We hosted our 5 year anniversary party in the back garden under perfect weather conditions. Summer days are what Vermonters know to be worth the winter wait. We managed to do our entertaining with little impact on the environment but I know we can always do better.

This month we talk about summer entertaining and how to reduce, reuse, redeem and remember our planet as THE GUEST OF HONOR.

For those of you new to the party, a quick catch up... we’re looking to our community of friends and yogis to consider adopting new environmentally friendly changes each month for the next 12 months. Keep the suggestions and efforts coming and we'll add them to our list.

Join our force of concerned yogis that can change our minds and therefore, anything.

THIS MONTH TRY THE FOLLOWING

EAT

POTLUCK! The beauty of having everyone bring something they made is the variety as well as consideration for an individual's allergies and special diet needs. There is less waste because folks can bring it home.
While BBQ is a great tradition for outdoor dining, you could consider
opting for gas grilling instead of charcoal grilling, carbon footprint of gas is 1/3 of a charcoal grill
if you're a charcoal purist (and I get it) opt for a charcoal chimney start to get your Bar-B going instead of lighter fluid
go veggie with portobello mushroom burgers or chickpea burgers, veggie skewers and grilled corn on the cob. YUM!
Opt for all natural cooking sprays instead of those with chemicals, or better yet, put olive oil in a spray bottle and voila!
Entertaining a small group?
Use regular serveware rather than plastic and paper.
Entertaining a large group?
disposable biodegradable serveware is your best bet. Buying something that’s biodegradable and made of renewable resources is going to have less of an impact than using a fossil-based material like plastic.
if you must use plastic, have everyone separate it from the rest of your compostables and wash it for the next shindig.

DRINK

Serve that can be dispensed from large containers (like giant mason jars) Don't buy cases of bottled water just fill up a giant water bottle.
If you need more variety think about redeemables instead of recyclables.
For beer, consider a keg instead of bottles and cans, use small pint mason jars or have folks bring their favorite stein or drinking container.

BE MERRY

Avoid disposable tablecloths and go with reusable.
Opt for homemade bug spray (cedarwood, lemongrass, geranium are all good bug deterrents)
Stick to purchasing citronella votive candles without a holder. Drop them in an old jelly jar for protection from the summer breeze.

BY THE NUMBERS

HOW DO OUR BARBECUES MEASURE UP?

250 pounds per year: The amount of CO2 you'd save by cutting your beef consumption by one quarter.
3,000 pounds per year: The amount of CO2 saved by becoming a vegetarian.
60 million: The number of Americans who fire up the grill during summer holidays.
225,000 metric tons: The amount of CO2 released by these celebrations.
75 percent: U.S. households who own at least one barbecue.
11 pounds per hour: The amount of CO2 generated by a charcoal grill.
6 pounds per hour: The amount of CO2 emitted by a propane grill.
13 pounds per year: The amount of CO2 saved by letting your leftovers cool to room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator.