Have a Green Picnic

Getting out and enjoying the fresh air while having a delicious picnic is a favorite pastime for people around the world. We love going on picnics to be closer to nature, but if we're not careful we can actually harm nature in the process.

The most important item to get to keep your picnic environmentally friendly is a basket or backpack filled with reusable items. Think about all the disposable items that you would normally take a long on a picnic - plastic utensils, paper plates, plastic wrap or baggies, paper towels, napkins - it adds up fast! These convenient baskets, backpacks, and shoulder bags come with such items as utensils, plates, cloth napkins - even wine glasses, cheese boards and tablecloths. Most of these items are made of lightweight plastic, which makes toting them around a cinch. Taking these items with you each time you picnic will keep more trash out of the landfills than you realize.

Here are a few more tips for a green picnic:

• Pack your food in reusable plastic containers, rather than wrapping it in foil or plastic wrap.
• Re-use your plastic bags from the grocery store for trash or to put dirty plates and utensils in after you eat.
• Bring anti-bacterial hand gel rather than wipes
• Choose natural whole foods to avoid throwing away a lot of packaging materials. In addition, use any leftover scraps such as banana peels or egg shells in a compost pile rather than throwing them away. Don't know anything about compost piles? Learn how to make one at E-How.
• Don't bring glass bottles - if they break, the broken glass left behind will not only be a problem for the environment and animals in the area but other people who use the spot you choose.
• Bring beverages in portable beverage containers or in recyclable materials such as aluminum cans or plastic bottles. Just be sure to remember to bring them home with you to put in the recycling bin.
• Consider taking an exhilarating walk, or using public transportation to get to your picnic destination.

You can do a lot for your environment just by taking small steps such as these, which don't require a lot of time or effort. Helping to do your part to keep our parks, wilderness and public areas clean will benefit everyone and ensure that you'll always have that beautiful spot to go to for your picnics!