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Green Scene: Thanksgiving
For many Americans, Thanksgiving is a time of over-consumption. But it doesn’t have to be. The folks at SustainLane.com, the Web guide to green living, suggest these simple actions that don’t break the bank or take tons of time.
Fill the empty seats in your car. (If you don’t know anyone headed your way, and you’re adventurous, Craigslist is a good place to carpool.)
Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee mug.
Use the TerraPass travel calculator to estimate your carbon footprint from driving or flying, then buy offsets accordingly. Your money supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Buy gourds at your local farmer’s market to use as centerpieces, and save them to use again next year.
Use beeswax candles. They’re natural, renewable and said to help clean your home’s air of allergens. Soy candles are also a good bet.
Avoid disposable plastic plates, cutlery and napkins. If you really must use disposable, go for compostable and/or biodegradable products.
If you’re hosting a dinner for 15, buying all organic can be costly. Try these:
Turkey. Try Heritage Turkeys, naturally-bred and raised turkeys, beloved by chefs for their rich flavor or seek out birds from a local farm.
The Dirty Dozen. From spinach and celery (used in stuffing!) to apples (as in pie), these are the produce items that you should always buy organic due to their high pesticide and herbicide content, even after you wash them. Check the full list at www.sustainlane.com.
Coffee. Fair-trade coffee is produced under sustainable conditions and bought at a fair price. Try brews from the aptly-named Thanksgiving Coffee Company.
Wipe down your kitchen with all natural, cheap, earth-friendly cleansers like vinegar and baking soda. They really do work!
Make leftovers, so no food is wasted.
Make stock. Whether you had a vegetarian Thanksgiving, roasted a duck, or fried a turkey, you most likely have ample ingredients to make a delicious soup stock.
For more ideas, visit www.sustainlane.com.
Fill the empty seats in your car. (If you don’t know anyone headed your way, and you’re adventurous, Craigslist is a good place to carpool.)
Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee mug.
Use the TerraPass travel calculator to estimate your carbon footprint from driving or flying, then buy offsets accordingly. Your money supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Buy gourds at your local farmer’s market to use as centerpieces, and save them to use again next year.
Use beeswax candles. They’re natural, renewable and said to help clean your home’s air of allergens. Soy candles are also a good bet.
Avoid disposable plastic plates, cutlery and napkins. If you really must use disposable, go for compostable and/or biodegradable products.
If you’re hosting a dinner for 15, buying all organic can be costly. Try these:
Turkey. Try Heritage Turkeys, naturally-bred and raised turkeys, beloved by chefs for their rich flavor or seek out birds from a local farm.
The Dirty Dozen. From spinach and celery (used in stuffing!) to apples (as in pie), these are the produce items that you should always buy organic due to their high pesticide and herbicide content, even after you wash them. Check the full list at www.sustainlane.com.
Coffee. Fair-trade coffee is produced under sustainable conditions and bought at a fair price. Try brews from the aptly-named Thanksgiving Coffee Company.
Wipe down your kitchen with all natural, cheap, earth-friendly cleansers like vinegar and baking soda. They really do work!
Make leftovers, so no food is wasted.
Make stock. Whether you had a vegetarian Thanksgiving, roasted a duck, or fried a turkey, you most likely have ample ingredients to make a delicious soup stock.
For more ideas, visit www.sustainlane.com.
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