Sharing Economy in Davos!
A successful pop-up store (yet again) 

We would like to thank everyone who helped out and visited our “Simply more PopUp store” early December 2022 at the Panorama Hotel in Davos. The Panorama will feature apartments starting this winter, and therefore many of their pre-loved items had to find a new home. Together we managed to find a warm home for hundreds of smaller items and also many bigger furniture. Items ranged from plates to Christmas decoration, from leather chairs to lamps, from pianos to carpets, and many many more items..

To ensure that we all start to really value used items, we asked people to donate what it was worth to them, plus several things were also offered for free! 

The donations that we collected will be re-invested in local social and sustainable projects throughout 2023.

Households in and around Davos who live at the existential minimum had the opportunity to come to the PopUp store to pick up furniture and items they needed free of charge.

And that such occasions do not only help to keep items in a loop, but also create opportunities was demonstrated when Panorama and 2 people of a migrant family agreed upon some temporary work to prepare for the PopUp!

“It’s always a lot of work to turn dusty things in a basement into pre-loved items, but when you finally manage to do, and make people happy, it gives a lot of satisfaction!” – Thais Daddario, GreenUp Volunteer in Davos

There is a last opportunity over the next few weeks  to pick up some items that are still left, such as white leather armchairs, red & black leather sofas, glass tables, beer fridge, antique wooden clock & furniture, piano and a Kallax cabinet.

Please follow and get in touch with @greenhubdavos directly to see what exactly is left.

And for all lovers from pre-loved items, in Davos and elsewhere … we have 4 tips! 

💚 Davos: Before, during and after the WEF 2023, GreenUp is active to support sustainable behaviour. With its GreenShare project, it will reshare items and materials that are left-over from the WEF with local people and projects.

💚 Swissgerman Part: check out ShareItt; an app for sharing items based on points. With already over 1500 items, mostly around Zürich, Luzern, Bodensee, but also Winterthur and Davos .. and soon also Basel, there is a lot to choose from! 

💚 Switzerland: Check out one of the many flea markets that take place regularly in most cities. Sometimes you can find true gems at a very little price.   

💚 Switzerland: Try out a secret santa in your family or your team passing on only pre-loved items.

For more inspiration and insight, check out our Projects and Events.

Creative Frugality means the practice of being creative while coming up with ways to be more sustainable and spending less at the same time. While practising Creative Frugality you stop for a moment and start thinking creatively before solving your “problems” with money.

Simple frugal living is about appreciating and using what you already own instead of always looking for the next new gadget. It’s about carefully managing what you purchase, looking for the most environmentally friendly option. However with Creative Frugality, you come up with novel solutions or new ways of fulfilling your needs.

What does frugal mean? Avoiding unnecessary expenditure of money or of anything else which is to be used or consumed; avoiding waste. You break the cycle of perceiving a need and then immediately spending money to meet it. Instead, you pause and think first, asking yourself if there’s another way to meet this need besides spending money. You look for alternatives, and if there are none, you look for ways to spend less. An example is developing the skill of decorating your home without walking into retail stores and buying what you see on the shelves. Instead, you find alternatives, like repurposed items, yard sales, antique or thrift store finds can add beautiful touches to your home. Using your creative skills uses less resources, and it creates less waste. 

What does creativ mean? Being creative means solving a problem in a new way. It means changing your perspective and breaking with routine and doing something different. Creative frugality can become a big part of your life, repurposing or upcycling what you already have, providing mental exercise, and allowing you to have fun in the process.

How does Frugality develop creativity? Frugality is a constraint on what you spend, and that constraint is what promotes creativity. For example, let’s take “clothes”. Having that constraint on buying new clothes means you need to get creative if you want to find new trendy clothes. A humble and inexpensive way to get branded clothes is to go to second hand shops or online platforms! Or participate in Clothing-Swap parties. These are excellent ways to meet your need for new clothes, protecting the environment and not overspending. By putting constraints on what you can spend, you may find your own creativity expanding, finding ways to spend less while still meeting your needs.

