Top Turkey-Day Tips

Enrich your Thanksgiving festivities--and give the planet something to be thankful about too--with these ecofriendly ideas:

• Opt for an organic turkey from a family farm.
• Buy fewer processed foods and more local and organic ones.
• Incorporate seasonal vegetarian dishes like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and root vegetables.
• Take the 100-Mile Thanksgiving challenge and join other "families and individuals [who] have committed to generating one dish, or even their whole holiday meal, from sources within 100 miles of their homes."
• If your table settings are in need of replacement, look for organic cloth linens and napkins.
• Uncork a bottle or two of organic wine.
• After the feast, do full loads of dishes instead of hand-washing and skip the drying cycle.

For next year, consider reducing your travel impact by carpooling or taking the train to your destination and holding your family get-together in a place that's central to the most guests. If you must fly to see the family, look for a direct flight, which minimizes both emissions--since a huge percentage of fuel is used on takeoff--and holiday hassle.