A lot of people are talking about mutual aid right now, and for good reason. Mutual aid is a great way for communities to come together to support each other when government can’t (or won’t). And with there being so many cuts to environmental protection policies, you may feel that more than ever. Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty down about the state of the world. Its made it hard to write, even on my blog (a place I derive so much joy from). While we should absolutely mourn (environmental anxiety and grief are real!), we should also strive to better our planet however we can. I refuse to give up or give in to climate doomism. There’s still so much to love about this big blue-green miracle and I intend on doing my part in protecting her – big or small. I hope you will too. And that includes protecting people! Here are some ideas to inspire you.
10 Sustainable Mutual Aid Ideas to Combat Climate Doomism
1. Join a local mutual aid group
Look to see if you have a local mutual aid group near you. You can do a quick google search, or check on Facebook groups. Here are some located in NYC. Consider volunteering your time, or donating to one of the groups in your area. You might make a few new friends in the process, and you’ll be having such a huge impact on your community directly.
2. Donate to a community fridge and/or food pantry
Do you have a community fridge near you? Or a food pantry? Consider donating food or volunteering your time to these areas.
Food justice matters because everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. After all, how can you advocate for the planet if you’re struggling to simply feed yourself, or your family?
If you live in New York, here’s a map of community fridges you can donate to. Staten Island has one as well on Forest Avenue! Your local church may also have a food pantry you can inquire about and donate to.
3. Start or give to an existing seed library
A seed library is a great resource for anyone who wants to start a garden but doesn’t have the means or knowledge on how to do so. Gardens are wonderful ways to localize our food, reduce food miles, pesticide usage, and create food security.
Check and see if there are any seed libraries near you. Sometimes public libraries will have them! Other times a simple search of ‘seed libraries near me’ will popup some great results!
You can also search for ‘plant swaps’ or ‘seed swaps’ near you. Local cafes, libraries, or horticulture clubs may offer these from time to time, especially in the spring or near Earth Day.
Also, if you have a grandparent who gardens, consider asking them if they saved any seeds from their garden! Seed saving is a wonderful way to preserve heirloom varieties.
If you already have a garden, consider practicing seed saving and offering to create a seed library in your local library to share with others!
4. Donate clothes and home goods
Have some extra clothes or home goods you’re not using? Consider donating them to people in your local community, or offering it to a loved one who might need it.
By joining a local Buy Nothing group, you can list anything you have for free and see who needs it. It helps people save money and reduces waste at the same time!
You can also host or find a local clothing swap near you! Relauren wrote a fantastic in-depth post all about how to host one (she’s done it herself!).
5. Double a meal and give it to someone in need
If you enjoy cooking, consider doubling a meal and giving it to a neighbor, or someone in your community who could use it. Do you know someone elderly in your apartment complex, or someone who recently had a baby? Gifting them a meal would help them out a lot! Just be sure to communicate with them to follow any dietary needs/allergies they may have.
6. Offer to mend clothes
Sewing and embroidery are becoming rare skills. If you possess them, offer to mend clothes for people in your community, even if it’s just within your friend group. You’ll help them keep their garments out of the landfill a little while longer (which is great FYI because we have enough clothes on the planet right now for the next six generations).
7. Lend your skills
Do you have any special skills you could share with your community, friends or family? Maybe you’re good at art, programming, or mechanics? Consider offering your skills to people in need in your community, free of charge. You could do this via word of mouth or posting it on local forums, like Buy Nothing groups.
8. Start or attend a repair cafe
A repair cafe is a really fun concept I’d love to see implemented more. A repair cafe is basically an event where you take broken household items to and see if one of the volunteers there can fix it!
Essentially, it’s a space where individuals can learn how to repair their items with help from skilled volunteers. This helps reduce so much waste and gives items a second life.
You can find repair cafes held in community centers, libraries and churches. See if there are any happening near you, or start one yourself!
9. Start, or join, a community garden
I joined a community garden during Covid and it was one of the best things I did in 2020. It got me out of the house and connecting with nature in a time when most of us were stuck at home.
But did you know community gardens are also wonderful ways to create food security in your community? Many people living in low income or BIPOC neighborhoods lack access to affordable fresh produce, so having a community garden in spaces like these creates food sovereignty.
If you have a community garden near you, consider applying to join it and get involved. Growing your own food is a huge perk, but it’s also nice to interact with other gardeners and see what they need help with. Many will be happy to help you and teach you in exchange! Many community gardens also donate some of their surplus to nonprofit organizations that help feed people in need.
If your community doesn’t have one, consider starting one! If you live in NYC, here’s a guide to starting a community garden.
10. Attend a local meeting with a progressive organization
Look into progressive organizations in your area that are helping both people and planet. You might be surprised at what you find! For example, Protectors of Pine Oak Woods is a wonderful non-profit organization that’s Staten Island’s (where I’m from) premiere conservation organization.
If an organization lets you, consider sitting in on a meeting and sharing your thoughts or tips. You can find one by typing “environmental nonprofits” or “progressive organizations” with “near me.”
There are bound to be local environmental nonprofits you’ve never even heard of! You can check Intersectional Environmentalist’s database to find some amazing nonprofits doing the hard work – all you need to do is get involved!
So, what do you think of these sustainable mutual aid ideas? Are there any more you can think of I may have missed? Add them in the comments below so we can make this a resource!
For more ways to stay optimistic in these dark times, be sure to check out these sustainable Instagram accounts that promote climate positivity! And here are some ways to find joy sustainably.
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