5 simple ways to love the world with intention

We’ve had this phrase in our minds lately – “little by little”. Kev and I have seen firsthand the fruit that comes from building on decisions over time. One day you look back and say, “Hey, we’re doing something!” Our little by little intentions, over time, will inevitably bear something, and we want to encourage you today – let’s make it good! Let’s collectively take five minutes to reflect on the small changes we can all make to impact the earth, our families, careers and all of our relationships.

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” ~ Socrates

As we pause this month to celebrate Earth Day (April 22) and do our part to love our world, we wanted to share how our family has been intentional about making changes in our life.

Here are five ways that we do this as a family:

·      Being more conscious of our waste – You know the feeling you get when you throw yet another plastic container in the garbage and think, “There must be a better way?” Well, the founders of Canadian company, Tru Earth, felt the same way and designed a concentrated laundry soap, the size of a business card, that dissolves in your washing cycle. It’s amazing! As a family of six living on a hobby farm, we have a lot of laundry. We need powerful soap to get our clothes clean and Tru Earth has managed to do this in such a sustainable, earth-friendly way!

Every 32-load package you order potentially eliminates one laundry jug from ending up in a landfill. Manufactured in Canada, all their laundry soaps are phosphate and paraben-free, free of added dyes and bleach and many other harmful chemicals. We love that this little piece of paper (that’s what it feels like!) is good for us AND the environment. The laundry soap is affordable, and I love that it can arrive in our mailbox in recycled cardboard any time we need it!

By rethinking an area of waste, Tru Earth has been able to revolutionize how we do laundry. Little by little we can change areas of our life, and this company has proven that. We are so excited to watch this Canadian company grow!

 ·      Composting, growing our own food, and the hobby farm – There is something about growing your own food, and then using your own food to help the soil on your land improve over time. These practises help us feel better connected to our world and the way we were created to live. Something in the tangibility of all these habits is fulfilling to us as a family. Our goats, Bubba and Joey, provide constant entertainment every time we are down collecting eggs or working in our garden!

Now don’t misunderstand us, we aren’t full homesteaders! Everything isn’t “from scratch” in our home. But little by little we are implementing more thoughtful and healthy ways in our life as a family. My childhood memories are filled with days on my Grandpa’s dairy farm – working and learning beside him. How to tend and care, day by day, for that which was in his hands. The way it made me feel and the practical lessons it taught me I still inhabit to this day.

·      Thrifting – I like to think that the Fritz family are thoughtful consumers. If there is a need in our family, I often asks the question, “Can I purchase this at the thrift store first?” This practise covers so many things for us. Thrifting allows quality items to have a longer lifespan and less items end up in landfills. I consider thrifting for things like clothing and shoes, household small appliances, books, kids toys – you name it, I have found it on a bargain at a thrift store!

Being mindful of how we spend and choosing second-hand items first also creates more room in our budget for other things that could cost more. It’s a way we can curate our budget to invest more in the larger items (like ski trips to the mountains!) and then use thrifting as a way to soften the expenditures!

·      Using products with cleaner ingredients - Reducing the chemical intake in our homes feels more in tune with taking care of our bodies and our world. By being mindful of the ingredients in our products and its potential impact on our health, we feel that we can grow little by little towards a healthier home.

 One company that we love is Rocky Mountain Soap Co, founded right here in Alberta. They create bath and body products with ingredients that are 100% natural and simple.  I’ve been enjoying Rocky Mountain Soap Co for over 10 years and just love that I can feel good using it in my home. A few of my favourites are their shave bar (eliminates the need for a shaving can that also ends up in a landfill!), their lemongrass hand soap or the bubblebath for kids. The scent is light, never overpowering and gives me the feeling of ease knowing the ingredients are safe for my family!

·     Shopping with purpose – Another way we can be mindful consumers is shopping with companies that take into consideration their global impact. Companies that provide fair wages to those they employ is really important to us! Tofino Towel Co, another beautiful Canadian-owned company, creates gorgeous linens and multipurpose products as they work with artisans around the world. When we can, purchasing from companies that are thoughtful about their impact on the earth and humanity is really important to us! 

Every spring we participate in our community clean-up and this has become such a great way to teach our kids about being mindful of the world around us, meet our neighbours and take care of our community. If we can all be responsible for what happens inside and outside our front door, we can collectively have a greater impact.  

“Pull your boundaries in smaller and see how much impact you can make in your own puddle, before you move out to the lake!” ~ Heather

Switching brands and making decisions on which products are good can be hard. We have a world full of rapidly changing information and as we grow in our knowledge, it can be hard to know where to start or feel that our own choices make a difference. But if we all stop to see what we’re already doing and how small changes build over time we can spur others on to the same mindset!

To celebrate Earth Month we have a giveaway! All of the Canadian companies listed above - Tru Earth, Rocky Mountain Soap Co. and Tofino Towel Co. – have collectively curated a beautiful package for one of you! Watch our Instagram to find out how you can win!

How are you going to intentionally love the earth little by little this month?