Today we have Jakob Barry as our Guest Blogger!
Despite the yummy hot dogs, meat, drinks, and desserts it could be said that of all the national holidays Independence Day takes the cake for the most waste and least wholesome food. The block parties and family get-togethers are great fun but within all the gatherings for the red white and blue it seems like there could be a little more “Green.”
In the spirit of being healthier and making the festivities more eco-friendly here’s a few ideas to consider when planning your 4th of July weekend.
1. The lawn: A lot of activities take place in people’s yards so for the sake of both adults and children come up with alternative landscaping maintenance plans so family and guest aren’t exposed to harmful substances. Use a manual or reel mower that won’t leave noxious fumes or drip fluids. Also, don’t spray or drop poisonous powder on the grass to kill weeds.
2. Reusable utensils: Don’t plan to use disposable plastic-ware that isn’t biodegradable. If the neighborhood is getting together for a barbecue have all the neighbors bring their own forks, knives, spoons, cups and plates. After all, everyone has them in their homes and can you imagine how this would cut down on the amount of trash! At the very least purchase reusable plastics that can be stored away for other occasions.
3. Recycling stations: Even if everyone brings their own cutlery there may still be some materials to recycle. This is a great opportunity to teach the neighborhood a few lessons on how to be better about reusing and recycling by making stations for plastic and paper and posting information on how to do it at home.
4. Compost: Next to recycling composting is an important component that aids the environment and if more people tried it, their gardens would be that much more robust and less waste would go to the landfill. Set up stations with information on what can be composted and what can’t.
5. Block the sun, make shade: Sometimes outside heat can be intolerable and celebrations move into air-conditioned homes. To make the fun more bearable outside set up a tent using a large tarp or series of tarps over the hangout area. In the end the party can be livelier because it’s outside and the host will save on energy costs.
6. Drinks: In place of the many varieties of sugar drinks provide healthier options such as punches made from real fruit, soda water with natural flavorings, or juice making stations. Even the regular bland beer can be replaced with a tastier better choice for the body.
7. Food: Instead of putting out unhealthy snacks like artificially flavored candy, chips, and other munchies try serving cut up vegetables with various dips or salads made from pastas and grains like rice, barley, and quinoa. Desserts can be fruit and homemade cakes and pies.
8. Fire: Part of being careful with making camp or barbecue fires isn’t only containing them but preventing certain things from going into them. Only burn natural materials such as wood, tree bark, and some brush while keeping away other things such as plastics, which will create harmful fumes.
9. Transportation: With all the concerts and fireworks displays going on try to use public transportation wherever possible as it will contribute less pollution. This is especially true for more rural or beach areas that many people will be accessing over the holiday, as the less traffic the less effect it will have on those environments.
10. Natural bug repellent: When the evening sun approaches and the barbecues fade into the night the pesky mosquitoes will be out having their own feast. Try and use natural repellent such as citronella, essential oils, or simply taking leaves from mint, lavender, or rosemary and rubbing them on the skin. In most cases it will protect from these pests and relieve you from having to use dangerous chemicals.
Jakob Barry writes for Networx.com, a growing community of homeowners and contractors getting the most from their resources by sharing and monitoring home improvement projects. He covers various home improvement topics including Green living and eco-friendly grounds maintenance.
I wish I had read this before yesterday. Good news is even though I missed it, my carbon foot print was pretty low yesterday since I spent it at home just relaxing 🙂
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you had a relaxing 4th of July.
Take care,
Evelyn
You’re welcome and thank you too! i’ll stop by more often. I added your blog to my reader. I’m trying all I can to eat better and live healthier.
Really great and informative post Evelyn. I love the list and found it just in time to integrate some of your tips into my day 🙂
Nowadays, it is important for us to improve our awareness on how we can live a healthy life since everything is already changing. So many temptations and so many environmental changes. You’ve cited great tips that we can follow for our journey of healthy living.
Michael,
Thanks so much. I hope the weekend is another good start for you and all of us!
Excellent timing for this article, just shared it on care2 and facebook. It will help many Americans become green and make a better world.
Always good to use natural ways to maintain lawns and gardens, i try to avoid poisonous substance as much as possible. Bringing their own utensils is a good idea, i always find a few spoons missing after a party… but on a serious note, i guess the re-usable plastic idea might not work, because most people will throw away your re-usable plastic dishes and fork/spoon. It will be a tough work collecting it back from the dustbins.
over all some very healthy suggestions, would definitely suggest more water and salads instead of their unhealthy options like soft drinks and junk food,
Very true re: the plastic ware. It’s true the reusable plastic ware would probably be a hard sell to a large group so perhaps it needs to be the harder kind of plastic; then this could be sold since it doesn’t look like it should be tossed. Either way labeling trash bins with easy to notice signs is necessary.