Sunshine’s finally here, and South London is buzzing!
But while we’re all about enjoying those long summer days, let’s not forget about keeping our corner of the city vibrant and sustainable.
Here are our five favourite tips for a summer that’s light for the environment (and your wallet!), and heavy on good vibes:
1. Two Wheels, Zero Emissions: Embrace Cycling in South London
South London’s streets are alive with sunshine, and what better way to soak it all in than by exploring on two wheels?
Forget the crowded buses and stuffy tubes!
Cycling is a fantastic way to get around South London.
Breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun on your face, and enjoy the sights as you whizz past.
Plus, cycling is a great way to stay healthy and active – perfect for those summer ice cream indulgences!
Don’t have a bike?
No worries! Bike rental are readily available for rent all over the city, making exploring different neighbourhoods a breeze.
Even better if you have your own bike, so you can park where and when you want, without paying extras.
Cycling routes are spread all around London.
We have tried from Battersea to Richmond, most of it across the river themes, and was very magical. so green and beautiful!
A must do for any London summer!
2. Pack a Sustainable Picnic
South London boasts some amazing parks and green spaces – think Southwark Park, Peckham Rye Park, or even your local hidden gem.
But please skip the wasteful disposable plates and cutlery.
If we love our outdoors and spending time in them, we really should make sure we leave them green and clean.
It’s so sad to walk in the park and see so much trash.
So pack your bag with containers, plates, and cutlery from home.
The normal cutlery and plates we use at home are more than enough, easy to clean after and zero cost.
Why should we buy new stuff (even the reusable one), when we already have reusable, free things at home?
This, combined with some fresh food made at home (Spanish frittata, sandwiches, pies, cakes – the list of easily transportable picnic food is endless), some fruit and drinks in can or glass bottle, makes the perfect, sustainable picnic.
And believe us when we say the we do love (love!) picnics.
3. From Farm to Fork: Feast on Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
Speaking of delicious food, why not embrace the bounty that summer gives us in term of fruits and vegetables?
Luckily, June and July are bursting with seasonal goodness, easily accessible in the many groceries and markets in South London.
Think juicy strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a sweet treat.
They can even been picked, package free (and price free!) from the huge and very widespread berry bushes present in most green areas of London.
We picked so many blackberry in Brockwell park last year and made jam for the whole winter!
Savoury options include vibrant courgettes, aubergines and peppers
Very popular among our Mediterranean team members (Marco’s aubergine parmigiana is a common talk at lunchtime these days!), they are versatile vegetable that go well on a BBQ, as a sauce for pasta, deep fried, baked…every excuse is good to eat them plenty!
And don’t forget the peas, green beans and broad beans, for a good source of summer proteins.
By opting for local produce at farmers’ markets or greengrocers, you’re supporting local growers, reducing food miles, and getting the freshest flavours possible.
There will be plenty of time to eat those pumpkin and broccoli later on!
4. Stay Hydrated for Free: Refill on the Go
Staying hydrated is crucial in the summer but there’s no need to rely on single-use plastic bottles.
London has a growing network of free public water fountains!
This website provided by london.gov show a map of london with the location of some refill stations.
Even better, the handy “Refill” app [downloadable here] tell you where to find your nearest fountain, so you can refill your reusable water bottle throughout the day.
And, most bar and café will be happy to offer you a refill of your own water bottle or even just a glass of tap water.
We really have no excuses for buy those expensive (it’s just water!!!) plastic water bottles.
5. Escape to the Seaside Sustainably:
Waterloo? London Bridge? Clapham Junction? Denmark Hill? You name it!
South London boasts fantastic connections to the beautiful English coastline, especially in the south coast of England.
Popular options include the vibrant city of Brighton , the historic town of Hastings or Folkestone, or the charming seaside resort of Broadstairs, Ramsgate or Margate.
Most our team is from countries with a real attachment to seaside summers, so we take all possible occasion to go and smell the sea salt and have the breeze in our hair.
And guess what? We don’t even have cars!
