Memorial Day is an important day in the United States, observed on the last Monday in May. This federal holiday honors those who have died while serving in the armed forces. The origins of Memorial Day go back to the end of the Civil War period, when in 1865, formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina paid their respects to fallen Union soldiers who were buried in Confederate prison camps. These soldiers were re-interred as gratitude for helping bring about the end of slavery. On this first Memorial Day, 2,800 African-American children led a parade as 10,000 people celebrated the services rendered by the military. 

This year, over 300 million Americans will observe the holiday by attending parades, visiting cemeteries or memorials, hosting or attending outdoor barbecues with family and friends, or simply enjoying the unofficial start of summer with hopes of good weather. Although many of these activities involve consuming excessive energy and creating more waste, you can still celebrate the long holiday weekend in an eco-friendly way with a little planning and a few adjustments. Here are our suggestions for 10 eco-friendly ways to enjoy this Memorial Day.

1. Head to the Farmer's Market

One of the best ways to celebrate Memorial Day is to support local farmers. Farmers markets are a great place to buy quality, locally-grown food. If you're not familiar with where your local farmer's market is, check out Local Harvest or FindFarmers.com. There are over 8,000 farmers markets in the US, and many of them not only accept SNAP-EBT payments nationwide, but also participate in programs to donate produce to local food banks. 

A growing body of research also shows that the presence of farmers markets promotes communication between farmers and consumers, leading to shifts in consumer behavior and agricultural methods towards sustainability.

2. Ditch the disposables in favor of washables

The benefits of avoiding disposable plates, cups, forks and knives are plentiful. For one, it is more cost-efficient to use reusable utensils. Disposable utensils are meant for one-time use, while reusable items can be used over and over again. This eliminates the need to continually purchase new disposable items each time a gathering is planned.

Additionally, by choosing to avoid disposables at parties or family events, you create less trash that will eventually end up in landfills. Eco friendly measures like these ultimately help reduce our carbon footprint and create less of an impact on the environment overall. Aside from helping out the planet, using reusable dishes also helps create a pleasant atmosphere for your guests – if they’re looking at gleaming dishes instead of paper plates with food stains on them it can add an elegant touch to any event.

3. Take a Hike

Enjoy the outdoors by going on a hike with friends or family. Making a day hike more eco-friendly involves taking conscious steps towards reducing your environmental footprint. First, avoid leaving any trash behind by carrying a reusable bag to collect your trash and that of others. Use refillable water bottles and avoid buying plastic water bottles. Stick to designated trails, avoid shortcuts, and respect wildlife by not disturbing their habitats. Consider carpooling or using public transport to reduce carbon emissions. Lastly, support eco-friendly gear by purchasing from companies that use sustainable materials and production methods. By adopting these practices, you can make a positive impact on the environment during your day hike.

The Walking Mermaid blog offers many suggestions for family-friendly places to hike in 6 US states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, and Tennessee) and one US territory (Puerto Rico). Don't live in or near one of these locations? Use AllTrails for detailed guides to the best hiking spots near you, complete with trail maps, photos, and reviews from other hikers.

4. Memorialize Nature Too

Memorializing nature is an important practice, that adults and children alike can practice. The basic idea behind memorializing nature is joining with others to help leave your local environment a little better each time you pay a visit. One great way to do this is by cleaning up small sections of a lake, stream, or beach. Outfit everyone with appropriate gloves and tools like shovels or rakes, take safety precautions, such as avoiding needles, and spend some time clearing out any debris. After the task is complete, take the opportunity to have a picnic nearby while admiring the beauty of the chosen location. Don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards and throw away picked up trash properly to ensure that nature remains unharmed for future generations.

Cleaning up these outdoor spaces gives us precious moments with nature while simultaneously helping preserve it for our future pleasure. It’s a fantastic way for kids to learn more about preserving our planet and encouraging responsible stewardship now so that we can enjoy it for years to come. Pick out specific projects to accomplish each time you visit a place – whether it’s trash cleanup or weed removal - and it will help instill an appreciation for the environment that can't be accomplished through reading alone.

5. Start a Food Garden with your Kids

Cultivating culinary herbs and small edible plants, such as lettuce or Swiss chard, can be done without much difficulty or expense using the various available DIY kits. The ideal ones include seeds, planting material, and a container all in a single package. You can also grow plants using a terrarium or plantable seed paper . Planting culinary herbs can serve as both an educational opportunity for children to learn about the growth process and a potential entry point for promoting healthy eating habits. Certain herbs, such as rosemary, mint, and basil, have the ability to purify the air in your home by eliminating harmful chemicals that we come into contact with on a daily basis.

