6 Ways to Share With Neighbours That Will Help You and the Planet
From tool libraries to community gardens, there are lots of ways local people can band together and do some good
It’s community that got us through the crises of the past few years. Whether it was helping with food shopping for vulnerable family members or neighbours at the start of the pandemic, or sharing tips for coping with challenges in social media groups or Houzz discussions, we’ve learned to lean on others and offer support.
There are lots of ways to extend this community spirit past times of crisis and into everyday life. Why not pool resources with your neighbours or share tasks around the home and garden? And as an added benefit, sharing is more sustainable, as it reduces the number of new products manufactured.
There are lots of ways to extend this community spirit past times of crisis and into everyday life. Why not pool resources with your neighbours or share tasks around the home and garden? And as an added benefit, sharing is more sustainable, as it reduces the number of new products manufactured.
2. Toy and nappy libraries
In neighbourhoods with lots of children, using the same model as tool libraries to share toys or resources is a great way to offset some expense. Nappy libraries, where parents can try out different styles of cloth nappies, also help to promote sustainable lifestyles.
Find the right pros for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
In neighbourhoods with lots of children, using the same model as tool libraries to share toys or resources is a great way to offset some expense. Nappy libraries, where parents can try out different styles of cloth nappies, also help to promote sustainable lifestyles.
Find the right pros for your project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
3. Food collectives
Food collectives or mutual buying schemes are a way to bring fresh, healthy and affordable food to your community by buying produce in bulk. This can take the form of community-run grocery shops or more informal schemes.
Food collectives or mutual buying schemes are a way to bring fresh, healthy and affordable food to your community by buying produce in bulk. This can take the form of community-run grocery shops or more informal schemes.
Need a pro for your home renovation project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
4. Social media swaps
Looking for dining chairs? Don’t need that TV unit anymore? Neighbourhood swap groups are a great way to give unwanted belongings a new life instead of sending them to landfill, and to sustainably source the things you need.
Looking for dining chairs? Don’t need that TV unit anymore? Neighbourhood swap groups are a great way to give unwanted belongings a new life instead of sending them to landfill, and to sustainably source the things you need.
5. Community gardens
As well as sharing tools, why not share the work, too? Community gardens are a great way to make more of unused spaces in your neighbourhood and turn them into places of beauty or even productive vegetable gardens.
The plots don’t have to be huge: planting up verges, rooftops and other marginal bits of land is a great way to inject greenery and add biodiversity into even the most densely occupied neighbourhoods.
Search online for projects near you and check with your local authority for rules about community gardening in your area.
As well as sharing tools, why not share the work, too? Community gardens are a great way to make more of unused spaces in your neighbourhood and turn them into places of beauty or even productive vegetable gardens.
The plots don’t have to be huge: planting up verges, rooftops and other marginal bits of land is a great way to inject greenery and add biodiversity into even the most densely occupied neighbourhoods.
Search online for projects near you and check with your local authority for rules about community gardening in your area.
6. Common space
It’s not just about gardens, either. There are all kinds of ways to maximise community space. If bylaws and community rules permit, why not turn a rooftop into a space to relax together and get to know your neighbours?
It’s not just about gardens, either. There are all kinds of ways to maximise community space. If bylaws and community rules permit, why not turn a rooftop into a space to relax together and get to know your neighbours?
Or transform a suitable room or outdoor area into a community performance and rehearsal space, as in this co-living home in Germany.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you like to see in your community? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you like to see in your community? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments.
Sponsored
Little free book libraries have been all the rage over the past decade, but why not do the same with tools? Particularly useful in the case of bulky, expensive or rarely needed gadgets, community ownership can reduce costs for everyone and lessen the strain on the environment. Everything from garden tools to fancy kitchen equipment can be shared.
Search for a library of things in your local area or, if there isn’t one nearby, consider setting one up.