What is the difference between being frugal and being cheap? Being cheap has a different focus than being frugal. The purpose is to simply spend less and try to find the cheapest solution. Environmental aspects are not a focus. Being frugal involves looking for the best value for your money. Being cheap can cost more money in the long run. High-quality items may cost more upfront, but they tend to last longer and perform better. 

Some sustainable &  frugal living ideas, to help you shift your mindset:

• Avoid recreational shopping. If you catch yourself aimlessly wandering retail stores or clicking around online because you are bored—stop! Otherwise, you will most likely waste money and resources. Ask yourself first, “Do I really need this?” if the answer is yes, “Can I borrow it from a friend or a sharing platform?”, if not, “Can I buy it pre-loved”? 
• Borrow or rent instead of purchasing if it is something you’ll only use a couple of times. There are some great platforms like Sharely.ch to rent items.
• Wait before buying something to ensure you really want it. Even just 24 hours later, you may find that the desire has disappeared. Setting this rule helps to avoid impulse purchases.
• Beware of “sales.” Remember that you only save money when you get a great deal on something you need. You don’t save any money buying something you don’t need, even if it is on sale. 
• Plan ahead for your purchases: Research large purchases and buy quality items that will last longer. Take the time to read product reviews.
• Try using less. Use only what you need to get the job done.
• Take care of what you own. Maintenance is less expensive than repair.
• Attempt to Do-It-Yourself whenever it makes sense. Before you buy something, consider if you could make it or do it yourself, or even upcycle another product you no longer need.

Here are some additional tips from a time where being frugal was necessary for survival:

• Buy used. Avoid buying new whenever possible! Use what is already on our planet. It is incredible how many bargains you can get at yard sales, estate sales, or thrift stores. You can also search online for used items at sites like Ricardo, Tutti and Facebook Marketplace. Remember though, to purchase only what you really need.
• Avoid waste. Try to eat everything you buy. Look through your fridge for those items that get shoved to the back before they become inedible.
• Grow an urban garden. Growing your own food, especially with organic methods, can produce healthy vegetables. And at the same time you avoid all the plastic packaging that you would otherwise get from the supermarket.
• Make your own cleaners. The basic ingredients of vinegar and baking soda can be used for many cleaning jobs. 
• Make homemade gifts. These can be fun to make and may mean more to the recipient than a store-bought item.
• Learn how to sew. Making simple repairs or alterations can save a lot of fabric-waste. Sewing a button back on a shirt saves that shirt, so you don’t need to buy a new one.

Frugal living and beyond

Define why you want to spend less so you can stay motivated. Frugal living will help you live on a smaller income, take time off from working, retire early, reduce your personal carbon footprint, or spend more time with your family.

Stretch the money you have using frugal living tips and principles. Be creative and resourceful in getting what you need for less.

Every time you put your hand on your wallet, use this as a cue to think about your financial goals and environmental impact.  It is a matter of putting dreams before things, especially things you don’t need. You can earn more money, but without a frugal lifestyle, the risk is that you only spend more. The gap between earning and spending is what makes your financial dreams possible. 

Spring is around the corner and it’s the time of the year to fill your hearts and homes with cozy greens. Read more about GreenUps Jeanins and Aurores Tip n Tricks.

Some fun plant-stories about Jeanine and Aurore: 

What is your favorite plant and why? Where does it grow naturally? (Aurore) My favorite plant is a Tillandsia Ionantha because it was my first indoor plant in my colelction. It grows naturally in South America.

What is an interesting fact about your favorite plant? (Aurore) It does not need soil to grow, just air and clean water.

Why do you collect houseplants and when did you start getting into it? (Aurore) I collect house plants because being surrounded by them relaxes me. I started developing a passion for houseplants in 2014 and could no longer live without them.

Which are the best indoor plants? (Aurore) Tillandsias of course!