One option for the upcoming long weekend is to begin cultivating your own garden for food. If you have limited space or experience, there are still options available. Enroll in our  free online email course, The Art of Food Gardening, to learn the basics of starting your own growing operation. For more extensive lessons and bonus materials, our online course on container gardening, Container Garden Like A Pro, teaches you basic and advanced techniques for growing herbs, vegetables, and fruits using sustainable and eco-friendly methods. The course opens at the end of this month, but you can go to the course page and see what it offers right now!

6. Give the Gift of Food

Make jars of soup starters for people you like and/or love, such as your neighbor, the friends who'll be hosting a Memorial Day barbecue at their home, or the guests who stay to help you clean up yours after the party is over. There are a lot of possibilities for easy summer soups that you can share with others. Here's one I love: layer, in a jar ½ cup uncooked brown rice ½ cup barley or farro ½ cup red lentils ½ cup green split peas 1 tbsp dried parsley 1 tbsp dried thyme 1 tbsp dried oregano 2 tbsp Hungarian paprika (preferably the sweet kind) 2 bay leaves 3 cloves garlic, minced (or substitute ½ tsp dried garlic) 1 tbsp salt 2 tsp black pepper.

Attach these cooking instructions to the jar:

Pour the contents of the jar into a large pot and add 1 diced onion, 3 large sliced carrots, 1 diced green pepper, 3 cloves crushed garlic, 10 cups of water, and more salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in a pound of diced boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, or a couple of turkey legs (you'll have to fish out the bones and skin after the meat falls of the flesh.) Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for an hour until the grains are tender, and thin with water or (chicken or vegetable) stock as needed.

Just before serving, stir in the juice of 2 oranges (or ¾ cup of orange juice).

This recipe made about 10 servings in our household.

If you choose to make this soup without meat, one thing you can do to add an interesting texture is puree 3 cups of the cooked soup and add it back into the rest.

7. Go paddle boating

Paddle boating is a great way to have fun, get exercise, and incorporate the whole family. Little kids can also participate in the fun, and older kids can help pedal the boat. If the weather is very warm where you live, you'll probably need to make reservations in advance to be sure that a suitable rental will be available. Arrive early in order to clear checks for the rental and fill out any necessary paperwork. Pack lightly, since pedal boats are typically small with little space for bags or equipment. Finally, make sure that the boat is in good working condition before getting in it, and that the rental comes with life jackets that fit snugly. 

8. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

By joining a CSA, you can have a steady supply of fresh fruits and/or vegetables delivered to your home or nearby designated location (or you can go to the farm and pick up your harvest). Nowadays, there are more options for joining CSAs. Some will let you pay in installments instead of having to pony up hundreds of dollars at a time for a season of shares (shares = the part of the harvest you are buying into). Find a CSA near you using this handy tool, courtesy of Local Harvest.

9. Make a reusable luminaria for your porch or deck

Luminarias are an increasingly popular decoration for countless occasions. With the advent of reusable luminaries, these decorations can now be used with minimal environmental impacts. Reusable luminaries made from mason jars and solar lights offer a unique and sustainable approach to creating a warm, inviting glow in any space. The mason jars provide durability while the solar lights bring a gentle, flickering effect without wasting energy or resources.

When preparing for your next outdoor event or special occasion, give reusable luminaries a go! Installing them is easy—add battery-operated candles or solar lights to the jar, seal it shut with a lid (with either some sand inside for extra weight or an elastic rim grip) and line them along walkways or pathways to create a romantic and festive atmosphere. No matter what type of event you’re having, this style of lighting is sure to add excitement and intrigue! Plus, its convenience makes it easy to set up before guests arrive and take down after they leave—and all without any waste! Whether you need soft illumination over dinner al fresco or simply want to add more ambiance outdoors at night, reusable luminaries are the perfect choice.

10. Grill meat without the toxic chemicals

Microwaving your meat for a few minutes before grilling it can reduce the formation of HCAs (heterocyclic amines) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), cancer-causing chemicals that are formed develop when meat is cooked at high temperatures. The heat reacts with creatinine and amino acids in animal muscle to create carcinogenic compounds. Additionally, marinating your meat in an acid-based solution prior to cooking can help reduce HCAs. To really make sure that your Memorial Day barbecue is healthy for you and the environment, look for organic, grass-fed, and free-range meats.

A time to celebrate

Memorial Day is a time to celebrate and honor those who have served, and it’s also a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in an eco-friendly way. From paddle boating to joining a CSA or using reusable luminaries, there are plenty of green activities that you can take part in for this special day. Aside from these activities, remember to microwave and marinate your meat before grilling to reduce the formation of any cancer-causing chemicals. Have a safe and eco-friendly Memorial Day!