There are many different ways that you can live a natural lifestyle, including eating whole foods, exercising outdoors, and using homeopathic remedies when you feel sick. However, another way is to volunteer your time for causes that you care about and that help other people live more naturally too.
Here are some ideas for how you can be more generous and volunteer to promote natural, healthy, and sustainable living.
Trail Maintenance Volunteering
Trails provide designated places for walking, running, and biking, but they can become worn down and damaged over time. When trails become damaged, soil erosion can occur and affect native plants growing nearby. In communities and remote areas across the country, you can find trail maintenance volunteering opportunities to help repair trails and keep them in good condition. Properly maintained trails will keep people safe while also helping sustain the natural environment by controlling the flow of human traffic.
Litter Cleanup Volunteering
Another great way to get outdoors and do something positive for the environment is to clean up trash that has been irresponsibly tossed aside as your volunteering project. It’s shocking that some people still toss wrappers, cigarette butts, and other debris out of car windows while driving instead of storing these items inside the vehicle until a trash can is available. Therefore, areas along roadways are often the biggest areas for litter collection and in need of the most attention. You can join an organized group that is working on a specific area for litter cleanup, or simply grab some gloves and a trash bag to go out on your own in a litter-prone area to pick up trash.
Public Health Volunteering
If you are interested in helping people in your community be healthier, there are lots of different ways that you can volunteer your time for public health. Hospitals and medical clinics often accept volunteers to supplement the staff’s duties for things like greeting visitors and delivering flowers. Homeless shelters are often in need of volunteers to help prepare meals, clean residential areas, and work on administrative tasks. Other health-related volunteer opportunities exist with local animal shelters and “Meals on Wheels” delivery services that bring healthy foods to senior citizens.
Farmers’ Market Volunteering
Local farmers’ markets are wonderful places to learn about healthy and whole foods and promote both good nutrition and sustainable agriculture. Check with local markets in your area to see if they need volunteers to set up and take down booths, provide educational resources, or replenish supplies when they run out. Some farmers may be able to use your help selling produce to customers while they take a break or carrying fruits and vegetables between the truck and the stand on market day.
Child Mentorship Volunteering
You can help teach children from an early age about the benefits of natural health and sustainable living by mentoring a child in your community. Child mentorship programs are often through school systems, religious organizations, and social services groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters. Even just a few hours of your time each week can make a huge impact in the life of a child who needs a little support and guidance.
Community Garden Volunteering
Community gardens are places that provide fresh and healthy foods to people in need and serve as gathering places for local residents. If you have a community garden in your area, see if it could use some volunteers to plant seeds, pull weeds, harvest foods, and maintain the grounds. This is a great opportunity to learn more about gardening so that you can apply this knowledge to your own backyard garden in the future as well.