What’s your favorite website or social media group about plants? (Aurore) The Rainforest Flora account is very informative, there I can also see the new hybrids of Tillandsias.

How do you recognize edible plants? Do you have an easy trick to spot them? (Aurore) If you spot an appetizing-looking but unknown plant but don’t feel sure it’s edible, apply the universal edibility test. It’s essentially taking small amounts of a plant, having increasing contact with it over enough time to see if any ill-effects develop. You’ll want to perform this test separately for each part of the plant you want to eat, including the roots, leaves, and stem.

1.  Give a strong sniff. If the plant part smells awful or like a rotting corpse, toss it out.
2.  If not, hold the plant part to your inner elbow or wrist for a few minutes. Do you feel itching, burning, or any other negative response? If yes, don’t eat it.
3.  If your skin feels fine, kiss the plant with your lips and then wait for 15 minutes.
4.  As long as there’s no burning or itching, take a pea-sized bite. If the plant tastes extremely bitter or soapy, spit it out immediately—but remember, most plants are gross, so don’t expect the peppery flavor of basil. Even if the taste is bearable, hold the bite in your mouth for another 15 minutes.
5.  Finally, wait for at least a few hours. At this point, if you’re not feeling sick or dead on the forest floor, then that part of the plant—and that part only—is probably safe to eat.

How is this plant helping me? (Aurore) Not just this plant but all the plants I have, help me to stay active in my life especially when times are hard, I still need to get up and take care of them.

When did you start getting interested in plants? (Jeanine)  It’s difficult to trace my interest in plants. However, my dad has always been an inspiration for me! Ever since I was a little child, I would stand at his side watching him passionately dusting off one Aralia leaf after another, repotting Aloe Veras all morning, watching and even caressing the birch fig for hours, all that while humming his favorite folk songs.

What’s your favorite plant and why? (Jeanine)  I don’t have a favorite house plant. All of them are unique and pretty in their own way. Also, I consider myself more as an outdoor plants lover. However, there is one plant that I’m quite attached to, namely my rubber plant. If you look closely at the picture, you may see that it is not going too well. Some leaves have yellow spots and the whole plant looks a bit sparse. This is because some years ago, on a sunny first spring day of the year, I thought it was a good idea to put it outside – leading it to wilt and lose its leaves… It had spent all winter in my rather cool room, after all! The sudden sunlight and warmth was too much of a shock, and I already thought that I had killed it. Fortunately, that was not the case and my rubber tree, as I interpret it, has already forgiven me by now. It is slowly but steadily forming new shiny leaves again!

Why do I collect houseplants? (Jeanine)  I have houseplants primarily because I like the aesthetics. They green up my life and I feel more cozy at home. If you take good care of your plants then they will be your faithful companions for a very long time. That’s nice since I don’t have any pets! Also, since I have grown up with many house plants, it would feel empty if I didn’t have any plants surrounding me.

Which is the best indoor plant? (Jeanine) There have been studies done about air “purifying” qualities of certain indoor plants. So there is some potential to use plants as indoor air improvers, but there are probably many factors that can influence these qualities, such as the type and concentration of air pollutants, the exact plant variety, the degree of ventilation of the room, etc. One plant species that is often cited in these types of studies is Sansevieria, a common room plant that I am also lucky to have. It’s pretty, low-maintenance and said to have air-purifying and sleep-inducing effects.

Last but not least some facts about plants by Aurore: 

What four things do all plants need? They need water, air, nutrients, and light.

What does the root and the leaves do for the plant? Usually, the roots absorb the water and nutrients present in the soil, the leaves produce energy through photosynthesis.

Any daily gardening tips to maintain plants? Always empty the dish under your pot after watering your plants.

Which plants necessarily need the least or the moss support? I would say that most indoor plants require quite the same care. Rare species taken right from nature are difficult to maintain and require a lot of attention.