And we don’t need them.
Did you know there are often great deals on train travel from London to popular seaside destinations?
Websites like Trainline or National Rail can help you find budget-friendly and eco-friendly train journeys.
And with a railcard, things can get really cheap (check here).
If you are students, under 30, a family, a senior, disable, or even simply have a best friend to travel your summer out with (we have the travel together card, for example), railcards can offers real deals and make your summers cheap, sunny and sustainable.
Conclusion
There you have it!
With a little creativity and planning, you can have a fantastic summer that’s kind to the environment, your wallet, and your South London community.
So, dust off your bike, grab your reusable water bottle, and get ready to explore all that South London has to offer in a sustainable way.
Remember, even small changes can make a big difference.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, and eco-friendly South London summer for everyone!
Many of us Londoners are no strangers to late nights and busy mornings.
Anxious commuters running to beat rush hour transit queues and packed trains.
Nervous parents scrambling to get their kids to school on time and then go to work.
Mornings have become synonymous with stress and worry.
Many things fall through the cracks.
Until our body and mind demands a break.
On the other hand, it’s so common now to read about morning routines.
From extreme 5AM workout sessions, to elaborate and beautifully curated breakfasts, everyone is telling us how we should or shouldn’t start our mornings.
But the reality is, these things are not achievable most of the time!
Here at Southstainable, we are all about embracing the chaos, and leaning into it.
This means identifying the things that truly brings us peace, inviting those aspects into our life, and not feeling guilty to drop what everybody else is doing.
We cherish the unexpected, the parts that don’t fit, and the messy aspects that make for a beautiful life.
Living intentionally means creating habits that are simple to follow, that make life easier rather than more difficult, and don’t require a huge bank account or 5 am alarms!
Here are 5 things that we have been experimenting with and have worked for us.
We would like to encourage you to try them, to see if they fit for you, and invite you to make your life a little more intentional.
1. Leave your curtains open.
Don’t underestimate the power of natural light – starting your day with sun rays flowing into your room is the best way to calibrate your circadian rhythm.
Tip: Set a reminder on your phone to open the curtains before you fall asleep at night.
2. Ditch your alarm clock
A blaring alarm at 7AM is enough to make anyone cranky – try setting your alarm to calm music, or your favourite song to make waking up something to look forward to!
Tip: Any song will do, we personally recommend something with no words, with a slow rhythm and happy vibe.
3. Drink an entire glass of water
This one seems too obvious, but despite constant recommendations to increase water intake, most people still aren’t getting enough water throughout the day!
Keeping a carafe of water and a glass near your bed gives you a head start on reaching your water goals, and is a much healthier kickstart to your day than coffee.
Tip: everything becomes easier if you allocate a specific glass to a specific place. Fill it at night and place it in its allocated place, so it is already there when you wake up.
4. Start your day off with a walk
Don’t get us wrong, we know working out in the morning doesn’t sound like something appealing.
However, kick-starting your day doesn’t have to mean a sweat-inducing workout; it could just mean a walk to your local café, or a wander through your neighbourhood.
A big part of living with purpose is being in harmony with your body, not a slave to it.
We recommend making it at least 15 minutes, possibly paired with a good stretch after.
We got in the habit of going for a walk around the house lately and that has really boosted our morning!
Tip: Use your morning walk to visit your local café, and treat yourself with a small snack or fresh coffee to support your local neighbourhood.
5. Use visual cues to help your future self
One of the most difficult parts of the morning is that AM haze.
It can be easy to forget essentials, like bringing your packed lunch, making sure to grab your umbrella, or taking out the bin.
Do your future self a favour by leaving out visual cues the night before, like a lunchbox next to the fridge, or a water bottle on the counter.
Tip: if you know you use the same items everyday, find a place to put them down when you finish using them. If items have a proper home, it will be easier to remember where they are.
Conclusion
A sustainable life entails finding the balance between our mental and physical needs and our life habits and commitments.
