10 tips for an environmentally friendly family summer
Sometimes all the appeals to please live more environmentally consciously and do something good for the future of our planet seem grey and distant to me. But this future is colourful and is sitting next to me. She digs her feet into the green summer grass and asks me with raspberry spots on her chin: «Mum, why are there so few butterflies left?»
What we do or don't do today determines how our children will live tomorrow. As soon as we realise this as parents, we have the best motivation to take steps towards sustainable living. And at no other time of year is this as much fun as in summer!
Here are our top ten sustainability tips for families in summer:
1. go to the market and the farm shop
All the fresh, colourful, crunchy produce from our region can now be found at markets and in direct sales from the farm. There are new varieties every month, bursting with flavour and bursting with vitamins. Even little vegetable haters are willing to try something new. Especially if they can choose it themselves and then look at the farm animals afterwards. Or eat a delicious snack at the market. Of course, we have a few thin cloth bags with us for packing.
2. avoid packaging
Eating pre-packaged ice cream, buying a bottle of iced tea, taking a mini pack of sun cream for the pool, grilling sausages in a fresh aluminium tray ... Stop! You can do it with less packaging.
Ice cream is available fresh from the ice cream parlour in a cone. We pack drinks and snacks at home in reusable containers. We can buy sunscreen and other products in cheaper bulk packs and fill them into small reusable containers. We clean the grill grate with a brush and heat so that no harmful aluminium gets into our food.
3. less meat - even on the barbecue
The occasional bratwurst, burger or steak tastes great. Preferably organic and from the local butcher or farmer. But before our meat consumption explodes in summer, we can try other delicious barbecue recipes : Vegetable kebabs, giant stuffed mushrooms, grilled cheese, fish (preferably MSC labelled), pizza and stuffed bread.
We should avoid plastic crockery and cutlery, disposable barbecues, charcoal made from tropical wood and chemical firelighters.
4. water little and with rainwater
We don't yet know whether this summer will be as hot as last summer. But we can choose drought-resistant varieties when planting, especially for sunny gardens and balconies. If we only water the garden when it is really necessary, our plants will sprout deeper roots in order to take better care of themselves.
Early in the morning or late in the evening, the water can seep in particularly well, less evaporation occurs with drip hoses than with sprinkler systems - and it is best to collect the rainwater for watering.
5. use natural products instead of chemicals
Every chemical product we use in the garden not only affects groundwater and beneficial organisms. We also absorb harmful substances through our breathing and skin, especially through children's bare feet. Fortunately, there are natural alternatives: compost or plant manure instead of artificial fertilisers. Nettle broth or ladybird larvae instead of spraying chemical mace against aphids, traps instead of seeds for slug infestations. Citronella candles and essential oils help against mosquitoes without any side effects.
6 Living well with the heat
Even if we start to sweat in extreme temperatures, we should largely avoid the high power consumption of air conditioning systems and fans. Darken the house and flat with blinds or curtains during the day, allow a slight draught in the evening and hang damp cloths in front of the windows at night when it is very hot. All of this ensures natural cooling.
Ideally, we should adapt our rhythm to the temperatures: Take a siesta indoors at midday, seek the coolness of the forest in the afternoon and live well into the balmy evening.
Ice-cold drinks and cold showers constrict the blood vessels for a short time, but then make the feeling of heat worse!
7. dry laundry outside
Our tumble dryer can go on holiday in summer. The sun does the work for it, we just need to set up a clothes horse or rack outside. Incidentally, anyone in Switzerland is allowed to do this. If the tenancy agreement or house rules prohibit drying laundry on the balcony, this prohibition is invalid. Only permanently attached lines require authorisation.
A nice side effect of fresh air drying: the sun naturally bleaches away fruit and vegetable stains. If necessary, we can help with light-coloured clothes with a few splashes of lemon juice. To prevent dark-coloured clothes from fading, avoid direct sunlight or turn inside out.
8. upcycling clothes
Did you know that the fashion industry produces more greenhouse gases every year than all international flights and ships combined? Buying new clothes all the time is just as bad for the family budget as it is for the environment.
Good thing we can get new outfits much more cheaply in summer: Simply cut off the jeans and long-sleeved shirts from winter that have become too short - ritschratsch, you've got new shorts and T-shirts! If you don't like fringed hems, you can sew them around or fix them with iron-on tape. Mum's discarded jumpers and dad's old shirts can be turned into airy garments for children; lots of ideas and patterns are available at Kreativlabor Berlin. Clothes fairs and second-hand shops are also sustainable.
9. walk, cycle, take public transport
Who wants to get into a stuffy car when the sun is shining so beautifully? Now is the best time to clean and check all the family's bikes - and get cycling! When the children outgrow their sandals, buy comfortable trekking sandals instead of fancy straps; walking for long periods in them is the most fun in summer. In the mountains, however, they should be ankle-high hiking boots.
Trams, buses and trains are affordable for families thanks to supersaver tickets, Half-Fare travelcards, Junior travelcards, Family Cards and the like. Don't forget to reserve seats, especially with small children! Then travelling by public transport is always more fun and more ecological than being stuck in a traffic jam.
10. go on holiday nearby.
Let's be honest, when is it more beautiful in Switzerland and our neighbouring countries than in summer? Whether we're drawn to the lakes or the mountains, to do sports or discover culture - we don't have to get on a plane and fly far away. We can save money and travel for longer, avoid illness and safety risks, deepen our roots and create wonderful family memories close to home. Our environment and all the nice local holiday providers will thank us!
Do you have any other ideas? Feel free to write them in the comments.
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