Spring Into Action: Start Planning For The Season
As the weather starts to warm up and nature comes back to life, it’s officially spring, the season of new beginnings! Although there might still be a few chilly days here in Northern Michigan, it’s still the perfect time to start planning for warmer weather activities, planting new seeds in your garden, and getting a head start on your spring cleaning. BARC is here to help you spring into action so you can plan for the season and make eco-friendly choices along the way.
Plant Your Garden with a Planter from BARC
When the last frost date has passed and the soil temperatures have warmed up, it’s time to figure out what delicious fruits and veggies or beautiful flowers to plant in your garden. Although the best time to plant depends on what you’re planting and your geographical location, mid to late spring is ideal in most areas. If you are a novice gardener, we recommend doing research, so you are correctly planting warm-season and cool-seasons crops.
As a general rule of thumb, it is important to plant warm-season crops like tomatoes after the last frost date because they are sensitive to cold temperatures and won’t grow well if planted too early. However, you can plant cool-season crops like lettuce as soon as the soil can be worked because they can tolerate cooler temperatures and will grow well in the early spring. Ask your local garden center for advice if you need specific location-based information for the plants you want to grow!
Now that you are familiar with the timeline for planting your garden, it’s essential to have the perfect planter box! Luckily, BARC’s De/Re-Construction team has been working on an all-in-one planter box kit!
BARC All-In-One Planter Box Kit
At BARC, we love repurposing valuable materials into new useable goods! This year, our De/Re-Construction team has been working on a simple planter box design made from a roof system that used to be a part of the Northport DPW Building. It is an easy-to-use kit to make your planter box that sits on the soil on the ground, but it is customizable. We recommend ordering them soon as they are popular in our Kaleva Resale Shop!
Do Some Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning
Since spring is the time of new beginnings, many people take time to clean and start the season fresh. Spring cleaning is also an excellent opportunity to make your home a more eco-friendly and sustainable place. Here are our tips for eco-friendly spring cleaning:
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals and ingredients that are not good for the planet. Instead, we recommend using natural cleaning products with reusable glass bottles like Blueland or Dropps. You can also make your own using ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice!
Reduce Paper Waste
It might be convenient to use paper towels when cleaning, but it’s a massive waste to the environment; we recommend using reusable cleaning cloths, old rags, or t-shirts to get the job done!
Properly Dispose of Universal Hazardous Materials
While cleaning, if you find any hazardous materials like old batteries, lightbulbs or electronics to dispose of, it’s essential to dispose of them properly. If not diverted from the landfill, these items take hundreds of years to break down and leak harmful toxins into the environment. Luckily, BARC recycles anything with a battery or a cord! We properly recycle, reuse or repurpose your old electronics while protecting the environment.
Donate Unwanted Items
Instead of throwing away unwanted items this springtime, donate them to our Kaleva Resale Shop to help reduces waste and conserve resources. Plus, you might find something at our store. If you don’t live in the area, we recommend donating unwanted items to your local thrift store!
Plan Zero-Waste Events/Weddings
Spring is the perfect time to start planning summer events. If you want to plan an event in the upcoming months, work with us to make your event zero waste! We work with individuals, companies, and organizations to create zero-waste events of all sizes. From huge festivals to backyard graduation parties, no event is too big or too small; we have solutions for them all!
Get Excited For Outdoor Activities
Now that the weather is improving for outdoor activities, you can also start making a list of eco-friendly activities you want to do this spring. We recommend going for a nature hike, taking a bike ride with friends, playing your favorite outdoor sport, or simply sitting outside with your morning cup of coffee to enjoy mother nature!
Now that you have all our eco-friendly tips, you can spring into action this season and thoroughly enjoy warmer weather while protecting the environment!