Thanks, Earth

It is that time of year again—time to sit back, reflect and be thankful. Thankful for friends, family, the shirt on your back, the food on your table, and even for that uncle in a leisure suit who talks your ear off at the dinner table…

At the top of the list of things we’re thankful for at SustainLane – just ahead of that uncle— is Earth herself. And the best way we know how to say thanks to the ultimate Sustainer is to go green on Thanksgiving.

Thankfully, greening the day doesn’t require any radical or pricey action on your part. It just requires that, as you give thanks for the bounty you enjoy, you also give thought to what you do and buy.

Here are SustainLane’s top tips for going green on Thanksgiving:

1) Getting there.

Of course, the greenest travel option is not to travel at all. And we’d like to tell you to stay put. Burn no fossil fuels. Invite your neighbors for supper. But we know that this is also a holiday of family togetherness, so if you must drive or fly, be mindful of the small acts that add up:

See that empty seat in your car? Fill it. If you don’t know anyone headed your way, and if you’re adventurous, Craigslist is a good place to find people offering – and in need of – rides.

Think ahead: Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee mug. Avoid buying single-use bottles of water and paper coffee cups with plastic lids that head straight for the landfill. If you’re flying, make sure your reusable cup is empty when you go through security. Klean Kanteen is the stainless steel bottle of choice for our reviewers.

Offset your carbon emissions. Whether you’re flying or driving, you can offset the carbon emissions you’ll expend by purchasing a TerraPass. Use the TerraPass travel calculator to estimate your carbon footprint, then buy offsets accordingly. Your money supports projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and all projects are verified by an independent accredited organization.

2) Decorate the Thanksgiving table eco-style.

Buy gourds at your local farmer’s market to use as centerpieces, and save them to use again next year.

Ditch petroleum-based candles in favor of 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. Use real silverware. Set up an assembly line at the kitchen sink; get to know your cousin’s fiancé as you pass him plates to dry. If you really must use disposable, go for compostable and/or biodegradable products. Here’s a good purveyor of bio-based plasticware. Remember that if you do buy bio-compostable wares, you must actually compost it. It doesn’t break down in a landfill.

If you’re a rookie host and in the market for a complete set of water or wine glasses, consider buying from The Green Glass Company. They use landfill-bound glass bottles and turn them into attractive glassware.

3) Food and Wine

In an ideal world, we’d buy all organic all the time. But if you’re hosting a dinner for 15, this could quickly turn into a costly venture. Here’s what we recommend you do buy organic, if nothing else:

If you eat turkey, instead of going for the buy-one-get-one-free deal at the nearby supermarket franchise, buy a Heritage Turkey. These are naturally-bred and raised turkeys, beloved by chefs for their rich flavor. If you don’t have access to this kind of turkey, seek out birds from a local farm.

Buy organic potatoes! Have you heard of the Dirty Dozen? These are the produce items that you should always buy organic due to their high pesticide and herbicide content, even after you wash them. Note that spinach, celery (used in stuffing!), and apples (apple pie, anyone?) are also on the list. Check the list, and if any of these items are on your menu, buy organic.

Treat your guests to organic or biodynamic wine. If you’re in Northern California, try Frey Vineyards or Porter Creek Vineyards. Trader Joe’s also offers affordably-priced organic wine.

Would you like some coffee with your pumpkin pie? When choosing beans, look for the fair-trade sticker to ensure the coffee you drink was produced under fair and sustainable conditions and bought at a fair price. SustainLane reviewers have enjoyed brews from the aptly-named Thanksgiving Coffee Company.

4) Cleaning up.

Don’t scrape that food into the trash—Compost it! There’s no better time to join the compost revolution. You may not know this, but modern landfills are packed so tightly that food doesn’t get the oxygen, light, or microorganisms it needs to biodegrade. Dumping food down the garbage disposal isn’t the best idea either. If you don’t already compost, try the Garden Gourmet Compost Bin. If you have no yard and no curbside compost pickup, you can become a guerilla composter.

Cleaning up the kitchen. You’ve had such a healthy, Earth-thankful Thanksgiving, why stop now? Wipe down kitchen surfaces using all natural, earth-friendly cleansers like vinegar and baking soda. They really do work! If you prefer pre-made cleansers from the store, Method cleaning products are popular and affordable. Mrs. Meyers aromatherapeutic cleansers are another favorite. You could also try making your own all-natural cleansers with these recipes.

Make leftovers. Friends don’t let friends let good food go to waste! Make turkey, tofurkey, or nutloaf sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry sauce! Make turkey tetrazzini or turkey pot pie! Once you’ve squeezed all possible meals out of your leftovers. . .

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.

5) Afterword

When all it’s all over, be sure to turn off all the lights before going to bed. Remember that if an appliance is plugged in – even if it’s switched to “off” – it continues to draw power. If you don’t have a Smart Strip, which prevents this, then remember to unplug all appliances too!

*For tips on involving kids in natural Thanksgiving preparations, click here.

Photo by Narcis Parfenti