible about when you are watching a show. You may not catch Grey’s Anatomy at it’s usual Thursday evening time, but wait one more day and it will be on Hulu, for example. 

4. Check to see if you qualify for government program discounts

If you qualify as a low-income consumer, you may be able to catch a break on your cable and internet costs through a program called Lifeline. According to the FCC, you may be eligible if:

• Your income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• You participate in certain federal assistance programs such as: “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or certain Tribal Programs.”  

The program offers savings of up to a $9.25 discount on service. The FCC’s website states “Subscribers may receive a Lifeline discount on either a wireline or a wireless service, but they may not receive a discount on both services at the same time. Lifeline also supports broadband Internet service and broadband-voice bundles. FCC rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household.” The program’s goal is to increase access to essential internet connectivity which can be a lifeline to jobs, educational resources, and healthcare during the pandemic.

5. If you don’t have to have Wifi at home, identify free Wifi sources in your community

If you prefer not to or cannot afford Wi-Fi at home, there are easy ways to locate available Wi-Fi in your area. Now, there’s even an app for that. WifiMap allows you to enter your location and see a map quickly identifying Free Wifi hotspots near you, including restaurants, businesses, and public spaces. If buying a cup of coffee at McDonald’s and using their Wi-Fi for a few hours is appealing, it may make sense to use this strategy rather than paying for a service at home you aren’t using. Wifi Map CEO Denis Sklyarov says, “Businesses wanting to attract tech-savvy customers can proactively add their venues to Wi-Fi Map’s database and get additional exposure to local customers and travelers. And, while the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reduced the options for travel destinations, the need for Wi-Fi is still valuable for the public and commerce.”

Regardless of which option you choose, if you feel trapped by your monthly cable and Wi-Fi bill, test out each strategy until you find one that will work for you, and enjoy that extra $2,000+ savings next year!

The post How to save money on your cable and internet bill  appeared first on Shareable.