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BE GRATEFUL TO MOTHER EARTH ON THANKSGIVING

Posted on 11.12.07
By: OGCstaff

Thanksgiving is the most family-oriented a holidays, a time to celebrate the love we share and the gifts of life we’ve been given. This year, why not give something back to the bountiful Earth, but going a bit green on this day of thanks?

Here are some tips:

Celebrate me home: The airports are crowded and the freeways are jammed. Forget the hassle of Thanksgiving away by having a nice cozy, eco-friendly dinner at home. You would also be helping reduce global warming by not producing auto or airplane emissions. And to further reduce emissions, invite the neighbors so they don’t have to drive or fly for Thanksgiving.

Carpool to grandma’s house: If you have to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, try to carpool with your family and friends. Yeah, we know special family dinners can be recipes for long-simmering family frictions, but if something’s going to happen, it’ll happen. Why not begin it on the car ride over? By the time everyone has said what they’ve wanted to say for years, dinner will barely be over. Let the healing process begin sooner during dessert time.

If you fly, consider purchasing carbon credits to offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by your flight. A typical long-haul flight produces nearly four tons of carbon dioxide.

Buy local ingredients: If you’re providing the food for Thanksgiving dinner, remember that the farther your food traveled to get to you, the more carbon dioxide emissions were generated. Look for food produced in your region. Typically, food has to travel thousands of miles from the farm to the supermarket, consuming fossil fuels, emitting air pollutants and heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Fortunately, the Central Valley is one of the nation’s food baskets, so most of your Thanksgiving dishes – including turkeys from Turlock – can come from this region.

Organic bird is the word: Overuse of antibiotics, toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers generates air and water pollution. Look for organic turkeys, and other meats, that have been raised without antibiotics. Also take a look at tasty organic apples, celery, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, we have plenty of options for organic local meats and produce.

You can also consider a vegetarian Thanksgiving. Meat takes more energy to produce, and so whipping up a meatless meal is better for the environment. (This is true always, so you if you enjoy meat less overall you can splurge on your traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece dish.)

Pirate Thanksgiving: Remember the three “R-r-r-s” of an eco-friendly Thanksgiving. They are: reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying only as much as you need, and choosing products that come in packaging that can be recycled. Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping, and use cloth napkins that can be washed and used again. Recycle paper, and all plastic, glass and aluminum containers.

Green decorations: Think green when decorating for Thanksgiving. That doesn’t mean just use green-colored paper, but try to use recycled construction paper. Look for decorations that can be reused – not thrown away the day after the celebration. Baker’s clay, made from common kitchen ingredients, can be shaped and molded into holiday figures and colored with non-toxic paints or food coloring.