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Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle This Thanksgiving

or more than 200 years, Thanksgiving Day has been
celebrated by families across America. While specific
traditions vary from region to region and family to
fam
F ily, there are many cross-cultural traditions that we
all enjoy. Gathering with family and friends; acknowledging the
gifts we’re thankful for; feasting on turkey and stuffing; and
watching football games and parades are “traditional” activities
that make the Thanksgiving holiday special.
This year, we’d like to encourage you to add “going green” to
your set of Thanksgiving traditions. Here are a few simple things
that you can do to be kind to Mother Earth this holiday season:
Reduce waste by carefully planning your menu. Create a stunning Thanksgiving centerpiece for your
dining table or entry way by filling a wooden trencher
Every year, at least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted.
with apples, gourds, pine cones, and seasonal greenery.
That’s more than 100 pounds per person. While there’s no way
to guess exactly how many string beans you’ll need for that casserole, there
are several menu calculators online. Use http://calculate-this.com and other Use real dishes and flatware.
similar sites to help you cook only the amounts that you need for the number We know that you’ll already have a lot
of people you plan to feed. of pots and pans to wash after dinner,
Consider shopping at local farmers markets and farms. but avoid using disposable dishes and
utensils. Instead, use cloth tablecloths
Before you head to the large supermarket to pick up your turkey and all the
and napkins, accompanied by “real”
trimmings, consider shopping locally. The fruits and vegetables you purchase
flatware, plates and glasses. Your
from local vendors will be fresher and taste better because they have been
guests will appreciate this traditional
allowed to ripen on the vine and picked at the peak of freshness. Also, less
element and your table setting will be
carbon emissions are created when has not transported across the country.
beautiful. Extend the wonderful dinner
(Remember the GHG article on page 1?)
table conversations by allowing diners
You can find much of what you’ll need for your Thanksgiving table at your to help you clean the kitchen.
local farmers market including eggs, vegetables, fruits, and even the turkey.
Turn off a few overhead lights and
As a bonus, by supporting local farms, you’re supporting your neighbors. Visit
lamps, and use unscented candles of
www.LocalHarvest.org to find a local farm near you. Of course, we’d like for
varying heights and widths to
you to carry reusable bags when you do your shopping. Look for products that
illuminate your dinner table.
come in packaging that can be recycled.
Remember that soy and beeswax
Think about buying organic items. candles create less soot than candles
Organic agriculture is much better for the environment because fewer made from paraffin (petroleum).
pesticides are being used by the farmers, and thus, fewer toxic chemicals seep Recycling isn’t a chore.
into the soil and run off into rivers and lakes. You can find ways to incorporate
Lastly, but most importantly, get back
organic foods into your entire meal, from appetizers to dessert, and the wine!
to the basics and recycle. Recycling all
When it comes to the turkey, pasture-raised organic birds are the best choice. packaging, as well as any beverage
For a topflight experience, splurge on a “heritage turkey,” one that has been containers, will significantly reduce the
raised over a long period of time versus a bird bred to grow large swiftly. amount of trash you create.
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NOVEMBER 2016