Creating a sustainable community is a lot of work, but the rewards for citizens and the planet are well worth the effort. Here are some tips for building a sustainable community to help the environment, encourage social interaction, and boost the economy in your area.

Create a Community Garden

Creating a community garden is a fantastic idea for several reasons. First, it encourages people to get together and build something as a group, which fosters a sense of community in an organic, unforced way. A garden is also a way to help the environment: relying less on resource-sapping farms goes a long way.

Finally, a community garden brings beauty to any neighborhood, with flowers, fruits, and vegetables adding a dash of color to the area.

Encourage Biking

Having a close-knit, walkable community is only effective if people have viable transportation options other than cars. To encourage biking in your area, install bike racks around the neighborhood, and add bike lanes on the roads. You can also create a bike-sharing program—depending on how you set it up, this can generate funds for other community projects!

Promote Local Businesses

The less online shopping people do, the more the planet benefits. You can help by promoting local businesses to guide residents away from online shops like Amazon that create copious amounts of pollution. It’s also an excellent way to stimulate the economy in your area and keep local businesses open.

Start a Solar Farm

Communities across the country are starting solar farms—locations within their neighborhoods dedicated to producing clean, sustainable energy. If all the residents pitch in to fund the project, you can significantly reduce your local energy bills and offer a steep discount on electricity to residents. Solar energy is the way of the future, and it’s a shockingly safe investment for communities big and small.

Now that you know these tips for building a sustainable community, bring everyone closer together to make a more beautiful tomorrow!