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aug 12

Packing the Perfect Picnic

Plan a picnic and enjoy the fruits of summer. Sunshine, longer days, green grass and summer's bounty of fruit and produce make eating outside a pleasure. Spread a blanket and enjoy the outdoors with a picnic of fresh, locally grown food.

Local produce offers better flavor for less money. Summer's bountiful tomatoes, berries, fruits and vegetables taste better when they've just been picked. Your local farmer's market or roadside farm stand offers the freshest food and often practices more sustainable methods of small-scale farming. Ask if they use organic methods or practice integrated pest management techniques to reduce pesticide use.

Check NRDC's online guide to find out what's in season in your area. Not only does local food have more flavor, by buying local your food isn't traveling long distances by planes, trains, trucks and ships, which all consume energy and spew pollution that contributes to global warming and unhealthy air quality.

Eating in the shade of a tree, why would you want to toss away paper products made from old-growth forest? If you must use disposable dishes, skip the plastic or virgin paper made from trees in favor of post-consumer recycled paper or dishes made from bagasse, sugarcane waste. Agricultural waste has never been sweeter than when it's been transformed into tableware! There are also disposable dishes available made from corn starch and potatoes. While all of these biobased plastics are made from renewable sources, they won't biodegrade anytime soon in your local landfill, they're only 100% biodegradable when they're properly disposed of in a commercial composting facility.

Select paper napkins with high post-consumer recycled content. Look for paper products that are labeled totally chlorine-free (TCF) or processed chlorine-free (PCF). The chlorine used in the bleaching process is highly toxic and contributes to air and water pollution. Download and print out our list of the best and worst brands so you don't have to squint at the label in the grocery store.

Enjoy the last days of summer with a picnic in the park! Post your favorite summer picnic recipes below.

MinuteMorningMonth
  • Grow your own food and start composting. Your kitchen scraps will nurture your backyard garden or houseplants.

 




Comments (1)
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1. 08/14/2008 05:29:26 PM
Summer peaches and plums are delicious all by themselves but I also like using this dressing. You can grill the fruit for a few minutes or just chop them into slices and pour this sweet and tart dressing over them. 
 
1 tablespoon brown sugar 
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 
2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper  
1/8 teaspoon salt 
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
Written by Kay (Guest)

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