As climate change continues to affect our daily lives, many people are looking for ways to mitigate waste and use fewer resources while spending less money. Zero Waste, a new digital video series from VPM, explores sustainable practices that benefit both individuals and the planet using tips, how-to's and spotlighting people in the community who are putting these ideas into practice.
Hosted by Martinsville native Natalie Hodge of Rudy's Girl Media, Zero Waste empowers audiences to make sustainable choices and changes through lifestyle education and ideas. "Before this project, I never imagined how significant a difference we can make just by implementing a few simple lifestyle changes,” said Hodge. “It’s very rewarding to know that these changes can not only benefit the planet but can also enrich our lives.”
The pilot episode of Zero Waste focuses on wasting less space by implementing a landscaping and gardening method called foodscaping. This is a way to grow your own food and beautify your environment by planting edibles such as vegetables, herbs, fruit, berries and nuts between more decorative elements such as flowers and shrubs. Foodscaping can be done in any outdoor space you have, including balconies and patios. Some of the benefits include lower food costs, decreased exposure to harmful chemicals, plastic use reduction, and smaller carbon footprints.
VPM’s Zero Waste series is part of PBS's multiyear, multiplatform climate change programming initiative that aims to educate viewers on the science behind climate change. The initiative builds on over 200 hours of existing climate and environmental programming from PBS and focuses on the challenges of a changing climate while highlighting examples of positive impact.
“Zero Waste looks at climate change through a lens of hope,” said VPM Science Matters director Debbie Mickle. “The series tells stories of passionate people in Virginia who are taking action to benefit their health, their finances and the environment. The goal is to empower everyone to make more sustainable choices and lifestyle changes.”
Zero Waste is available on VPM’s Science Matters YouTube channel. Clips from the episode will also be shared on the VPM Instagram and TikTok pages, as well as the Science Matters Facebook page and website.
