Six ways to go green this fall

As I was paying bills and writing out checks the other day I asked my husband if he knew the date. “September 19,” he replied. What? It’s practically FALL already? Yes, it’s apple, foliage and pumpkin season, at least here in New England. So with autumn close at hand, here are a few ideas to keep green while out and about enjoying the all that fall has to offer.

Keep your car running efficiently. Before you take off with the family to enjoy “leaf peeping,” check the air pressure in your tires. Cooler temperatures lower tire pressure and that, in turn, lowers fuel efficiency. So check your tires and make sure that they are properly inflated.

Take advantage of “pick your own farms.” Go apple picking. Take the kids to a local orchard and enjoy this season’s treat. Local cider, caramel apples, and the fresh pies not only support your local farmers, but are part of our tradition!

Get outside and take a hike. Go hiking at the peak of foliage. Find out when the leaves will be at their peak of color in your area and head out for a family fun day of hiking.

Visit a pumpkin patch. Instead of getting pumpkins at the supermarket, head to the source. Take the kids to a local pumpkin patch so they can learn where pumpkins come from and how they grow.

Raking is good exercise and good for the environment. As the autumn leaves begin to fall, consider raking them up rather than using a "blower". Once raked up, use them as mulch to protect plants throughout the winter or add them to a compost pile, or let the kids jump in them!

Invest in a slow cooker. After a long day of apple picking, pumpkin patching, hiking and raking, it’s time to eat. Who doesn’t like a slow cooked meal? Cook with a slow cooker to reduce electrical use from kitchen appliances. A meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven uses 2.7 pounds of C02 compared to a crockpot which uses 0.9 pounds of C02 for seven hours. A real energy saver!