A Season for Gratitude
Did you know that in some Native American languages, the words for “plant” translate to “those who take care of us?” Botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Robin Wall Kimmerer notes this in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, a beautiful collection of essays on the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world.
November is Native American Heritage Month as well as the time for the traditional Thanksgiving holiday. Although Thanksgiving occupies a complicated place in Indigenous American history, it is associated with an overall sense of gratitude for the Earth in which we live and the recognition of how closely human lives are bound together with nature.
As we pause to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones and friends, let us take a moment to be truly grateful for all we have and reflect on the ways we can show our gratitude to Mother Earth through our actions and intentionality.
Only buy what you will use.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, approximately 200 million pounds of turkey are discarded after Thanksgiving. If you routinely make a turkey just because it’s a tradition, think about switching things up and opt for chicken, capons or quail. All the traditional sides will still work beautifully.
Avoid generating food waste by using a portion size calculator.
Check your cupboards and fridge for what you have on hand, and make a list before you shop.
Shop as close to home as possible, buy local and remember to take along your reusable shopping bags!
Not a fan of leftovers? Encourage your guests to bring reusable containers to take home some of the excess.
Check out these recipes designed to help you use up your leftovers!
Avoid anything single-use.
Skip the single-use decorative food and tableware and break out the china and crystal (or your everyday serveware). Then load up the dishwasher and let it efficiently do the cleanup work for you!
Invest in reusable cloth napkins in natural cotton or linen.
Make your table festive with natural decor like gourds and leaves and flowers.
Compost!
Compost table scraps and natural décor and make the ultimate gift to Mother Earth
For more ideas, check out the Tips and Tricks section on our website and this fantastic guide for a sustainable Thanksgiving from Grove Collaborative.
The members of the Environmental Action Committee wish you a wonderful, gratitude-filled day of Thanksgiving. We invite you to leave a comment below or contact us at environment@lwvchicago.org.