We have recently achieved status as a Plastic Free Ally in an effort to limit our use of single use plastics. To maintain this status we will strive to find alternatives to single use plastics in what we undertake in the garden, The Heart Space and at events that we take part in.
Becoming an Ally does not mean that we have completely eliminated our use of single use plastics. What it does mean, however, is that we are consistently trying to find alternative ways to gradually diminish our dependence on single use plastics and to incorporate this into our ethos of the garden and all our users. We have started to make changes by:-
- Buying more sustainable toilet rolls without any plastic packaging.
- Thoughtfully buying tea bags that don’t contain plastic (not as easy as you think and is a work in progress.)
- Making much of our own compost thus decreasing plastic packaging.
- Buying compostable drinks cups for public events (this is a mind-field of complexities and we will continually monitor developments in the plastic elements incorporated into ‘compostable’ drinks cups.)
- Not using pesticides or any other chemicals in the garden so another plastic packaged item is eliminated.
- Growing our own plants and vegetables from seed and dividing existing plants means we seldom purchase these in plastic pots – with the added bonus that we don’t buy shop-bought plants grown on in peat.
- Our ‘Friday produce day’ encourages local residents to drop into the garden and buy fresh, seasonal, chemical-free produce without any packaging.
There will always be many more changes to make at the garden and we are at the start of our journey. We will share any innovative single use plastic swaps that we discover and would love to hear from you if you have any useful tips.
Okehampton Community Garden 