Ah, Summertime and picnics!
Being an art teacher, the provocative picnic scene from the brush of Monet, “”Le dejeuner sur l’herbe” in the Bois du Bologne, Paris, flashes through my mind. I have to grin because “Zero-Waste” has been taken to an extreme: It shows “Zero-Clothes” on the only female amid the fully clothed “3-piece-suited” males in the painting. Hmm. . .
You and I do not have to go that far back in history, like this 19th century work. We only need to remember our parents taking us on such an outing: 1 picnic blanket, 1 basket with sandwiches, fruit, cookies and a pitcher of drinks. To eat in the open air was a real treat, especially for a city girl. Packing up afterwards was fast, simply taking all items home to wash. This was a normal approach, the only approach I knew, and what everyone did. If we took it in, we took it out! This is what ACES is asking everyone to do at our Zero-Waste Picnic.
ACES is inviting you, the whole community, to join us for a Zero-Waste Picnic, Saturday, August 17, from 6-8 pm at Hamlin Park. Please bring a dish to pass in a reusable container, as well as your own reusable plates and cutlery. Washable tablecloths, place-mats and vases of flowers are welcome, but not necessary. A compost bucket will be available for any scraps. We will be feeding ourselves, NOT the landfill, saving you money.
Seeing the aftermath of the 3rd of July fireworks, showed us a different picture.
“Where can one find food items that are not pre-packaged in plastic in today’s supermarkets?” some ask. That is a problem; change must be made!
Fortunately we all have choices. We know the slogan, “Leave only footprints” that may be wrongly interpreted as “food prints.”
The magic word “Convenience” has taken us so far that we are willing to sacrifice our health for it.
Our desire for “Instant-food-on-the-go-NOW” results in our drowning in plastic.
Picnics, music festivals, school and church events are seldom enjoyed in a rush. Savvy fundraisers and food truck owners know that a “green” approach contributes to a healthier event with less waste.
Zero-Waste picnics are really regular picnics from yesteryears. We can make it happen again!
Come to ACES’ Zero-Waste Picnic August 17 at Hamlin Park, 6:00-8:00 pm! All are welcome!
By Jeannet DeJong
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