With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you are likely in the midst of hammering out those last few menu details for the big feast. While finalizing your plans for your day of giving thanks, here are some suggestions on how-to ‘green’ up your Thanksgiving.

Utilize Local Goods and Products
While assembling food items for your feast, be sure to check your garden for any fall harvest crops such as carrots, kale, turnips, swiss chard, spinach and lettuce, all of which grow quite well in the cool temperatures of autumn. In fact, these vegetables will actually become sweeter after having been kissed by frost and your guests will be extra thankful for your generosity of sharing in your garden’s bounty. Your local farmers market can also prove to be a valuable resource as you gather ingredients for the big meal. It is there where you will find options for fresh produce that is locally grown and seasonally available. Additionally, bringing food from farm to table gives you the added benefits of supporting your local economy and consuming vegetables that utilize less energy and fewer fossil fuels. Lastly, you can support your local wineries and microbreweries by picking up some locally produced libations to pair with your tasty meal.

Consider Reusable Table Settings
Another way to green up your Thanksgiving is to consider using reusable cloth napkins for your table settings. Not only will this help to reduce trash going to the landfill, but it will also add a touch of class to your meal. Instead of buying plastic or vinyl table decorations, use decorative gourds, branches, leaves, beeswax candles and other natural elements to add ambiance to your dining experience.

Give Thanks to Nature
This is a season to give thanks to not just the gathering of family and friends, but also to what nature gives us in exchange for hard work. Let’s do our part to support our local economy and be sure that we minimize our overall environmental impact so we can continue to be thankful year after year, day after day!