Fall means back to school, cooler weather and the dreaded fall clean-up. This year, go green instead of bright yellows, rich reds and russet that the season brings…with more environmentally friendly methods. Here are some tips from Thrifty & Green.
Fall Leaves
If you live in an area that is prone to plenty of leaves falling in your yard, you want to be sure you are handling the clean-up in an eco-friendly manner. Instead of using a leaf blower, use a rake. It does require more time and muscle, but what's better than helping the environment and getting a workout in at the same time? Leaf blowers create noise pollution and if they are diesel powered (bio-diesel is an exception), they also create air pollution as well. Another practice you want to avoid is burning the leaves. This creates a great deal of smoke and more so when leaves are damp, resulting in the release of toxic compounds and particulate matter. I think fall leaves are beautiful, so take the time to admire them and be kind when cleaning them up. If you have kids, you may even be able to do some fun art projects with some of the leaves, we used to do this in elementary school and it was great!
Eating In Season
Don’t forget the importance of eating local and in-season produce. Be sure to purchase all of the wonderful produce that is local and in season for the fall. If you have a Farmer's Market near you, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of it and get your produce there. It not only helps the environment, but your wallet as well! Some of the produce that is in season for the fall are, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, carrots, cranberries, eggplant, kale, leeks and zucchini. There are several more options than these listed for the fall, but this list gives you an idea. One source I use frequently for information and tips is fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. They have helpful lists and recipe ideas to use as well!
Football Parties
Another activity that goes hand in hand with fall is football! This is the time of year where many gather for football parties. So, what does being green have to do with football other than the field? Well, making sure to throw an eco-friendly football shindig is how! One thing to do is make sure you recycle any bottles used up during the game, have a place clearly designated for guests to drop their bottles. You will be making a statement and lessening your time spent gathering bottles after the party. Also, serve locally grown and organic snacks for guests to fill up on during the game! Instead of sending out invitations, send out an evite or be even more casual and pick up the phone to spread the word. Utilize tableware that can be used again. Buy some matching plates and silverware to be used specifically for parties to break out whenever you have one. This will cut out the use of paper plates, plastic forks and styrofoam! This may add a few minutes more to clean-up after the party, but every little bit we do counts in the long run.
It's so interesting to learn about all the ways we can be kind to the environment. Remember, with each season brings new opportunities to take advantage of.
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