Zero Waste Thanksgiving
By: Barbara Roberts,
St. Andrew Green Team
If you are interested in thanking Mother Earth during this week of feeling grateful, you might want to consider these tips for having a green Thanksgiving day holiday.
Cook for compost. Whether it is for your own compost pile, or for the green bin, the following ideas can help create a holiday with no food waste:
--Use "Animal Welfare Approved" poultry. This is the only certification that guarantees animals are raised on open pasture, and able to live their normal behaviors. Or try skipping meat entirely; the animals, air, and earth will thank you.
--Avoid nonstick cookware. Use cast iron, food-grade stainless steel, or ceramic cookware and glass, earthenware, or cast iron for baking to avoid aluminum and perfluorochemical (PFC) exposure.
--Choose 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat breads and non-GMO verified and organic fruits and vegetables. Or, choose non-organic fruits and veges from the Environmental Working Group's Clean 15 that use the least amount of pesticides including: avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, onions, papayas, sweet peas (frozen), eggplants, asparagus, broccoli, cabbages, kiwis, cauliflower, mushroom, honeydew and cantaloupe melons.
--Save all vegetable scraps, put them into a pot and cover with water. Cook for about an hour. Pour broth into a reusable container and compost the remains. The broth can be used for another week.
--Avoid using dairy products; dairy does not do well in compost.
And many of us already use the following methods to help be sustainable, but they are especially good for holidays:
--Check your pantry before shopping to prevent buying food you already have. (Less packaging and food waste.)
--Shop in person, bring your own reusable bags, and plan a route in order to only make one trip. (Less emissions in the air, and less waste than having someone shop for you.)
--Make "doggie bags" and store food in reusable containers including empty glass jars from mayo, peanut butter, olives, jams and jellies or plastic butter, yogurt, or cottage cheese.
Wishing you all a loving and blessed Happy Thanksgiving!
