Every year when fall arrives the lush green summer fades into a warm golden autumn leaving us all missing the warmer days.
If you’re not ready to say goodbye here are some ideas to help make your October a little “greener”.
Green your Halloween.
In 2015, Canadians spent over 1 billion on Halloween related purchases. When planning your spooky activities consider these tips to reduce your impact;
- Choose Sustainable Decorations – Like a locally grown pumpkin! Consider a pie pumpkin, they’re great for more than just decoration. Bake or steam, remove the rind, cut into pieces and freeze and then you can pull out pumpkin whenever you need it for muffins, loafs, pies and cheesecake. Anything you’re not using can be composted at home or dropped off at an after Halloween pumpkin collection.
- Re-use Costumes – Shop at thrift stores, check out Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji, or do a costume swap with friends and family. Reusing costumes saves the planet and your wallet. If you’re feeling creative you can even make your own costume with recycled materials!
- Choose Sustainable Candy – When you’re choosing candy to hand out this Halloween look for cardboard packaging instead of foil or plastic. When possible choose candy with Fair Trade and UTZ logos as well as candy that’s free of palm oil.
Check for leaks.
Did you know that 69% of water use in Winnipeg is residential? Leaks alone can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water per year in your home.
Start conserving water by joining our Family Leak Detector Challenge. Not only will you save water, but you’ll save a few bucks on your water bill too! It’s as easy as checking and fixing leaks around your home and then sharing your results with us. Plus, you’re entered to prizes to help you on your sustainability journey, like a rain barrel or a FortWhyte Alive Membership!
Tip: Learn how to check for leaks with our tutorial on YouTube.
Put your yard to bed.
The evenings are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. It won’t be long before snow covers our yards! Rather than prune your yard of debris, why not leave it for the winter?
Leaving plants to die naturally helps maximize nutrients to the roots. This is especially important for the health of perennials. Dead foliage provides insulation, promotes root survival and, when covered with snow, adds interesting shapes to your yard.
Additionally, leaving plants in place provides food and shelter to a variety of birds and critters in the upcoming inclement weather.
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Thank you for helping make our planet a little “greener”!