Meeting your mind and body’s needs by slowing down and making intentional decisions can make a big difference between living a life that drains your energy and a life that enhances your spirit.
Imagine walking along a supermarket aisle with tons of products perfectly packed, all in line, more or less the same.
The store is silent aside from the occasion till beeps. Your fellow shoppers are plugged with earpods, and there is minimal interaction.
You can only hope to learn about a product by trusting what is written on the label.
Now imagine a different shopping reality; instead walking into a shop and being greeting by vivid colours, shapes and sizes of all kinds, smells and aromas that are both familiar and new.
You are enveloped by the warm buzz of people chatting in different languages, cadences, and vibrations from every part of the world.
You can touch the products and ask the vendors anything, about the origins, the materials, and even best ways to pick a good fruit.
Most products are free from plastic, but best of all, they are imperfectily perfect.
Which would you choose?
If you’d choose the second, then you, like us, will love the local markets.
Here in South London we have plenty of beautiful local markets, in every neighborhood, from Brixton, Peckham, Deptford, to Tooting, Wimbledon and Walworth, South London is THE place for local markets.
These markets offer beautiful products which are cheaper than supermarkets, more varied, often sustainably sourced and not wrapped in plastic.
They also often offer products linked to ancient roots, tradition and unique ways of dressing and living.
They are products that are hand made, upcycled, made from the community, for the community.
They represent values, love and culture.
Despite being a great option for shopping, local markets are often neglected.
This might be because of the convenience of the supermarket, including proximity, misconceptions on who should (or would) frequent certain venues, or simply because of brand awareness.
Large companies retain customer bases by establishing themselves so heavily in certain areas that people subconciously feel safe purchasing from them, whether it’s because they know the brand is well-known, or they know their friends shop there!
More than anything, the local markets may appear intimidating, especially to a shopper who is not local. Many may feel a sense of (understandable) anxiety about all of this.
To try to break this barrier, is important to de-mystify local market shopping, and arm yourself with the best practices to shop in a confident and informed way!
Taking the first step will allow you to embrace and include yourself in the community, all while sustaining yourself and your family!
Here are some of our favorite tips for shopping like a local:
Ask the price before you buy
If you are used to supermarkets (or even if you are not), you may find it strange that often there are no explicit prices for products, especially at the butcher or the greengrocer.
It’s also common that prices are expressed only per kilogram, and with some cheeky market vendors, and not being able to weigh things yourself, you may end up paying prices you didn’t expect.
The key here is to ask the price before you buy! Continue asking for estimates while products are being weighed, and don’t be afraid to ask for slightly more or less of something.
Be clear here, and don’t be embarrassed about asking for clarity.
Build relationships with your vendors.
Shopping at our local market is an embrace of community – a profound connection that goes beyond transactions.
It’s about running into familiar faces, engaging in heartfelt conversations with neighbors, and supporting the dreams of local businesses.
Every visit is an opportunity to connect with the beating heart of our community – the vendors.
These aren’t just faces behind counters and they can be your best assets.
Visit the same vendor and they will know what are you are looking for and remember what you like.
They will likely help you pick out the right fruit, or give you a tip on the best cut of meat to buy for a certain recipe.
Above all else, be kind.
At the end of the day, the market vendors are members of your neighborhood, and just a few kind words and familiarity could lead not just to a great deal on groceries, but also a a stronger sense of community!
Our favorite greengrocer in Brixton, Danny’s Greengrocers, always greets us with a big smile, and more often than not, gifts us a few free items!
Bring your own bag and refuse plastic
Plastic bag use is more often than not the standard practice in shops, and changing this means being proactive individually!
Many people today already bring their own reusable bags for shopping, but more often than not vendors offer plastic bags anyways out of habit.
Be polite, but firm in declining; slowly, showcasing that there is not a necessity for these bags, vendors will hopefully stop offering them.
It’s good practice to bring more than one reusable bag, in case you end up purchasing more than expected, and even to bring other containers!
Handing a glass or plastic reusable container to the butcher is a great sustainable hack to avoid waste.
