In celebration of Maple Leaf Foods’ third annual Little Changes Day, we sat down with scientist Sarah Habibi to discuss how small, sustainable actions can make a big impact. From growing greens at home to eco-friendly choices, Sarah shares easy, engaging ways Canadians can join the journey toward a greener planet. —Noa Nichol
With Little Changes Day focusing on small, eco-friendly habits, why do you believe small actions, like growing greens from kitchen scraps, can have a significant impact on environmental sustainability?
When it comes to fighting climate change, the worst thing we can do is be apathetic. Any little changes we make in our daily lives, can have a big impact collectively. We’re all in this together and we must start somewhere. Maple Leaf Foods’ research revealed that 84 per cent of Canadians agree that working together to turn the tide of climate change is important but that they don’t know where to start.
Little Changes Day breaks down something that can be intimidating to many and makes making a difference fun and engaging. Some people might view eco-friendly behaviours as a chore, but seeing the progress of the new Grow Your Own Greens challenge is exciting for all the family, not to mention you get some great greens to use at the end of it!
Could you share insights on how the ‘Grow Your Own Greens’ challenge educates families, especially young kids, about the importance of sustainable living and conservation?
The ‘Grow Your Own Greens’ challenge has been created in collaboration with the brilliant kids’ conservation organization, Earth Rangers who are committed to instilling environmental knowledge, positivity, and confidence to take action in every child in Canada. I encourage anyone who hasn’t downloaded it to check out the Earth Rangers app because it’s full of amazing resources!
This specific challenge teaches about the power of healthy soil management and the power of regeneration by explaining how to grow your own greens using kitchen scraps such as lettuce stalks and herb stems. The challenge is just one activity within the wider Future Farmer Mission which explores how regenerative agriculture helps to improve soil health, fight climate change, and increase biodiversity to ensure plants and animals thrive. To date, the mission has received more than 3,000 completed actions!
For families new to indoor gardening, what are some common challenges they might face, and how can they overcome them to make this an enjoyable and successful activity?
A common challenge may be to find the perfect, sunny spot to leave your greens to grow in the house. Windowsills are a nice spot, space permitting, to leave your jars since it will receive natural sunlight during the day. If you find specific areas of your home receive more sunlight than others throughout the day, you can easily move your jar around the house to maximize sun exposure.
Another challenge might be finding the materials to grow your greens, but you don’t need fancy ceramic jars or glass bowls. Take a look in your kitchen for old food containers or packaging and reuse them for your indoor garden. All you need are your food scraps, a container that can hold water and a sunny spot. It’s as easy as it sounds!
In your experience, what are the broader benefits of involving children in sustainable practices, like indoor planting, for their environmental awareness and future habits?
As parents and guardians, we have a duty to help children learn and establish healthy habits for a happy future. Through learning about where their food comes from, kids can have a better appreciation and understanding of the value of food and will be more likely to carry on these habits well into their future. Learning together through hands-on activities also provides an opportunity to bond through quality time. Getting stuck into a project can inspire the imagination far beyond one specific subject. As a toddler mom, I love to do experiments with my son. Remember, while we might be aware that something has an underlying educational purpose, to them, it’s stimulating entertainment!
Are there other simple changes, beyond gardening, that you’d recommend for families looking to make a positive environmental impact in their daily routines?
Yes! In 2023, Maple Leaf Foods and Earth Rangers also collaborated on the ‘All Taste, No Waste’ Challenge, which inspired kids across the country to reduce food waste by logging sustainable food habits in the Earth Rangers app. Some of the habits included upcooking leftovers, purchasing imperfect produce while grocery shopping, and making DIY composts. The results of that challenge were fantastic with Earth Rangers’ Climate Champions saving more than 19,000 plates of food, which is approximately 18 times the weight of a grand piano.
Although the challenge is over, families can still make a positive impact by:
- limiting food waste by encouraging kids to only put food they can eat on their plate;
- freezing food to make it last longer before it spoils;
- turning food scraps into nutritious soil with a DIY compost;
- upcooking leftovers into new and delicious meals;
- picking out produce that may not look appealing but is still healthy and good to eat;
- planning meals around seasonal ingredients to maximize freshness and support local farmers.
What’s your personal fave green to grow and eat?
My personal favourite green to grow and eat is green onion! The process is as simple as adding the stems to a shallow bowl with a few toothpicks to keep it in place. Then, add water to cover the bottom and leave it in a sunny spot for about 10-12 days. Once grown, it’s so easy to use in a seasonal salad or to add it to a delicious sandwich. I love the process of seeing how quick and easy it is to grow greens right at home. It’s also great if you’re in need of some quick, punchy flavour for a recipe and don’t have time to run to the grocery store. The environment AND your wallet will thank you!
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