Did we inspire you to bring more greens into your home? Join our Plant-Swapping events that we organize across Switzerland in the coming weeks. The events are all free! Everyone is welcome to join, to bring, take and swap seeds, seedlings and plants.

Upcoming Plant-Swap events:

• Basel: March 23rd @UniBasel
• Zurich: April 30th @Kulturpark Zurich West
• Lugano: May 7th @ImpactHub Lugano
• Sion: May 7th @LaMatriochka
• Davos: June 11th @Davos i(s)st rosarot

The goal is to create a sharing economy of greens, based on the love of plants.

The holiday season is so often focused on gifts, but when you think back, is that what you remember? ⁠What are the best Christmas memories of your childhood? Do you remember the make-up set you got or making cookies with your parents and gifting them to your aunts, uncles and grandparents? Do you remember the Barbie set you got or visiting Santa in the woods while singing Christmas songs? Do you remember getting that green dress or visiting the Christmas light installations of the neighborhood while drinking hot chocolate?

1. Material gifts vs Experience gifts?

As we head even deeper into the holiday hustle remember, it’s not about the things you buy each other, it’s about the atmosphere, creation, and connection.⁠ Focus on experience gifts if the person doesn’t need anything in his life. Sometimes it’s something as simple as going to the movies together. And, maybe it’s a movie & pizza night at home, or a ticket for a museum or a lecture, or even a camping weekend away.

Now we would like to hear from you, what’s the best experience gift you’ve ever received? ⁠

2. Predominantly Meaty vs Plant based dishes?

According to a study conducted by the WWF, our food accounts for one third of the environmental impact of consumption in Europe. Especially the production of meat and dairy products cause significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than the cultivation of plant-based foods. Hence we can reduce the amount of greenhouse emissions by adding more plant based ingredients to our diet.

Grandmothers Kitchen by chef Anoha, cooks the perfect plant based Christmas meal menu for us. If you are interested to see a short video tutorial, please view it here.

Another thing you can do to avoid food waste, just bring your tupperwares to your friends place and to restaurants, and enjoy the leftovers the next day.

What is your favorite plant based meal?

3. Plastic vs real Christmas tree?

What is more sustainable, a plastic tree or a real tree? Put the focus on the fact that if the plastic one already exists and you already have it or u plan to buy it pre-loved, then that is the most sustainable option.⠀⁠

A real tree is more eco-friendly if: ⁠⠀⁠

1. you don’t already have a plastic tree⁠⠀⁠
2. you rent a tree with roots in a pot
3. you will return the tree with roots in a pot to the company planting them back in the woods

A plastic tree is more eco-friendly if: ⁠⠀⁠

1. you already own one⁠⠀⁠
2. you buy one secondhand⁠⠀⁠
3. you will take good care of it and use it for years to come⁠⠀⁠

What does your Christamas tree look like? 

It’s the time of year… harvesting, thanking nature and putting away its fruits for the winter. It gives such a positive feeling to use what is out there; it’s fun and rewarding. One of these things, that many people forget about, are sunflowers and their seeds. Very healthy (Omega 6!).  

It’s not difficult at all – you just need to find the right moment. Harvesting begins as soon as the flower heads change color (turns yellow). Then you can easily take the seeds out. 

Steps: 

1. Rinse under tap water
2. Dry on a towel (if possible in sun) 
3. Remove any seeds that don’t look good
4. Put in a jar and keep .. in fridge (or roast, or in freezer) 

Check for more details this tutorial, or one of the many other there are online. . 

Other things to harvest and enjoy around this time of year

Mushrooms >> Especially when you find the “porcini” you’ll be in for a treat. Over the past years we did several interactive events around edible plants and mushrooms. Check out here the concept of these “foodbyfoot” events, or get in touch for more info!

Grapes >> Especially of course in Valais and Ticino, where soon the wine harvest and parties will begin. Our “Discofruit kick-off events” in Sion and Lugano in October will among others feature also these grapes!