Labor Day is a special National Holiday for celebrating and honoring the hardworking North American labor force. Many people honor and celebrate this holiday by enjoying picnics, cookouts, and fun play at the beach or the park, enjoying the fresh air. This Labor Day, do something extra special with your family. Do your best to keep your carbon footprint small and enjoy a healthy green holiday. A great way to celebrate and honor the labor work force is to be extra good and loving to yourself and the planet by enjoying activities that are green, healthy and non-toxic.
Heart-healthy, organic, whole, vegan foods that are bought at an organic health food store are your best choices for enjoying a healthy delicious picnic or cookout that will make your whole family feel good. A great motto to live by is: "if in doubt, do without". It's smart to pay extra attention to the desserts you eat. Whether you are going to bake homemade pastry desserts or buy ready-made at the market, it's very important to be mindful of the ingredients that you and your family are going to consume. Eating healthy, natural, whole, delicious organic foods is very conducive to the active play and sports you may be enjoying this Labor Day.
In addition to eating healthy organic foods at your picnic or cookout, it's also important to use tableware that is non-toxic, biodegradable, green, and BPA-free. A wise choice for green non-toxic tableware is organic cotton or hemp cloth napkins, ceramic or stainless steel cups and bottles, and plates and storage containers.
In order to enjoy the holiday and be comfortable outside, it's a good idea to use a non-toxic, organic, green insect repellent so the pesky bugs don't bug you. You can buy a good effective spray at your local organic green health food store or you can make your own. Here is a good blend my husband and I make that is very helpful:
Soak 4 thick slices of fresh cut lemon in 4 C boiling hot water overnight. The next day, once the lemon water has cooled, gently slowly pour into a spray bottle. Add 3 drops organic citronella essential oil, 3 drops organic peppermint essential oil, 3 drops organic tea tree oil (melaleuca), and 1 drop organic clove essential oil to the mixture and close the spray bottle tightly and shake well so the blend is thoroughly mixed. Keep this mixture on hand to use when you need it. Use this spray mixture to spray the bugs around you and directly on your skin. Make sure you spray away from the eyes. The essential oils are natural, safe, and non-toxic, but they can burn the eyes, so it's a good idea to be aware of the sensitivity.
When you're finished enjoying your fun day in the park with a picnic, please be sure to always clean up your mess. Toss the recyclables into one non-toxic biodegradable plastic bag and toss the trash into another. Leave the space as clean and nice as it was when you found it.
Follow these basic and simple green tips, and we can all enjoy a healthy, green Labor Day and other special National Holidays and maintain a small carbon footprint everyday.