Eating is a big part of any holiday, and there is no exception to the Fourth of July. But don't forget the environment when you are preparing your various salads - fruit, pasta, potato - and grilling vegetables, hamburgers and hotdogs under the summer sun.
- For produce, eat locally grown organic food. Support your local farmer's market.
- There is a farmer's market on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the University Town Center on the corner of Bridge and Campus (across from UCI).
- Another market takes place on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Historic Park at the Irvine Ranch (13042 Old Myford Road).
- Click here for a complete list of farmer's markets in Orange County.
- Serve organic condiments.
- If you are feeling especially green, go vegetarian. Veggie burgers and tofu-pups or tofu hot dogs are great to barbeque and are healthier, less expensive and easier to cook than conventional hamburgers and hotdogs.
- Avoid food that was raised on factory farms and produced with chemicals. Also avoid food that traveled hundreds of miles to get to your plate.
- If you opt not to go vegetarian then choose chicken that is free-range, beef that is grass feed and fish that is sustainably harvested. Look for products that are hormone-free and antibiotic free. Check your local grocery store for these products or go to a grocery store that has organic products.
Trader Joe's
14443 Culver Dr
or 4225 Campus Dr
Gelson's
5521 Alton Pkwy.
Whole Foods Market in Tustin
14945 Holt Ave.
Mother's Market & Kitchen
2963 Michaelson Dr.
Barbecuing is another quintessential part of the Fourth of July, and it can be done in a way that allows it to be more eco-friendly. The key is to choose your materials wisely. Here are some tips:
- Not all charcoal is created equal. Some charcoal is produced in a more sustainable manner. For example, Wicked Good Charcoal is made from industrial scrap wood. Also, Kingsford Charwood is produced using clean-energy turbine heat.
.Gas grills are alternatives to charcoal grills. Although propane is derived from oil, it actually produces less emissions than generic charcoals.
.Click here for more tips to
grill green.
Alright, you have your food choices. Now, how are you going to serve up your vegetable kebobs and burgers? With tons of options out there, keep the environment as one of your considerations.
- Reduce your waste by using reusable plates, cups and utensils. If you really want to get a green
star, buy plates that were produced in an environmentally friendly way. Check out these naturally gorgeous bamboo plates.
- If you don't want to do dishes, look for disposable products that can be recycled (make sure to wash out items). At the very least find products that are biodegradable. Avoid Styrofoam products, which do not biodegrade.
- Another alternative is to use compostable plates and utensils.
It's hard to imagine a fourth of July without fireworks lighting up the night sky. After all, the use of gunpowder predates the American Revolution. But after the brief "ooohs" and "ahhhs," we are left with gunpowder fall out smoke, the residue of heavy metals -like sulfur-coal compounds and other noxious chemicals - and a mound of packaging waste.
Click here to read an article about the toxicity of fireworks.
It is also important to note that fireworks are prohibited in the City of Irvine.
- Try alternatives to fireworks, like using old-fashioned noisemakers available at your local party
store.
- Attend a laser-light show instead of a fireworks show.
- Instead of setting off your own fireworks (which is prohibited in Irvine), attend a larger organized
show.
For their fireworks shows, Disney uses an innovative firework technology, developed by their engineers. They utilize compressed air instead of using gunpowder to launch fireworks. Disney also made their technology available to pyrotechnic companies with hopes to green the fireworks industry.
One of the best things that you can do celebrate our country's independence is to help keep the country thriving. You can do this by helping to keep your neighborhood clean and by adopting a green lifestyle.
- Recycle
Find out information about recycling at a home or at an apartment aparment: complex.
- Conserve Energy
Check out these Energy Saving Home Upgrades for homeowners or these Easy and Free Energy Saving Tips for both homeowners and multi family residences.
- Build Green
Visit the City of Irvine Environmental Programs Green Building Program to find out how you can build a sustainable home or make your home more eco-friendly.
- Protect Water Quality
Learn about stormwater pollution and how to keep our water clean.
- Go Zero Waste
Start composting and get savvy about your purchasing power by adopting Zero Waste principles.
