Photo © Harvey Payne
Mmmm, you can already taste the Thanksgiving feast! You've got the ingredients, and the menu is sumptuously traditional: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce and (of course) pumpkin pie.
But even after you stuff yourself, won't you still have a gnawing feeling that something isn't quite right? Perhaps your traditional Thanksgiving spread needs to get a little environmentally friendlier.
Feed your hunger for a greener T'day with some of our eco-friendly tips below. From turkey and wine to shopping (or not), we’ve got suggestions that will make you — and the planet — thankful.
The Main Dish: Turkey or Tofurkey?
Even staunch vegetarians often give in when it comes to Thanksgiving turkey. But is turkey or tofurkey (described by Wikipedia as "a loaf of vegetarian protein") better for the planet?
Conventional meat production is often laden with chemicals and harms the planet in the form of deforestation and polluted waterways. And recent studies from The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the University of Chicago also report that the livestock industry produces more global greenhouse gas emissions than does transportation.
But what about the fact that soybean plantations are destroying the Amazon Rainforest, you say? Don't be fooled: Most of the global soybean harvest — nearly 80 percent, according to the Worldwatch Institute — goes to animal feed, not to the production of fake meat products.
While tofu and soy-based products aren't without fault (see our May 2007 Enviro-Tips), no matter how you slice it, choosing tofurkey over turkey means you're likely to come out ahead on the environmental scorecard.
If you can't give up the real deal, consider buying pasture-raised, organic turkeys. Or re-live a little history by donning your Pilgrim hat and buying a heritage turkey this year. Defined as centuries-old breeds of turkeys that need to be raised over longer periods of time (unlike the sped-up rearing process of today's breeds), heritage turkeys are making a comeback. Turns out our ancestors were on to something.
Green Your Red
Portugal’s vinho verde may be trendy with wine connoisseurs, but for nature lovers like us, green wine means nature-friendly. But how to find wines that a greenie can feel good about?
According to the June 2007 issue of Wine Spectator magazine, more and more grape producers and vintners are choosing practices that are better for the environment. But green-leaning wineries don’t always advertise their virtues on the label, leaving you to do a little extra research.
California, which produces 90 percent of all U.S. wines, has a Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance that educates and supports winegrowers who want to be more environmental, economic and socially-sustainable. Consumers can browse their list of more than 1,100 California vineyards and wineries participating in the group’s Sustainable Wine Growing program, which helps growers assess their operation and provides guidelines for achieving more sustainable practices.
You can also find fish-friendly wines in your grocery store. Wines that carry a fish-friendly label mean the grapes were raised in ways that protect water quality and watershed habitat for fish and people. Fish-Friendly Farming certifies California vineyards, while Salmon-Safe publishes a Wine List of certified salmon-safe wineries from Oregon and Washington.
How Far is it to Grandma’s House?
Thanksgiving tops our list of the best day for a family get-together. But besides the frustration of sitting in traffic, you might be wondering how to make the journey a little greener.
Web sites like TerraPass, Carbon Counter and The Nature Conservancy's own carbon calculator help you calculate the amount of carbon you emit and offer ways of offsetting those emissions.
Before the long drive, check your air filter and making sure your tires are fully inflated; you’ll reduce your carbon emissions and get better gas mileage.
The Aftermath
Now that you've eaten right, sit back with a full belly and enjoy the football game — either by watching or sleeping through it.
But remember — the day after Thanksgiving has been declared national Buy Nothing Day by the nonprofit group Adbusters. There’s no better way to be thankful for nature’s bounty than to keep your consumer impulses in check. Instead, spend the day contemplating some creative green gifts for this holiday season…and check back next month for our own green-gift-giving guide!
Want more tips?
Visit our Enviro-Tips archive.
Looking for even more to do?
Tell a friend about the Great Places Network, so they can help save the last great places too!
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