Loving Lately | Summer Heat
This post is part of our Loving Lately series in which our team shares some of their favorite sustainable living things they’ve been loving lately. From habits to products, big things to small things, we hope these ideas help you find a few ways to continue incorporating eco-conscious practices into your everyday life. Psst… some of these items also make great gifts too! Check out the full Loving Lately series.
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If climate change hadn’t reared its ugly head yet to show that it’s a “here and now” issue (and not a problem belonging only to future generations), it definitely showed up this summer. Record heat around the globe, wildfires and related poor air quality in places where that’s “not supposed to happen”, more home insurance companies pulling out of areas because the climate risk is too high to ensure homeowners… the list goes on. The climate has changed, and we need to change our lifestyles accordingly.
We need all sorts of changes to ensure our planet continues to be a habitable place for humans (and all living things), and some of those things we can do right in our own homes. For example, I purchased local blueberries in bulk from a farm in our region, so now I have plenty of berries to last me through the season without a bunch of plastic or a carbon footprint carrying those berries around the globe.
Want some more ideas about how to incorporate small but mighty sustainable living elements into your everyday life? Here are a few of our favorite sustainable living things the Honestly Modern team is loving lately.
Sea-el Skin Care (Jess)
I have sensitive skin and have been searching for a facial care line that would keep my face moisturized without making my skin angry. I’ve found it with Sea-el products! I use the Vitamin C Kelp Eye Gel, Moringa Oil, and Kelp Tamanu Night Cream and have been loving the results.
I like Sea-el because it incorporates kelp, which is a fast-growing, carbon-sequestering marine algae that is excellent for helping to combat ocean acidification (a result of global warming). Creating a market for kelp will encourage regenerative farming of this awesome organism, making a profitable crop for kelp farmers that’s also good for the planet.
Use code JESS10 for 10% off and free shipping!
Cariuma Leather Shoes (Jen)
These sustainable shoes are popular for a reason. I’ve had a pair for a while now and love that they pair with everything from jeans, shorts, and leggings to dresses. The company is Butterfly Mark and B Corporation Certified, both indicating that they perform strongly relative to their peers on issues related to sustainability and environmentally-friendly operations.
I have the leather Salvas in white and pink, and they have tons of other options too.
Seed Swapping (Sarah)
Seed packets often come with far more seeds than each of us needs in our personal gardens. I love that you can share seeds and not let any go to waste while also saving money.
As part of the Waste Free in 2023 series, I included seed swaps as a fun and frugal way to reduce waste in your garden. Check out the whole post for more ideas!
Leaf Shave Razor (Jess)
My summer shaving routine has become much smoother and more sustainable with my switch to the Leaf Shave razor. The razor is plastic-free and refillable, and the metal blades can be recycled with Leaf!
Pela Compostable Phone Case (Reese)
I just bought my niece her first Pela case, and she’s obsessed. She got the clear sweet bees style! Pela phone cases are long-lasting and compostable in your backyard, a great option for a plastic-free electronics accessory.
Perfectly Good Food Cookbook (Reese)
I picked up this zero-waste-inspired cookbook at a conference, and it’s been a fun way to re-engage with eliminating food waste.
Summer Clothing Swap (Sarah)
With the warmer season, I love refreshing my kids’ clothes with a clothing swap, keeping clothes out of the landfill and saving resources. You can organize one with friends or a community group. This time of year is also a great time for school uniform swaps. Can you believe we are already talking about that?
Aero Garden (Reese)
My husband has had it with slimy, weird lettuce at the bottom of the spring mix container, so now we’re growing our own in the laundry room! It’s too hot to grow lettuce outside in Charleston, and it’s been a blast checking on our new indoor veggie garden each day. It’s also generating the perfect amount of lettuce, so no food waste!
Tumbleweed Compost Aerator (Jen)
I try all sorts of tools when it comes to composting, and this style of compost aerator works so much better for me than other ones I’ve tried. I really like the spiral shape as opposed to other shapes I’ve used in the past.
Jen Panaro
Jen Panaro, founder and editor-in-chief of Honestly Modern, is a self-proclaimed composting nerd and advocate for sustainable living for modern families. To find her latest work, subscribe to her newsletter, Stepping Stones.
In her spare time, she’s a serial library book borrower, a messy gardener, and a mom of two boys who spends a lot of time in hockey rinks and on baseball fields.
You can find more of her work at Raising Global Kidizens, an online space to help parents and caregivers raise the next generation of responsible global citizens.
