To express your personality, creativity, and values without fast fashion or purchasing more clothes and accessories, styling clothes you already own is essential. For example, you can use a dress as a skirt, or long sleeves as a halter top. Also, you can learn to alter or upcycle clothes to express your individuality with items you already own. Lastly, you can create accessories or jewelry using various household items or beads from the craft store. If you decide to buy more clothes, thrift and other secondhand stores are a great place to look!

Community gardens are awesome. They pull carbon from the air, grow fresh food, cool down city heat, soak up rain, and bring people together. I love them because they’re proof that small, local action can actually move the needle on climate stuff and growing your own tomato? Total win.

Bamboo stuff isn’t super common around Normal, but you can still find great eco swaps. I’m into hemp clothes, stainless steel straws, cork accessories, wheat straw dishes, and silicone kitchenware. Local shops and online stores make it pretty easy to go green without the guesswork.