Conclusions
In a world that sometimes feels disconnected, the local market stands as a testament to the power of roots. Utilizing the markets is not just about shopping; it’s about embracing the heartbeat of a neighborhood, finding joy in the everyday, and creating bonds that make our community stronger.
So, the next time you step into our local market, let the colors, scents, and stories embrace you – for in these moments, we find the essence of what makes our community truly extraordinary.
Happy 2024! We hope you spent it with the ones you love, doing things you love!
The beginning of the new year is often a time for setting some intentions, goals or even just thinking about old and new ways of living life.
And if it’s true that new year resolutions fail within months, it’s likely because they are too difficult or not necessarily deeply thought out. However, it is possible to set easy and attainable New Year intentions that are both fun, achievable and impactful.
Speaking of which, if your goal is to find some easy, actionable and impactful ways to sustain yourself and your community better in 2024, you can start with our 4 easy tips!
1) Switch to rechargeable batteries.
Did you know that most rechargeable batteries can be refused hundreds of times?
This not only means sending less single use batteries to waste, but also saving money on buying new batteries!
Battery chargers can be bought for less than 10 pounds in many shops, and rechargeable batteries are usually from 2 to 6 pounds (for hundreds of usage!).
Easy maths, clear savings!
2) Swap clothes with your friends.
Was your friend wearing a cute outfit at the Christmas Party?
What about asking them if they want to swap?
Maybe your family or friends have old clothes they want to donate or that are too big/small to wear?
As an alternative idea, you can search for clothes swap events in your neighborhood or utilize clothes apps like Vinted or Depop.
Swapping clothes is a fun way to have “new” items to wear, whilst feeling connected to your community, and protecting the environment from the pollution of fast fashion.
And- it’s free!
3) Learn how to store food properly.
Food waste is not just bad for the environment, but is also a waste of money and potentially even harmful.
What about learning how to preserve food so that it stays fresh for longer?
Pickle, fermented, dried, frozen, there are plenty of ways to make food last longer.
Even learning to organise it in appropriate containers for the fridge and the pantry can have a big Impact on the food (and money) you send to the bin instead of giving it to your body!
4) Include more walkng in your communte.
Want to start the new year on the right foot?
What about rethinking your commute to include more walking (or cycling!).
Walking more can benefit your health, help your mental wellbeing, pollute less and save you the money spent on car/public transport.
Even taking the tube from the next stop ahead, or parking a bit further from your destination, can make a big difference.
I’ll be honest with you: at home we were counting the days to to put up our Christmas decorations and playing those cheesy christmas pop songs!
There is really something magical about Christmas and even if we don’t celebrate the religious aspect of it, the winter holidays are truly times for joy, celebration, and togetherness.
However, especially those days of consumerism, sales and trends, Christmas can also be a time of excessive consumption and waste.
Themed mugs, plastic decorations, fake Christmas trees, a billion different jumpers, perfumes, toys, etc.
Christmas could easily turn in a disaster for our planet and for our pockets.
Is it possible to have a more intentional, mindful and sustainable winter celebration in our beloved London?
Of course it is.
These are few of our best experiences to save money while nurturing our souls, families, friends and the environment:
1. Gift an experience!
“Oh no, not another hat!”
I have said this sentence many times! Every Christmas I used to receive essentially the same objects: pyjamas, hats, socks, jumpers.
Two months later, they were living in the drawer and to sadly only come out the following Christmas, just in time to be replaced by next ones.
Most gifted object are really not needed and they end up creating clutter and/or being disposed and contribute to environmental pollution. Objects are not forever.
So, instead of buying material gifts that will just end up in landfill, consider giving the gift of experience.
This could be a voucher for a cooking class, a ticket to a theatre show, or a donation to a charity in their name.
Shared memories last for a lifetime, and cannot be lost.
So, go and plan an experience to share with your loved ones!
