These monthly articles about sustainable living started in January 2017 following the suggestion of Dr. Betty Fisher, the editor of the Wilmette Institute newsletter at that time. Their purpose is to show how lofty Bahá’í teachings can be expressed in small daily actions. They are designed to inspire you to adapt them to your personal circumstances and locale and to help you generate other ideas about how to live a more responsible life, environmentally and socially.
While there is no doubt that we need large-scale societal change if we want to save the Earth’s natural systems from human destruction, small actions from many people do make a difference on many levels: They send market signals that promote a more sustainable economy; they pave the way for a new culture in which the well-being of all humankind and all life is at the center of concern; and the collective effort by individuals reducing their consumption and adopting a simpler life does have an impact on mitigating the severity of the environmental crises, thereby reducing human suffering and keeping the Earth a livable place for future generations. —CHRISTINE MULLER
As of February 2024, this series of articles, formerly titled “Tips for Sustainable Living,” slightly broadens its scope to occasionally feature conversations with Wilmette Institute students, instructors, and friends, all concerned with the environment and social justice. While continuing to offer practical information, some articles may focus more deeply on spiritual connections to sustainability.
This page contains links to all Conversations and TIPS from January 2020, plus selected archived PDF versions of TIPS published before 2020, when the Wilmette Institute’s new website was launched.
2025 TIPS and Conversations
January —Reasons for Hope, Part 1
February —Reasons for Hope, Part 2: Bahá’í Perspectives
March —Your Health and the Environment
April —Planning Your Lawn Care for This Year
May —Nurture the Soil—Compost!
June —Community-Building for Resilience in Hard Times
July —Is It More Expensive to Live an Environmentally Responsible Life?
August —Building Capacity for Sustainability Discourse and Action: Insights from 2025 IEF Conference
September —Do energy efficiency and conservation really help the climate?
October/November —Is There Hope? Part 3: Jane Goodall and a New Scientific Report
Thanksgiving Edition —The Environmental Impacts of AI
December —Expressing Spirit in the World of Matter
2024 TIPS and Conversations
January —Support the Bahá’í International Community
February —The Many Problems with Shrimp
March/April —Appreciate the Beauty of Diversity!
April/May —Support the Diversity of Wild Plants and Animals!
May/June —The Spirit in Nature
June/July —What’s the most effective action we can take to help the environment?
July/August —Reefs of Hope: a Conversation with Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby
August/September —The Harm of Bug Zappers
September/October —A World-embracing Vision for a Sustainable Future
October/November —PFAS – What are they and what can we do about them?
November —Overcoming Narrow Thinking with a World-Embracing Perspective
December —Our Cherished Coffee
2023 TIPS
January —Avoid Food Waste with Delicious Soups
February —Thoughtful Ayyám-i-Há Gifts
March —Living the Golden Rule: transition to a clean energy economy
April —Use Common Sense with Food Expiration Dates
May —How to “Pay Special Regard to Agriculture” in a City?
June —Eat Strawberries Now!
July —Too busy? An environmentally sustainable lifestyle is still possible!
August —Poison Ivy Is Spreading! What Can We Do?
September —Engage with One Planet, One Habitation
October —Keep a supply of your staple foods
November —What car should I buy to have the least impact on the environment?
December —Learn About the Story of Stuff
2022 TIPS
January —Wear Reusable Face Masks!
February —Be inspired by the LSA of Glasgow, UK!
March —Faith for Earth: A Call for Action
April —Enjoy Nature and Care for God’s Creation
May —Get Your Children into Nature!
June —Encourage Social Action in Your Community!
July —Harmful effects of the herbicide glyphosate
August —Use Rain Barrels to Save Water!
September —Decluttering? Give Things Away!
October —What Are Microfibers and What Can We Do about Them?
November —Fly Less!
December —Sustainable Online Shopping
2021 TIPS
January —Every Choice Leaves a Trace
February —The Harm of Microplastics
March —Food Insecurity and the Principle of Contentment
April —Building Community with a Garden
May —A Plea for Diversity in Gardens
June —Forage Garlic Mustard (for your good health and for the environment)
July —Save Electricity during Peak Hours
August —Reduce Light Pollution at Night
September —The Recent Climate Report—Elevate the Conversation!
October — Reduce the Environmental Impact of Internet Use
November —Participate in an Online Climate Conference with Bahá’í-Spirit!
December —What to do with wild animals in our house? Say good-bye to them in a humane way!
2020 TIPS
January —Avoid Food Waste
February —Cherish your Old Cell Phones and Computers
March —Properly Dispose of Electronic Waste
April —The Current Health Crisis (a different tip than usual)
May —Create a Vegetable Garden
June —Abandon Unnecessary Travel
July —Mindfully Washing Our Hands
August —Let’s Cool Down Quickly and Sustainably
September —Stay Away from Leaf Blowers
October —Fashion? Let it Go!
November —Plog and Plalk: Pick Up Litter
December —Throw it Out? Wait a Moment!
Archived Sustainable Living TIPS
Category: Food
Avoid Food Waste
Eat Food that is in Season
Eat Less Beef
Eat Lower on the Food Chain
Give Up Bottled Water
Considering Social Justice in Making Food Choices
Why Eat Organic?
Category: Gardening
Do not Kill: Avoid Toxic Weed Killers in Your Garden and Yard
Create a Vegetable Garden (or expand your existing garden!)
Ethical and Easy Lawns
“The Bees and We”
The Joy of Gardening
Category: Transportation
More Archived Tips to Come…
