From the city manager's weekly report:
This weekend, many of us will head over to visit friends and family, maybe even bring the festivities to your own backyard. Here are some ways you can have a great Labor Day weekend and go green:
1. Carpool. Whether you are heading to a local festival or going to a friend’s pool party, coordinate a carpool to reduce air pollution and conserve energy. Or, if it’s close enough to walk or bike, take the opportunity to get some family exercise by skipping the car ride altogether.
2. Serve seasonal food. Eating locally sourced, organic and seasonal food tastes better. And, it’s better for the environment because it doesn’t have the pesticides in conventionally grown food and doesn’t have to travel as far from farm to table. Visit Monrovia’s farmer’s markets for the best of the season.
3. Skip the paper and the plastic. It might be easier to use paper or plastic plates, utensils and cups for your cook-out, but it certainly isn’t better for the environment. Instead, opt for reusable dinnerware, utensils and cups. (Perhaps you can even entice the kids to wash the dishes by offering them the biggest serving of dessert after clean-up!) And don't forget to opt out of bottled water, using a great pitcher as a centerpiece instead.
4. Celebrate outdoors. Enjoy Mother Nature’s playground by planning an outdoor picnic, barbeque or just getting the family outside to play games in the backyard. Spending time outdoors encourages family bonding, is a wonderful way to exercise, and reminds us of all the reasons to protect the green spaces around our homes.
5. Greengredients for Grilling. Skip the traditional charcoal and lighter fluid and opt for an electric grill. If flames are a requirement for you, go for gas or propane. And for those who just must have charcoal, there are FSC certified hardwood charcoal lumps available.