2. Explore a Christmas market!
If you really need to buy that winter decoration, then local Christmas markets are the perfect place. Not only do they often sell handmade and tailored products, made with intentionality and with care for the environment, but these markets are also a great way to support local businesses.
We have explored a bunch of South London markets and our favourites are “Southbank Centre Winter Market“, “Brixton Market” and “Greenwich Christmas Market”.
They are all with free admission and lots to see! Stroll through the lights and take in some sights together.
The markets are a perfect match if you, like us, go just for the experience without buying objects, as they always provide great local food, music, and amazing winter vibes!
For more on the South London Christmas Market, you can follow this amazing guide provided by the South London Club.
3. Take in a movie together at the cinema!
Christmas movies are a great classic and we have been watching a few in the cosiness of our home.
But isn’t even more magical to wrap up in warm clothes, buy some popcorn and immerse ourselves in an actual cinema?
What a great experience that is! And it makes it a perfect sustainable winter gift!
A cinema ticket, carefully tucked inside a festive envelope, is more than a ticket to a film; it’s an invitation to laughter, tears, and unforgettable moments.
Whether it’s a timeless classic, a blockbuster hit, or an indie gem, this thoughtful gesture allows your loved ones to immerse themselves in a world of storytelling, where the memories linger long after the credits roll.
Yes, yes, I can see you thinking that cinemas are not really low cost.
Well, if you live in South London, they are!
Peckhamplex in Peckham and Odeon in Streatham, Surrey Quays, Wimbledon and Greenwich, for example, offer films for £6 and under!
They are cute, old school, local cinemas which are not just low budget, but also super cosy (we managed to bring in our own food too!)
If you haven’t been yet, this is the season.
4. Host an event!
If you know us by now, you know that we truly love two things: food and people.
There is nothing more magical than spending time with your loved ones around the table eating, drinking, laughing and telling stories.
Yes, we don’t really need a festivity to invite people over, but we take any excuse to do so.
Hosting an event is a great way to celebrate the winter season without spending an enormous amount of money eating out, and also gives the chance to try some low-cost, low-waste recipes (you will find a few on our blog).
You can also try to organize a potluck!
Make a few main dishes, and invite each of your friends to bring a dish!
And what about picking a theme?
Choose a fun theme to add the festivity of your holiday dinner!
You can also create mementos and send your guests home with something to remember the night, like a Polaroid picture or a personalised placecard!
Food and social makes a long lasting gift for the memories.
5. D.I.Y.
Not sold on gifting an experience? Wanting to show up with something tangible?
Well, then the most sustainable thing you can do is to create something with your own two hands!
You can gift some homemade treats for example.
Since the holidays are the time for indulgence, do make use of the time off, and learn to make something yummy to bring to that friend or family dinner.
Or if you are hosting, the end of the year is the perfect time to reinvent your space, and with DIY methods, you can do so on a budget!
You can still create a festive atmosphere at home without using excessive amounts of plastic and disposable items.
Re-use decorations from previous years, or make your own from natural materials.
And when it comes to wrapping paper, opt for reusable or recyclable alternatives.
If you really feel creative, you can even try to craft some Christmas decorations to gift.
The internet is full of ideas and tutorials. Find one and start moving your hands!
6. Donate your time
If you are looking to spend zero pennies but still gift something valuable, you can donate your time.
Volunteer at a local charity, donate food to a food bank, or simply smile and say hello to your neighbours.
South London is full of charities and food banks you can volunteer or donate, and the homeless people are struggling in winter more than ever (here for a list of London’s food banks)
Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
This Winter Holiday, donate experiences, memories, handcrafts or your time instead of objects.
Last year when I was a full time teacher I once did a little workshop about how to bake.
I thought that only few students (16-18) would be interested, given that we live in a society of take aways, ready meals, deliveries.
To my surprise, 150 students signed up…150!
I was pleasantly surprised.
Young people needs that no one talk about:
When I asked them what made them sign up for a baking lesson in school, they all had pretty much the same answer: “no one ever taught us this!”
After the workshop, which features nearly adult people cracking an egg for the first time in their life, they all asked for more.
