Thanksgiving is tough. It is the holiday where even the most frugal consumers can get a little carried away – and by carried away, we mean stuffed to the gills with cranberry sauce, lentil loaf, and organic turkey only to be rolled home a la Violet Beauregard.

But we don’t have to throw out all our green intentions just because we may or may not eat an entire cranberry apple pie. Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for all that we have – and one of things you do have (or I assume you have if you are reading this article) are some awesome, green intentions. So feast your eyes on our tips to keep your Thanksgiving eco-friendly!

Start with the shopping. Naturally, bring your reusable bags to the supermarket. Focus on purchasing locally-grown food for your recipes. Foodroutes.org is a great resource to finding easy, accessible merchants who carry only local foods.
http://www.foodroutes.org/blinitiative.jsp Don’t forget to peruse your farmer’s markets, many of which operate all year round. Localharvest.org can help you find ones in your area.

Now, some especially awesome farmer’s markets might carry an organic, locally-grown turkey. But most will not. You can find an organic turkey at most natural grocery stores and markets. If all else fails, you can find an organic turkey online. (Yes, I know it’s not the perfect carbon footprint solution, but at least it is hormone-free solution.) If you are in the store, keep an eye out for labels on your turkey like USDA Organic or American Humane Certified.

Naturally, we want to give a green shout out to all the vegetarians out there. Here’s a fantastic link with a whole Thanksgiving table line up of meat-free goodies. And here’s a great source for the vegans out there as well.

If you are going to lift a glass in thanks this year, make sure it is filled with organic or biodynamic wine. Greenopia recently rated several wineries for their eco-friendly practices, with some of the top brands being Frog’s Leap and Alma Rosa. Make sure your wine uses real cork, which is renewable and tree-free.

You can also decorate your table in an eco-friendly way. Some suggest filling a recycled glass bowl with seasonal grains like corn, while placing pillar candle in the center. Make sure your candles are made from soy or natural beeswax, and avoid petroleum-based paraffin candles. Want flowers on your table? Get them from the local farmer’s market, or order them from Organicbouquet.com.

And while you’re eating, switch off the lights and eat by candlelight! One conservationist suggests lowering your thermostat by two degrees on Thanksgiving to conserve energy.

Finally, consider donating your leftover food. Especially in these troubled times, there are shelters who will take your leftover goods. The United Way is a great resource to find local food organizations that will take your unused portions.

And most importantly – have a happy, green Thanksgiving!

Vintage Photo Credit
Turkey with Ham Sign Photo Credit