A few weeks ago, Modern Eco Homes proposed the Thanksgiving 100-mile eco-challenge to all of our readers (see here if you missed it!). A Thanksgiving feast that originates from within 100 miles of you is not only good for the environment, but it gives you and your family the opportunity to enjoy a local meal that’s as delicious as it is healthful.

With just one day left before Thanksgiving, we’ve got some more tips in addition to those offered in our original post to make your 100-mile Thanksgiving even greener. While a few of the suggestions may seem a bit redundant and applicable to situations outside of Thanksgiving, we think a little redundancy around this time of year can go a long way, especially as many of us get caught up in the excitement and fast-paced nature of the holiday season.

• Instead of using imported flowers or plants for your table centerpieces, bring the outdoors in by using twigs, bright orange and red leaves, berries, pine cones, and branches found in your own yard to create a visually stunning, seasonal, and of course eco-friendly centerpiece.

Use items you can find in your yard to create an interesting, eco-friendly centerpieces.

• Try to cut back on ingredients you cannot find locally as much as possible, including coffee, salt, and other spices. You may even substitute traditional Thanksgiving dishes for those that can be made entirely from ingredients found locally.
• If you have family members who are traveling, encourage them to coordinate and carpool with other nearby relatives.
• Believe it or not, sometimes washing dishes by hand uses more water than the dishwasher. If you have stacks of plates to tackle, load up the dishwasher and use an eco-friendly detergent, such as Method’s Smarty Dish Detergent.

Method offers a green detergent that tackles your dirtiest dishes sans harmful toxins.

• If you live in a warmer climate, take advantage of the local farmers’ and produce markets in your area. I am spending the Thanksgiving holiday with my family in beautiful Huntington Beach, California where just last night, we strolled through a farmer’s market selecting delicious, fresh produce for our upcoming Thanksgiving feast.

If you and your family will be enjoying a 100-mile Thanksgiving this year, share with us! Whether it’s sharing your favorite recipe using local ingredients or eco-friendly resources you found to help plan your feast, we want to hear from you!