Holiday season is coming up! And as usual there will be lots and lots of parties in our future- parties that we are planning at work, for clients, and parties in our own homes.  So why not try and GREEN your party this year? If you already recycle, try and punch it up by buying compostable plates, cups and “plasticware”.  It’s really not expensive and only requires you to plan ahead. But it’s hard to plan ahead! I know. That’s why its better to do it now. You can get a pack of 50 serveware plates made of Bagasse for 9.99!  It’s a 100% biodegradable and compostable alternative to plastic or styrofoam. Bagasse is biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed for sugar processing. Find it here: http://www.pristineplanet.com

Here are a few other tips from The Mostess Hostess. I challenge you as I challenge myself to green your party in two additional ways other than just recycling. 

GREEN BEFORE THE PARTY

1. Send electronic invitations from your own e-mail or E-vite. Invites from your personal account are warmer and fuzzier. Even sending them out individually with a personal note makes a guest feel special!

2. Think about transportation for your guests. Give prizes to folks who carpool, walk, bike or come by public transportation. Everybody likes a little bribery and encouragement!

3. Decorate without disposables. Try not to purchase decorations you use once and toss - use compostable, recycled and recyclable options. Look outdoors for decorations – I like to do centerpieces made from magnolia leaves and lemons.  Look to farmers markets for freshly cut flowers. Highlight the season by filling glass vases with seasonal produce like lemons, limes, cranberries and winter squash, or with pinecones.

Use your mother’s, grandmother’s holiday tablecloths or buy from flea markets or yardsales.

Use petroleum free candles like bees wax or soy candles. These natural candles don’t emit sooty fumes and produce a pure and clean-burning flame.

4. Give unique party favors. Local foods and products like honey, cheese, seed packets, and/or native plants. The Mostess Hostess offers a variety of gifts like Georgia-made jams, candy dishes, spoon rests, soap dishes, chocolates and wildflower honey.

GREEN THE MENU

1. Work with seasonal, local and organic foods. Try the 100 mile idea – look for foods grown or produced within 100 or so miles of your home, or within, or nearby, your home state. If you’re having a potluck – encourage your guests to do the same. They will enjoy the hunt! What is in season in Georgia now? See below:
 

2. DON’T use disposable plastic water or soda bottles. Cans and glass are "easier" to recycle than plastic.

3. Buy in bulk and purchase and serve things with less packaging. Don’t serve appetizers or drinks with throwaway plastic spoons, stirrers or bowls. Use products like peppermint sticks or wooden popsicle stirrers for drinks. For food, try hollowed out cucumbers for individual appetizer bowls, a wide carrot slice when you need a spoon for something savory, and ice cream cone bowls with a thin biscotti spoon for dessert.  Use your own china or ask the caterer to use china. It’s far more substantial and your guests will feel like family!

4. Reduce the amount of meat you serve or consider a vegetarian menu. Gasp! I know this might be a tough one, but remember you are not trying to incorporate every suggestion. You’re just trying to up the ante, so to speak. In relation to our diet, animal products are one of the largest contributors to global warming. Plan your menu so that there is less emphasis on large meat portions and replace with either plant-based options, or with grass-fed, pasture-raised products instead. Here are some great local farmers who have the tastiest beef, chicken, turkey and pork out there. You may want to also try adding game like quail or venison to your menu.

Boutwell Farms http://www.boutwellfarms.com/
Country Gardens Farm & Nursery http://www.countrygardensfarm.com/
Hidden Acres Natural Farm (Lamb) http://www.hiddenacresnaturalfarm.com/

For a more complete list, check out this website: http://www.eatwild.com/products/georgia.html

5. Serve vegan/vegetarian appetizers or entrees. Serving plant-based foods at a party not only improves the Global Warming Diet but also keeps your guests feeling energetic. How many parties have you left feeling bloated and guilty for overindulging? That’s a sure sign of a meal too high in fat and rich foods.

6. Use Sustainable Seafood. Serving seafood at your event? Make sure it is sustainably grown. I found a great, high quality company where you can purchase sustainable seafood: http://www.ilovebluesea.com/

7. Serve green drinks. Organic spirits and “green” wines (sustainably grown) are becoming more popular and there are some excellent choices. Go to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.

8. Offer rainforest certified coffee and chocolate. Organic, fair-trade and shade-grown products can still be problematic to our diminishing rain forests. Look for one of two seals: “Smithsonian Institute Bird-Friendly,” or “Rainforest-Friendly.”

9. Hiring a caterer? Check out some of Georgia’s green caterers:

Bridge Caterering: http://www.bridgecatering.com/
Parsleys Catering: http://www.parsleys.com/
Organic Eatz: http://www.organiceatz.com/

GREEN THE CLEAN-UP

1. Set out 3 tubs for waste collection. One for recycling, one for compost and one for trash.  Set up a small display showing what goes where, so guests know exactly what to do. If using biocompostable tableware and utensils, make sure that your guests know to place these in the “compost” tub.

2. Compost your food waste. Food scraps make up a large majority of the waste stream. If you don’t have a compost pile or worm bin, start one – they are amazingly easy to do and offer a great sense of satisfaction.  Need a link? Try this: http://compostguide.com/

3. Clean up with green cleaning products. Natural cleaning products are gaining in popularity and work well in the kitchen. Wash your tablecloths, napkins and towels, and clean counters, dishes and tabletops with biodegradable, earth-friendly detergent. Use only as much as needed. If you must use paper towels for cooking or cleaning, get unbleached, brown paper towels. And for whatever waste you have (hopefully, it's not too much), use biodegradable trash bags; either brown paper bags or biocompostable ones. Find all these products at natural foods stores, online, and even at some of the larger chain grocery stores.

4. For those of you who are REALLY into being GREEN, try Carbon Offsetting your Event. After reducing and recycling as much as possible, consider offsetting what’s left. Carbon offsets are payments you can make to a third party to remove or offset your own carbon emissions from the atmosphere. You can offset the miles your guests drive to get to the party through sites such as www.Acterra.org. Click Cool-It.