Sustainable Summer Hobbies

By Ariana Lim

The winter term is coming to an end! Although some of us still have exams, let’s be honest. We’re all just looking forward to summer at this point. There are so many things to be excited about in the coming season; many of us have trips planned or summer jobs to pay for next year’s tuition and rent, and some of us have nothing planned right now, and that’s okay! Here are some fun ~sustainable~ things to do this summer (spoiler alert: yes, I did include making your own compost).

1. READ THAT BOOK YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO READ. It’s probably a good idea to keep your brain working just a tiny bit, and it can be very enjoyable if you find something you’re really into. I recommend Harry Potter, obviously. However, instead of buying them new, look for them at the library! This will save you SO MUCH money and this way, you limit your consumption. If you really insist on owning books or want them for ~aesthetic~ purposes, try to find them at a thrift store or garage sale.

2. STAYCATION! This one might be easy this year, due to the thing that shall not be named. In all seriousness, airplane flights create a lot of emissions that are contributing to climate change. Learn more about the environmental impacts here. Instead, I think it can be really fun to explore places closer to home. For instance, Toronto is about a 1-hour GO train commute from where I live and I find that every time I visit, there’s something new to see and do! If you really want to go on vacation, here are some tips to fly more sustainably.

3. Make your own compost!! This is something super fun you can do in the summer with leftover food scraps, and it’s super low maintenance. Many store-bought chemical fertilizers are very harmful to the environment, as they can contribute to water pollution and soil acidification. Making your own compost can help produce healthier plants (without all the bad side effects) and save money. Learn how to easily make your own compost here and remember patience is key. Say hello to a beautiful garden!

4. Learn how to cook more plant-based. I know most of us live (or are going to be living) off-campus, which means cooking for ourselves. We’ve said it before and will say it again; reducing your meat consumption is one of the quickest ways to make a significant carbon footprint change to your lifestyle. This is a comprehensive all-in-one guide to eating a more plant-based diet.

5. Going off of the last two points, GARDENING! Growing your own fruits and vegetables is one of my favourite things to do in the summer because it’s not too difficult and it is also super rewarding. Learn how to start your own garden here and find some of the easiest plants to grow here.

6. Volunteer or work with an environmental organization! You get to do something good for the environment (while maybe making a bit of money) and you’ll feel great doing it! Consider working in your municipal parks, with tree planting initiatives, and even your city’s environmental council!

Enjoy your summer, everyone!