The Trash Free Thanksgiving Challenge

 

Thanksgiving is a time of great abundance on the East End of Long Island.

 

Abundance of food from the yearly harvest, abundance of space as our busy summer season is behind us and abundance of beauty as fall changes the colors of our landscape.

 

We have so much to be thankful for!

 

Thanksgiving is extra special on the East End because the entire feast can be bought fresh and local from our farmstands, bakeshops and food/drink producers.

 

At ecoeastend.com we produce and advocate for zero waste events. Why not make this Thanksgiving your first attempt at a zero waste celebration? Take our NO TRASH CHALLENGE this year.

 

Be mindful of how much trash you produce from your Thanksgiving gathering.

 

Grab a reusable bag and head to the farmstand. Say NO to the plastic and just load up your bag with loose fruits and vegetables. You will bring zero trash back to your home.

 

You can even bring your own turkey pot to the farm and they will load the bird (all prepared) straight into your pot. No trash brought home.

 

Bring a reusable pie or cake pan to the bakery and they will be happy to put your goodies inside for you. No trash brought home.

 

Bring reusable wine bags to the winery for your beverages. This is a really fun festive trip to take during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

 

Cloth napkins. No trash.

 

Many of these steps take more time then making one trip to the grocery store but it is a chance for you to slow down and truly be thankful for this abundance. It also makes for the most nutritious and delicious feast as well as great Thanksgiving table conversation.

 

The only waste at the end of your Thanksgiving feast should be leftovers. There are two choices for leftover food. The scraps go out to the compost pile to enrich the soil in your yard and the rest of the food makes delicious turkey sandwiches. Don't have a compost pile or system in your backyard? If food scraps are the only trash that you produce this year perhaps its time for you to start thinking about a compost pile for your yard. That way next year during the No Trash Challenge you will be a winner.

 

Be on the lookout for composting classes this year at www.ecoeastend.com!

 

Good luck and have fun with the challenge. It is surprisingly easy and life changing in some unexpected ways. Enjoy!