7 Ways to Go Green This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for food, family and tradition. If you’d like to introduce some new, eco-friendly customs this holiday, there are plenty of opportunities to go green while celebrating one of the biggest events of the year. Here are some simple ideas to reduce waste and save a little money – all while showing your gratitude to Mother Earth:

Reduce and Use Leftovers

According to U.S. News & World Report, families waste nearly 25 percent of all food prepared on Thanksgiving. That’s a lot of good food ending up in the trash. When planning your meal, consider cutting out those dishes you feel you have to serve but that no one eats. For example, if you consistently toss the cranberry sauce each year, leave it off the menu. This will save you time and money, and eliminate waste. Plan to reuse leftovers throughout the week in turkey sandwiches or stew.

Research if local food banks will accept donations. Not only will donating food help those in need, but the practice will also teach your family about the value of giving.

Best green apps for your Smartphone

There are more green apps than you may think. Apparently, apps on how to be green or related to green matters are a bigger deal than usual. It is probably not a sign that people are going to give up their cars for bicycles and stop eating Brazilian beef, but an interest in green matters is better than nothing.

It was difficult to compile a list of the best green apps because there is such diversity, plus there are a lot of good ones. Nevertheless, here is a list of some the many good ones.

Seasons (iPhone)

This is an app that tells you if seasonal foods are currently in. It is really nice when you have things such as apples that were grown down the road instead of coming from Spain. This app will tell you when your countries foods are currently in. You will find that your local supermarkets even have these foods in stock.

Good Guide (iPhone)

This is a rather nice app for finding out how green and ethical your current products are. It has over 70,000 products and gives you some very interesting and worrying facts, such as how a bag of cement is responsible for its own weight in CO2 emissions. It is a vital app to have for people who actually care.

How to Choose the Right Native Plants for Your Landscape Design

Not everyone has a green thumb, but ask any Landscape design expert and he or she will tell you that there’s always hope! This hope comes in the form of native plants. Native plants are those that naturally thrive in your area, like in the wilderness, without any human intervention.

Because these plants have adapted to the local conditions, they make a beautiful, rugged, weather-resistant landscaping alternative.

Benefits of Native Plants in a Landscape Design

Simpler to maintain: Because the plants are in their natural environment, they’re simpler to care for. They require less of your time, and less pruning and fewer fertilizers than common garden plants.
Save water: Most native plants do not need more water than the normal rainfall provides, which helps conserve H2O and money.
Fewer chemicals: Native plants naturally resist the pests in the area, so you don’t need to use pesticides in your garden.
Attract wildlife: Native plants attract the local wildlife to your garden, including butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects.

Tips & Considerations when Choosing Native Plants