August 28th

By Mutt Mulligan

Tips for Going Green this Labor Day

Labor Day weekend – the unofficial end to summer – is a great time to enjoy a backyard barbeque, take a road trip or simply relax at home and enjoy the extra day off.

It’s also a good time to go green. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to make this Labor Day weekend celebration an Earth friendly one.

• Celebrate outdoors. Enjoy Mother Nature’s playground by planning an outdoor picnic, barbeque or just getting the family outside to play games in the backyard. Spending time outdoors encourages family bonding, is a wonderful way to exercise, and reminds us of all the reasons to protect the green spaces around our homes.
• Skip the paper and the plastic. It might be easier to use paper or plastic plates, utensils and cups for your cook-out, but it certainly isn’t better for the environment. Instead, opt for reusable dinnerware, utensils and cups. (Perhaps you can even entice the kids to wash the dishes by offering them the biggest serving of dessert after clean-up!)
• Serve seasonal food. Eating locally sourced, organic and seasonal food tastes better. And, it’s better for the environment because it doesn’t have the pesticides in conventionally grown food and doesn’t have to travel as far from farm to table. Visit your local farmer’s market for the best of the season.
• Carpool. Whether you are heading to a local festival or going to a friend’s pool party, coordinate a carpool to reduce air pollution and conserve energy. Or, if it’s close enough to walk or bike, take the opportunity to get some family exercise by skipping the car ride altogether.

What other ideas do you have for going green this Labor Day?