Picnics are a wonderful way to enjoy time outdoors during the summer months. So whether you are planning a picnic in your own garden, or will be taking a picnic to a natural beauty spot in your area, here are some sustainable picnic ideas to consider:
First of all, take a look at the food you are choosing to take for your picnic. It is always best to choose fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Ideally, choose organic options if you can, and try to buy direct and plastic-free from growers and producers.
Do as much of your own prep and cooking from scratch as you possibly can. Buy flour and other ingredients to bake yourself, for example, rather than buying ready made sandwiches and snacks. An eco friendly picnic takes a little more work – but it certainly won’t be boring. There are plenty of amazing, healthy recipes to choose from.
Best of all, make your own picnic with fresh produce that you have grown yourself, at home. For example, make some salad sandwiches or wraps, or even cook up some mini-pizzas or quiches using home grown fare. Make some home-made fruit roll ups, some fruity muffins, or some fruit salads with fresh berries and fruits from your garden.
Once you have prepared your food, you need to think about how you will keep it fresh, and package it to take it to your destination. Switching out disposable picnic items for zero waste, reusable alternatives really can make a big difference.
Another key thing to think about when planning a sustainable, eco-friendly picnic is where you will go. Remember, it is a great idea to reduce your impact by choosing a destination that is as close to home as possible. Sometimes, there are ideal picnic spots almost in your own backyard.
Wherever you choose to go for your picnic, it is, of course, also important to think about how you get there. Rather than taking a car, where possible, choose slow travel options. Walk, cycle, or take a horseback ride – or even a kayaking or canoeing trip, for example.
Finally, wherever you picnic, make sure you leave things there better than when you found them. You surely should already know that you should be extra careful to leave nothing behind – no litter, and no damage to the site.
But you might even be able to play your part in making things better, by taking away plastic litter from the site, for example, even if you did not bring it there yourself. We can all do our bit to clean up our natural environments and leave them better than we left them.
Remember, we should also avoid wasting food at the end of the day. Make sure you pack up your picnic leftovers and make use of them later when you get back home. Food waste is something we should all avoid. Eat what you can, and compost the rest.
EWSP Consultancy 