Fall is the best time of the year, right? The leaves turn golden brown, hot cocoa becomes an evening staple, and our coziest sweaters come out of storage. In a world emerging from a life-changing pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stay safe while enjoying the close of the year.
In this blog, we’re excited to share 7 covid-safe, eco-friendly fall activities for you to try this cozy season. Whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast or prefer the comfort of your couch, we’ve got something for everyone.
Keep reading to find out more!
8 Covid-Safe, Eco-Friendly Fall Activities to Try This Season
1. Support Your Local Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin picking is a fall staple, enjoyed prevalently across Europe, America and Canada by adults and children alike. The popularity of this activity grew in the aftermath of WWII when rural farmers and merchants in North America saw an opportunity for economic prosperity. In the US alone, more than 90,000 acres of pumpkins are planted annually!
If you’re planning on going pumpkin picking this fall, follow our top tips to make it as eco-friendly as possible:
- Support a local pumpkin patch instead of travelling to a larger, famous plot
- Only harvest what you need and avoid creating oversized decorative displays
- Cook and eat the pumpkins you take home to prevent unnecessary food waste
- Follow these helpful tips to prevent post-Halloween pumpkin waste!
2. Make Homemade Apple Cider
You can’t really experience fall without drinking at least one cup of apple cider. It’s warm, spicy and aromatic, perfect for cold days spent under a blanket. Why not try making your own this season? It’s a super simple and fun way to fill an afternoon without leaving the house or harming the planet.
All you need to make this fruity brew is a handful of apples, some brown sugar, a collection of autumnal spices and a fresh orange for flavour. Check out this recipe to get started!
To make sure you’re as eco-friendly as possible, use a food recycler to dispose of your leftovers effectively. The FoodCycler is an excellent option for simple indoor composting, especially if you’re limited on space or want to reduce any nasty odours.
3. Join a Litter-Picking Collective
This may seem a random suggestion, but it certainly ticks all of the boxes when it comes to protecting yourself and the environment. Enjoying the beauty of our outdoor spaces is one of the best things about fall, but the sight of destructive litter often ruins the view. Since 9 billion tonnes of waste end up in the ocean each year, we should all do our part to take action.
No matter what country you live in, there’s bound to be a litter picking group near you just waiting for new members. Try searching your go-to social media platform for missionaries cleaning up our forests, beaches and other natural landscapes. Take a friend and enjoy the outdoors, all while doing something great for the planet.
4.Go Camping
Want to escape everyday life and embark on a new adventure? Camping is the perfect solution. Travelling by plane is incredibly taxing on the environment and is one of the biggest contributors to our individual carbon footprint. Instead of jetting off somewhere sunny this fall, embrace the crisp outdoors and camp somewhere close to home instead.
To make sure you’re abiding by COVID-19 safety guidelines and protecting the planet, take note of these simple tips:
- Choose a larger campsite with plenty of space for social distancing
- Opt for tents and campfires instead of fuel-heavy camper vans
- Make sure to take all of your litter home with you and dispose of it effectively
- Use refillable water tanks instead of shop-bought plastic containers
5. Learn to Knit
As the summer comes to a close, our closets quickly become dominated by sweaters, cardigans and scarves alike. If you’re planning a fall shopping trip to stock up on some essentials, why not try making your own instead?
Knitting is a great family activity, especially if you’re learning from scratch. Light a fire, bundle up and set to work on a brand new creative project. By doing so, you can avoid investing in fast-fashion and make a piece of clothing to be proud of.
This blog is a great place to get some eco-knitting tips if you want to ensure your crafts are ultra planet-friendly!
6. Try Vegan Cocoa
Making small changes to our diet can have a significant impact on the planet, reducing the harmful emissions created by the global farming industry. If you’re not ready to adopt an all-out plant-based lifestyle just yet, drinking vegan hot cocoa is an ideal place to start.
All you’ll need is:
- 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla or plain almond milk
- 1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1.5 tbsp of dairy-free dark chocolate
- 1 tbsp of sugar or powdered sweetener
To make, simply heat your milk in a microwave or over a stove until warm. Throw in all of the other ingredients, whisk to combine, and then continue to heat until everything is melted and well-mixed.
Taste and adjust to match your preference!
7. Plant Bulbs for Next Year’s Garden
If you’re not quite finished with summer’s outdoor excitement, there’s no need to worry. One of the best ways for green-fingered gardeners to stay busy during fall is to start preparing for the year ahead.
If you’re based in Canada, Europe or North America, here are some of the best bulbs to get into the ground this fall:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Muscari
- Hyacinths
- Crocuses
- Allium
Want to know the best part about this activity? It’s fun in the moment, but it’s even more exciting when you get to watch your flowers bloom throughout the spring.
Top Tip: Use compost or recycled food waste from your indoor recycler to keep soil in superb condition throughout every season!
8. Pick & press leaves and flowers for decoration or journaling!
With all those showy red-gold leaves falling from the trees, nature is essentially throwing gorgeous confetti at our heads and saying TAKE IT!
Go on a nature hike with your friends or family and pick the most beautiful leaves you can find. Keep an eye out too for other fall flora (wildflowers like brown-eyed susans and chrysanthemums make gorgeous pressed flowers).
Place your leaves flat inside an empty journal and cover with heavy books. Wait a week or two, and then make gorgeous wall art with your found treasures!
Pro Tip: Pinecones, acorns and dried corn also make great found fall displays!
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That’s the end of our recommendations for 8 covid-safe, eco-friendly fall activities.
If you’re looking for ways to make your lifestyle more sustainable this season, why not invest in a FoodCycler? Visit our website now to find out how you can take action and save the planet.