Sustainable Living Recommended Reads

February 1, 2021

We have been through some big changes over the last year and in 2021 our mindset is shifting to more sustainable living practices, implementing minimalistic lifestyle changes, and reducing our impact on the environment.

What is sustainable living?

It’s trying to live in a way that reduces our impact on the environment and being conscious of our use of the Earth’s resources when using water, gas, timber products and electricity.
It is recycling and reusing items as much as possible and purchasing items made from recycled materials.
It is purchasing seasonal and locally grown foods or perhaps even starting your own vegetable garden.
It can also mean making changes to your diet by introducing a meat-free meal in your weekly meal planning.
Shopping locally to reduce transportation costs and fossil fuels.

These changes can sometimes seem overwhelming but by making small changes in your everyday life, you will be well on your way to reducing your carbon footprint.

We’ve listed some of our must-read sustainability titles that are available to borrow with your WGL membership. Not a member? Sign up online and start borrowing today.

Practical Self Sufficiency – James Strawbridge & Dick Strawbridge

Want to save on your fuel bills, ready to grow your own, reduce your carbon footprint, and take the self-sufficient plunge? Dick and James Strawbridge show how to make the practical changes that will have a big impact on your life – without having to transform your lifestyle.

How to Give Up Plastic – Will McCallum

This accessible guide, written by the campaigner at the forefront of the anti-plastic movement, will help you make the small changes that make a big difference, from buying a reusable coffee cup to running a clean-up at your local park or beach.

2040 : A Handbook for the Regeneration – Damon Gameau

Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them into the mainstream. Available as a book or on DVD.

Attainable Sustainable – Kris Bordessa

Packed with delicious recipes, natural remedies, gardening tips, homemaking ideas, crafts, and more, this indispensable lifestyle reference from the popular blogger behind Attainable Sustainable makes earth-friendly living fun, real, and easy. Download this title on BorrowBox.

Live Green : 52 steps for a more sustainable life – Jen Chillingsworth

Live Green is a practical guide of 52 changes – one for each week of the year – you can make to your home and lifestyle to reduce your impact on the environment. Tackling all areas of your life from your cleaning routine, home furnishings, food shopping, fashion choices, natural beauty and Christmas, this book has all the ingredients to help you achieve a more sustainable year.

Week Light – Donna Hay

This book is about using food to refuel and re-energise, while nurturing ourselves with flavour. Vegetables are at the forefront of nearly every recipe, with a few meat options thrown in, and there are lots of all-time classics re-worked to include more goodness.

How to create an eco garden : the practical guide to sustainable and greener gardening – John Walker

Work in harmony with nature to create a more climate-friendly garden, with practical solutions for real-life spaces.

You can change the world – Lucy Bell

This practical guide is designed to empower kids to make changes in their lives to help make a difference in the world. Filled with information, ideas and activities, and interspersed with features on amazing children around the world.

Sustainability titles on Kanopy

Our movie streaming platform Kanopy has a large range of free documentaries, movies and courses on sustainable living. Stream them for free simply by logging in with your West Gippsland Libraries membership.

For further information and resources take a look at our: