Every third Thursday in November we offer our thanks for the fortunate things and people in our lives. This Thanksgiving, one thing I will be thankful for is the growing concern that people have about our environment. So to kick off the holiday season, I want to compile a list that will make all our family gatherings eco-friendly. Here are four friendly tips that will go a long way.

Tip 1: Conserve as much as possible

During the holidays, people tend to buy disposable paper plates and cups. With fewer dishes to wash, you have already begun to reduce. The problem is that people use these plates and cups once and throw them out. Later, they will then eat more and use a new plate. One suggest, do not put out an excessive amount of these products. This will cause people to reuse. Lastly, leave out a clearly labeled recycling bin in a couple different rooms. By doing this you and your guest will be doing the three Rs. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Tip 2: Make the event local

The original Thanksgiving celebrated the coming together of the two different cultures within a community. I encourage you to do the same. Instead of driving to Walmart or any other superstore, you should focus on the local shops. If you need to decorate your house go to the local craft store. If you need to by food then you should go to the local grocery store. This may seem more expensive but it is better for the environment. A lot of the items in the store are regional products. This lowers shipment and warehouse emissions. And with local food you more than likely have a healthy organic meal prepared

You can also invite the neighbors over to join in the festivities. If each house on the street had their own feast there would be more products wasted.

Tip 3: Make homemade decorations,

Decorating your house can be a fun and interactive event for your family. A good idea is use left over recyclables instead of store bought products. Snowflakes can be made out of paper, characters can be cut out of cardboard and baskets can be made out of fallen tree twigs. For decorations you need glue and coloring utensils. One way to pay for those supplies is by using money from bottle returns. Set an amount of money you need and try to reach it by using return money. Try walking around and picking up cans and bottles. Use old shopping bags and leave them when you return the bottles.

Tip 4: Embrace the holidays
The holidays serve as a break from the long winter and celebrate the coming together of family and friends. You need to embrace the holidays with both cheer and love for people close to you and within your own community. Whatever you believe in, you should be thankful for our environment. Lastly, whatever you can store for the next year then store it and do not trash food but rather use a compost pile.