Hip hip, hooray! It looks like we’ve all survived another winter, and (for the most part) came out smiling on the other side. Our cave-dwelling ancestors would surely be wiping their eyes in pride. But, as we marvel at the fresh regeneration of life happening all around us, let’s consider a few strategies to keep our environment as robust, clean, and fresh as possible. Read on for a list of sustainable practices we can all try.

Donate Clothing
While many view shopping as therapeutic, their closets may end up bulging at the door frame with unintended consequences. What better way to avoid unwanted waste from warranted spring cleanings than by giving your rarely worn clothes a second life in someone else’s home? Nonprofit charities like Love INC actively look for donations. Be sure to check out their donation page to see how you might support their mission.

Use Alternative Transportation
Short of sticking your thumb out on the side of the freeway, there isn’t a cheaper, more environmentally friendly way to cruise motorways than carpooling. Alternatively, while hitchhiking might be off the table (sorry to all those Volkswagen vans out there), public transit around Bozeman does well providing intra-city travel solutions. Check out the city’s Streamline bus service for insight about scheduled routes that are likely within walking distance.

Practice Recycling
Recycling plastics, aluminum, and variants of cardboard collected over time may give you a sense of moral superiority, or a true sense of contributing to an environmental cause. Whatever your motivation, visit the recycling centers around Bozeman to reduce your output of waste. With six recycling centers located around town, you can enthusiastically deny to family and friends that you’re turning into a hoarder. Those boxes of old newspapers and dusty plastic bottles are all on their way out... right?

Support Sustainable Energies
If the Earth were a pair of lungs, energy derived from coal and oil would be as harmful as cigarette smoke. On the off-chance you happen to actually know anyone with coal and oil in their lungs, please refrain from lecturing them about how unhealthy that might be for the planet, and refer them to a medical practitioner. Actively supporting renewable energy production can go a long way towards a cleaner future. Check out the Montana Renewable Energy Association to learn more about the organization’s sustainable energy strategies, and how you might contribute.

Grow a Garden
While every tomato I’ve ever tried to grow for myself has been seemingly harvested right out of a Salvador Dalí painting, that shouldn’t stop you! Caring for plants is one of the most fulfilling hobbies you can take part in. Especially when the produce you cultivate helps alleviate grocery bills, promotes an active biosphere, and preserves insect pollination! Check out the City of Bozeman’s list of drought-tolerant plants before heading out to local nurseries and garden centers (like the one at Kenyon Noble) to see what kind of plants or flowers you might like to spruce up your neighborhood with. The City is offering a rebate of up to $200 on eligible plants.

Engage with Existing Communities
Ultimately, the benefits of sustainable practices affect everyone. Because of this, building relationships with others is incredibly important: why should we bother living sustainably if we only care about ourselves? Assembling with like-minded people can help us better see the effects of our actions, plan for larger-than-individual impact, and increase the agency of our efforts. Take a look at the Craighead Environmental Research Institute if you are interested in learning more about organizations that balance sustainable living strategies with our environment.

Prioritize Walking
Leaving your front door and immediately being enveloped by a living Bob Ross painting is a privilege that few can enjoy outside of Bozeman (even if the weather does occasionally prove temperamental). With such a rare opportunity, there’s no better way to savor our 300 sunny days every year than by walking around town and experiencing it first-hand: whether grocery shopping, engaging in recreation, or heading into the workplace. Save all that fuel for long-distance driving, and be sure to plan a visit to any of the dozens of beautiful parks the city offers.

Conserve Water
Bozeman’s residents may not always think about where their tap water comes from (I’m still not convinced that our water treatment process isn’t some kind of obscure wizard magic), but the town’s sources for potable water are very real, and actually quite finite. In reality, the town is considered semi-arid, and water has always been an uncommon, valuable resource. Cutting down on our daily consumption can help to responsibly sustain water sources for future residents to enjoy, and help us protect the natural resources we benefit from.

Plant a Tree
Many have probably heard the old Greek proverb: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” but why wait until you’re old to start planting? We’re busy people! All poor analysis aside, if you have the means, planting trees can be a wonderful way to improve our environment and help sustain our landscape. For bonus points, be sure to study plants and trees that are indigenous to the Bozeman area to help preserve its natural composition.

Go Paperless
Motivations for transitioning into a society that uses less paper may be due to many environmental factors, but I suspect we are all simply tired of those lousy papercuts. In any case, whittling down our existing paper consumption helps to conserve energy and reduce our carbon footprint—a welcome strategy if we wish to keep forwarding those cat memes to each other. Additionally, if you’re involved in a local business, reducing paper consumption can introduce a variety of benefits. Take a look at your current paper habits and consider transitioning further into digital space today.

There is an abundance of easy strategies that anyone can take advantage of to protect our environment and conserve natural resources. And though it might not be practical to practice all of the ideas I’ve listed here, incorporating even one into our lives can help improve the future. With this in mind, let’s celebrate the long-awaited arrival of spring by doing our best to ensure we have even more to enjoy!