Marja Tiitto from Taipalsaare minimizes food waste with good planning

Marja Tiiton in the family, food is not wasted.

Tiitto has learned from an early age that food should not be thrown away: first we smell and taste it, and if at all possible, the scrapped food items are used in some form.

—For example, tomatoes that are a little old can be used for pizza, says Tiitto.

If there is any food left over, it is saved for the next day or frozen. Even small portions should be frozen, as they can be used, for example, as lunch for remote working days.

— On the lid of the box, you should write how many people the portion is enough for and when it was frozen, Tiitto advises.

Food waste can also be reduced by planning. Tiito's family visits the store once a week and the shopping list is planned in advance.

—The week is then lived with what is found in the closet. This way you avoid unnecessary shopping and on the other hand, the raw materials that you can find in the cupboard are used effectively.

Solar panels produce energy in the summer

In addition to reducing food waste, Tiito's family has taken other measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

The single-family house located in Vehkataipale on Taipalsaari is warmed by ground heat. Energy is also produced with our own solar panels.

—The solar panels produce electricity for us from March until well into autumn.

The family also recycles diligently. Different types of waste have their own waste containers, and the waste is transported to a recycling point, for example, in connection with shopping trips.

—Easy and effortless, Tiitto says.

More measures are planned

This fall, Tiitto joined Hinkua in South Karelia! - to the rural climate pioneers piloted by the project. As a climate advocate, he gets practical tips on how to make your life even more environmentally friendly.

Measures are already being planned.

—At some point, we will change the car to a more environmentally friendly one. We have to drive quite a bit, because we live in the country and especially the husband has to move because of his work. At the moment, we are thinking about which fuel-powered car would ultimately be the best option for us.

For this, Tiitto is also hoping for a little help from the state. In his opinion, environmentally friendly fuels could be taxed more lightly than other fuels, in which case consumer behavior would be automatically steered in a more climate-friendly direction.

—If, for example, biodiesel is always more expensive than regular diesel, people fill up with regular diesel. Or if wind electricity is more expensive than normal electricity, a person will easily choose a cheaper option. Often money matters.