“It is such a shame that school doesn’t teach us the skills of our grandparents.”
“I have no idea how to change a lightbulb”
“My family calls the handyman when something breaks so I have no idea what to do myself in those situations”.
It was very inspiring.
These nearly adults were craving something we didn’t think they would: real life skills!
Skill to sustain themselves and finally leap into independent adulthood!
This is one of the very reasons why Southstainable was born. To inspire curiosity and educate people about the good old skill that gives us the ability to sustain ourselves, our household and everybody’s household (a.k.a. Planet Earth).
The Sustainable Skills for Life
There are many useful household skills that can contribute to a more organized, efficient, and sustainable life.
Here are what we think are the most valuable household skills (ok random order-ish) that we should consider learning:
1. Cooking
This is our personal core value.
Being able to prepare nutritious meals, knowing where to buy the ingredients low waste and how to dispose of them, can save money, improve health, and massively help being in harmony with ourselves and the planet.
A conscious relationship with food is indeed one of the pillars of sustainable living,.
2. Basic Sewing
Being able to mend clothing or make simple repairs can extend the life of your garments and save money on alterations.
In a world of fast fashion or expensive brands, repairing socks or patch broken clothes, for example can really be a money and planet saver.
3. Energy Conservation
Do you know how much your house consumes?
How much does a 15Kw electric heater consume and cost to run?
When is the best time to run the washing machine?
With energy bills being a very costly part of our life now, learning to be mindful of energy usage and adopting energy-saving practices can contribute to a more sustainable living and really build a cost-effective home.
4. Budgeting and Financial Management
Even grown up adults struggle to fully understanding how to pay bills, taxes, claims, pensions, etc.
To be fair, we are on the same boat and are putting in a good effort to become more financially literate.
And let’s remember that the more we can sustain ourselves financially, the less of a burden and worry becomes to sustain others.
5. Laundry and Cleaning Skills
Understanding how to properly sort, wash, and care for your clothing can help them last longer and maintain their quality.
Knowing how to use alternative sustainable products such as soda bicarbonate or vinegar, can make a real difference not only for the environment but also for our pockets!
The more we know how to use every day products, the less we need to buy them!
6. Basic Home Repairs
When is the last time you change a light bulb?
Can you use a drill?
Can you fix a toilet pipe?
Knowing basic home repairs save tons of money and time and it by far one of the most important thing to learn.
Back in the days most people knew how to take care of their own home without having to spend money or wait for a technician to come.
How freeing would it be to go back to this?
7. Gardening
Today is all about house plants.
We are told that green is calming, that plants clean air, that makes our mind feel more happy.
Apart from that, learning how to take care of plants can provide great help to a sustainable living.
Cultivating a small garden, even if it’s just a few potted plants, can provide fresh herbs, vegetables, or flowers. It can light up your indoor space.
It can teach us how to pay attention to the slow but steady rythm of nature.
And if we are joining a community garden, it can really foster belonging and kindness.
8. First Aid
Basic first aid skills can be crucial in handling minor injuries or emergencies that may arise at home.
Some of these are taught in school and at CPD or private courses.
We feel it is very important that everyone has at least a basic understanding of how to deal with healthy issues.
It can really save lives.
9. Waste Management
you know how much we care about this. It breaks our heart to see how dirty and full of trash our streets and garden are sometimes.
Properly recycling and disposing of waste materials is not only environmentally responsible but also contributes to a cleaner and safer living space.
Not only in our house but also in our communities.
10. Communication Skills
Lastly, probably the most important skills of all.
The art of being humans, of being kind, of being a family.
Effective communication is key to maintaining healthy relationships within the household.
This includes active listening, expressing oneself clearly, and resolving conflicts peacefully.
Sometimes we see people on the street shouting at each other, even at children, or treating other people with anger and rudeness.
Everyone can have bad days, worries or stress, so it is a fundamental skill to learn to navigate ourselves through our emotions in a safe and nurturing way.
