Green Your Memorial Day

by Milena Viljoen

Summer's here and it's time to celebrate! Here are a few tips on how to kick off the summer while going easy on the earth....

1. Try compostable party ware. Avoid contributing trash to landfills by using compostable party ware at your house party. Verterra's dinnerware is durable enough to wash and reuse several times, and when discarded will degrade in about two months. A variety of options are also available at ThorPackGreen and Branch.

2. Opt for low-impact chicken, meats, or vegetarian fare. Organic and free-range chicken and beef are great choices for a sustainable barbeque. Veggie burgers are now a staple at any local grocery store, or you can use vegetables to make yummy skewers for a main course.

3. Search your local farmer's market for fresh, in season vegetables for your side dishes. Most farmers markets also offer a wonderful variety of breads, cheeses, olives, or other treats for the table. Farmers markets are often more affordable than grocery stores, and buying local means there is less transport (and therefore less carbon emissions) between the field and your fork. Plus it helps local businesses and supports cultural activity in your home town.

4. Grill using gas. According to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, gas grills produce less carbon dioxide emissions than charcoal or electric grills (assuming 35,000 British thermal unit per hour output). Gas grills also avoid the soot and particulates produced by charcoal grills, as well as the VOCs that lighter fluids and self-starting briquettes emit. Want to avoid using fuels altogether? For the über-green, Sun Baked offers up a parabolic solar barbeque!

5. Carpool to the barbeque. Sharing a ride is a great way to ease the burden of rising gas prices. Just be sure to have a designated driver. If you're hosting your own get-together, encourage your friends to ride-share. Many online invitation sites (like Evite) let invitees alert other guests for their desire to carpool.

There are many other suggestions on how to make Memorial Day more sustainable. Do you have ideas? Share them with us!