Hobbies provide a great way to put your free time to good use. They can better your life by helping you stay active, creative, and social, and they can better the world around you. If you need a way to spend your spare time, consider these hobbies that help the environment, community, and your own life.
Gardening
No matter what kind of space, time, or climate you have, you can start gardening. Growing your own fruits and vegetables enhances your diet, and if your garden is fruitful enough, you can share or sell your bounty to help your neighbors eat organically. Any amount of gardening is good for both you and the environment. Growing plants helps absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and any time spent caring for something can benefit your mental health and stress levels.
Beekeeping
Bees help the environment by pollinating local flowers and plants. You can help out by becoming a beekeeper. Making sure bees stay healthy not only helps take care of your local environment, but it can also result in a prosperous garden and homemade honey; make it all in your own backyard.
Cycling
Of all the hobbies that help the environment, cycling is one of the best to make a part of your daily routine. When you drive, you consume fossil fuels and add emissions to the atmosphere. By switching to cycling whenever you can, you reduce your carbon footprint while improving your own fitness and health.
Volunteering
There’s no end to the different volunteer organizations you can join. From highway cleaning to recycling centers, you can find an opportunity that lets you help clean and protect your local environment. Mother nature isn’t the only thing that needs your help, either. Volunteering lets you lend a hand to any number of people, animals, and other causes.
Upcycling
Reducing your waste plays an important role in helping the environment, which is why upcycling is a great hobby—especially for particularly crafty or creative people. By reusing and repurposing an old object, you save it from ending up in a landfill. From living room décor to patio furniture, there’s no end to the things you can save and create through upcycling.
