Sustainable Fall Activities To Welcome the Season

With the wonderful fall season at our doorstep, it’s time to prepare for the change in seasons. Let us take in the beauty of the leaves changing their colours around us.

When we think of fall, we think of apple cider, donuts, pumpkin-flavoured drinks, warm soups, fireplaces, and all things cozy. We also might think of the crisp cool air touching the skin or the scent of a pumpkin spice latte wafting through the air. For kids, it means new classes, new books, new adventures at school (or home-school) and new friends. Here are some sustainable activities to welcome fall:

1. Fix up old clothes and up-cycle them

It’s time to bring out the cozy sweaters, sweatpants, hoodies, fuzzy socks, blankets, and throws. If some of them are worn or old, we can fix them up or up-cycle them. For example, you can wrap a throw pillow inside an old sweater or cut the sleeves of a sweater to make fashionable leg warmers.

Related article: Upcycling: Benefits & Items to Repurpose

2. Treat your skin with homemade face masks

Just by using clean ingredients from your kitchen, you can nourish your skin for fall.

3. Swap paraffin candles for soy candles

These more sustainable candles also bring numerous health benefits.

4. Support local farmers 

Farmers’ markets are still open this season, so choose their produce when you stock up on ingredients for your soups or warm drinks.

5. Use leftover ingredients or compost them

Almost every part of every vegetable is versatile. The skin is good for making stock, the pulp can turn into soups or pies, and the seeds can be dried or roasted to become a tasty snack. Make sure to use everything possible and compost the rest.

6. Do batch cooking

You can make stew for the week or make jams and sauces for the whole season.

7. Use reusable containers and straws 

When outside at a café, make sure to bring a reusable straw to cut down on single-use plastics.

8. Plant fall vegetables

This season is also a good time to plant vegetables such as leafy greens, onions, garlic, carrots, and turnips.

9. Reuse or re-purpose last year’s fall decorations

While we are enjoying the beauty of fall outside, decorating our homes is also something we can look forward to. To cut down on landfill waste and purchases, we can use or re-purpose last year’s decorations.

10. Buy eco-friendly decorations

It’s a responsible choice to invest in natural and eco- friendly fall decor made of jute, bamboo, cotton, and other materials. They can make good centrepieces and wreaths.

11. Conserve heating energy in your home

As the weather gets colder, it’s key to keep the house warm. Unattended drafts can let the cold air in and this will, in turn, lead to more energy use from the heating system. Dressing up warm and keeping the thermostat at a stable temperature is the responsible thing to do. In case it is unusually cold indoors, save energy by using a space heater instead of turning up the thermostat.

12. Go camping

Although it begins to get chilly, we can still enjoy the outdoors in the fall. Since going on vacation is expensive, camping is a good way to enjoy nature while saving money.

Related article: Camp Consciously – 8 Tips for Sustainable Camping Adventures

13. Take walks or hikes

For an impromptu outing, a hike or walk with a picnic basket is a perfect way to unwind. Make sure to bring back any trash you have back home to toss out.

14. Mulch or compost fallen leaves

One aspect of fall most people don’t love is raking the fallen leaves and cleaning up the yard. Actually, the leaves are good for the soil because they return carbon to it. This promotes healthy microbial activity and improves the soil’s health.

To avoid dead patches of grass, we can mulch the fallen leaves and distribute the mulch evenly throughout the yard. Piling mulched leaves around the bases of trees, on flowerbeds, and gardens will insulate the soil throughout the season and into winter, protecting microbial life.

If you don’t grow plants or have a garden, be sure to compost the dead leaves. This will save them from the landfill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

15. Don’t prune fruiting, flowering, or seed-bearing plants

In places with extremely cold climates, birds start migrating to the south during fall. We can help them in their long journeys not pruning fruiting, flowering or seed-bearing plants. These plants are their sources of nutrition to help them in the colder seasons.

Celebrate The Season Sustainably

Fall is perhaps the most beautiful yet short-lived season of the year. We can make the most of it in a sustainable way with the above activities. It is the beauty of nature during this season that reminds us of what we are trying to protect. We can preserve nature if we are careful with our actions.