Green your Thanksgiving

Greening your Thanksgiving

Every year for the last 5 or so years I have hosted Thanksgiving and this year it will be the same. However this year we are holding a Green Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is all about giving Thanks and this year how about giving thanks to Mother Earth. Instead of going crazy with the Thanksgiving meal apply the K.I.S.S philosophy (Keep It Sweet & Simple) below are a few ways you can Green your Thanksgiving table with K.I.S.S.

• Choose locally grown Veggies and Meat - visit www.localharvest.org and find out farms near you. You will be surprised at the money you can save by shopping local.
• Use real dishes and glasses. Every thanksgiving we end of throwing out tons of plastic and paper plates that fill up our landfills and pollute our water supply.
  • If you must use disposable stick to the green product that are biodegradable. My favorite is Earth Shell, I pick them up at my local Wegmans and I pay $2.something for 25 plates and the plates are nice and thick. Plus they are made out of corn and fully biodegradable. For a full range of disposables that are environmentally friendly you can also visit www.thegreenoffice.com
  • Wash you dishes in a green dishwashing detergent that is Phosphate free. Try out http://www.shaklee.net/edge/product/00295
• Carpool - If you are traveling a distance and have other family members near you try to car pool with family members.
• Take the 100 Mile Challenge - www.TreeHugger.com created a 100 mile Challenge which is your Thanksgiving feast should only consist of things you can find within 100 miles of your home.
• Use Organic - When available use organic food instead of non organic or . If using a local natural farm just make sure you understand there farming process and are comfortable with them. Most of the farms I frequently visit are natural farms which are basically organic they just can afford the high USDA fees.
• Send Electronic Cards - When sending invites or thank you cards try this year using email or www.evite.com this will not only save on paper but also carbon emissions.
• EcoDecorations - Try decorating the table using materials found outside such as scattering leaves on the table and creating a centerpiece using cranberries and dried sticks.

Dry Cleaning - Is there a safer alternative

Me and my husband have a wedding to attend this weekend so I am in need of getting our formal wear cleaned. Since we began living non toxic I have not needed to use or even think about a dry cleaning. So today I started researching the real dirt on dry cleaning. The chemical used in dry cleaning is called "perchloroethylene" (PERC) and according to the EPA it can cause some pretty serious damaged not only to our health but the environment. The below quote was taken directly from the EPA site for PERC .

Breathing PERC for short periods of time can adversely affect the
human nervous system.  Effects range from dizziness, fatigue, headaches and
sweating to incoordination and unconsciousness.  Contact with PERC liquid
or vapor irritates the skin, the eyes, the nose, and the throat.  These
effects are not likely to occur at levels of PERC that are normally found
in the environment.

So what can we do to avoid this. Below are some alternatives to dry cleaning:

• Wet Cleaning - uses water and non toxic biodegradable detergents to clean delicate fabrics such as wool, silk..ect. And also finishes using steam pressing
• Liquid Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - This can be used in place of PERC.
• Hydrocarbon Solvents and Siloxane - Also can be used in place of PERC

However for were I live I would have to travel 40 miles to get to a wet cleaner or someone that uses the alternatives. So for me I am going to do the next best thing listen to what the Sierra Club recommends for reducing your exposure.

• Remove the plastic bag outside and let the garment stay outside for 24 hours to air out.
• Hang garment outside for 24 hours to allow PERC is dissipate
• Dry Clean as little as possible
• Avoid purchasing clothes that say "Dry Clean Only"

Keep in mind that the EPA reports the danger of breathing PERC as "in a short period of time". If you would like to read the full EPA write up on PERC here is the link http://www.epa.gov/chemfact/f_perchl.txt