Fueled by that maternal, protective instinct to leave my children with a healthy planet to call home long after I’m gone— we’ve slowly (and clumsily, at times) embraced a zero-waste lifestyle—and we’re still figuring it out as we go. We were living in Sweden back in 2015 when we made the commitment to go zero-waste (basically, if we couldn’t compost or recycle it—we wouldn’t buy it). It was challenging, required creativity, and I often found myself wishing for a roadmap or handbook to follow…which eventually inspired me to write one.

We now live in the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, in a city apartment; but we’ve found ways to stay connected to nature and live more sustainably. Together with my three kids — Isabelle (18), Noah (14), and Liam (12) — we practice urban gardening right on our patio and in the courtyard of our apartment building.

On our patio, we grow fresh herbs, vegetables, and seasonal plants that thrive in Stockholm’s climate. The shared courtyard has become a small community garden where we can expand what we grow. This way, our family enjoys homegrown ingredients in many of our meals.

In addition to gardening, we also forage in the forests near Stockholm. Sweden’s nature offers an abundance of wild foods, from blueberries and lingonberries to mushrooms and edible greens. Foraging not only replenishes our pantry but also gives the kids a chance to learn traditional skills and spend time outdoors.

By combining urban gardening and forest foraging, we’ve created a lifestyle that balances city living with sustainability, self-sufficiency, and family togetherness. We hope you’ll join this ever-growing Zero-Waste Family that’s building a conscious shift towards sustainability—because the truth is there’s zero time to waste.