A Sustainable Fall
Fall has arrived, and it might even feel like winter next week, but I love the change of seasons, and the change of routines that comes with it. These days, my mornings are filled with colorful fall walks, and my evenings are lit up with all the cozy candles. My tea light holders have reappeared from the closets, and I’ve switched into my winter teas - all rooibos and vanilla all the time. As I’ve been transitioning into this new season of cool weather, I’ve been thinking about how to make those changes more sustainable than in previous seasons. Here are a few tips I’ve gathered for you, and I hope they make your fall feel centered as we wind down the year.
Forage your own fall decor
Nothing compares to fall colors, and I love doing some foraging when I’m out. My life is filled with a lot of plant clippings from park bushes in the warmer months, but in the fall when the leaves, acorns, and branches are all falling to the ground, it’s even easier to collect a good wild arrangement.
If there’s anything that I love more than live flowers, it might be dried out ones. The drama of watching them find new shapes in a petrified form is fascinating to me, and the fall is also the perfect time to let your favorite blooms sit a little too long in water and then hang them to dry. Domino Magazine has a full DIY on how to dry flowers.
Pick out and take your favorite reusable mug everywhere
We moved into a new studio in September, and it’s changed up all my routines, but mostly commuting. Now, instead of road-raging my way through the city, I take a leisurely walk to the train station and stop at my favorite coffee shop along the way. I’ve been using reusable mugs for a while, but the change from cold drinks to hot often demands a mug switch up. I believe that if you love the things that come with a habit shift, it encourages the new habit. My indulgent tip for you is to invest in a beautiful mug you’ll want to carry every day. It makes switching from disposable cups to reusable easier, and more satisfying. I have a different Kinto mug (though also want to add this to the collection), and it keeps your hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold all day long, so you’re also not throwing out cups of lukewarm coffee all day and replacing them with more disposable cups. My mug is basically attached to my arm all day long.
Photo from Abdullah Syed | At Home with Abdullah
Avoid takeout, and enjoy more home cooking.
Takeout is king when I’m busy, but it doesn’t really compare to the flavors of home fall cooking. If you’re not already hooked on the Great British Baking Show, I’d suggest starting there for inspiration- the oven is our best friend in the winter with all the baked breads and roasted veggies, plus it helps warm up our home. Eating at home is good for the environment because there’s no take-out containers, and you can really keep track of what’s going into your meals avoiding all the preservatives and mystery ingredients that is so often peppered into our prepared meals. I’m lucky to live in a neighborhood with a year-long farmer’s market, but co-ops are also a great option for sustainably sourced ingredients, and often less packaging than your average grocery store.
Do a wardrobe edit, and invest in taking care of your clothing.
I love clothes shopping, but the more that I invest in higher-priced pieces, the more I want them to last. This year, I pulled out my coat from three years ago and had it dry cleaned so it’s ready for the cold weather shift. We’re supposed to get snow next week in DC, so I’m glad it’s already ready. If you’re in the market for a new coat, my go-to is Everlane because I really love their sustainability practices. They have coats of recycled down, recycled plastic bottles, recycled cashmere sweaters, re-cotton tees, and more. But also be sure that you wear it a few seasons before it’s passed along to the local thrift store.
Recycle your candle jars
In the studio, we offer a candle recycling program where you can bring back your empty Handmade Habitat candle jars for $2 off your next purchase. The record holder is 12 jars returned at once, but we’ll see if anyone beats that this season. It’s a perfect way to keep up your candle collection! We often use these recycled jars in the studio when we need a spare candle container, but you’ll also find them getting a second life as flower vases, tea light holders, catchall containers, and more. If you’re reusing your HH candle jars in any way, tag us, and let us know!
