Make St. Patrick’s Truly Green With These Eco-Friendly Ideas

Last month, we celebrated Valentine’s Day with three zero-waste ideas. This month, we’re tackling St. Patrick’s Day. With some luck of the Irish, we’ll have you greening your event with these three tips.

1. Plant some greens

Mid-march is a great time to begin some early planting in preparation for the spring. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s, you can add some green into your life and your lawn. Plant a tree to represent the moment his walking stick grew into a living tree or by getting a head start on some vegetable planting. Urban Farmer has a list of vegetable varieties that get great starts in March, such as tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. 

If you have not already, make this day the day you start a compost bin. It helps reduce household waste while minimizing the amount of waste that ends up trapped in landfills, and helps you grow the best vegetable garden.

2. Green your festivities

Make it your mantra to reduce waste by approaching the day with a DIY zero-waste goal. For example, try decorating your house using recycled cardboard, paper, and plastic. You can make shamrock-shaped placemats, Celtic cross hangings, and more to present the spirit of the holiday without buying new materials that will end up in the garbage the next day. You can also tackle some of these decor ideas that transforms everyday items.

3. Green the menu, not the disposable ware

If you are having a party in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, save some money and make a greener choice by skipping out on buying green party supplies. This includes plastic disposable cutlery or St. Paddy’s day themed cups and plates.

Instead, look at making the menu green. You can make green drinks by pouring green-dyed cocktails, mocktails, sodas, and white wine into clear glasses. And on top of your regular dishware, throw in plenty of greens with your traditional corned beef. You can even dye your potatoes or soda bread green to get into the festive spirit, without the waste.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without the waste. By making these truly green decisions, you surely won’t get pinched!