Eco Friendly Picnic Basket: 2 Person Handmade Wine & Cheese Basket – for a smaller picnic this little basket is perfect. It’s handmade with 100% natural and renewable resources. The natural willow basket comes with enough gear for a romantic picnic for two; bamboo plates, cutting board, utensils, recycled glass wine glasses, and natural cotton napkins. The stone lining is dye and chemical free cotton insulated lining.

On the pricey, but bigger side is the Natural Luxury Picnic Basket for 4. This basket is packed with reusable gear that you can use for years; 4 Plates, 4 Mugs, 4 Wine glasses, 4 Stainless steel cutlery sets, 4 Cotton napkins, 1 Cotton tablecloth, 1 Insulated food cooler, 1 Cruet set, 1 Waiters friend, 1 Insulated bottle cooler, 1 Stainless steel flask, and 1 100% wool rug.

Eco-friendly flatware sets in bamboo from Pony Up Design. The sets here are great because they roll up for on-the-go ease, are eco-friendly, and come in adult and tot sized sets.

Drink bottles for all from Earth Lust. We could talk all day about how awesome their design choices are. Not only will these add bling to your picnic, but are totally eco-friendly and come in many sizes.

OTHER GEAR YOU NEED:

Learn how to build your own solar cooker – then take it along on a sunny picnic!

Reynold’s Wrap 100% Recycled Foil for your barbecue OR try one of the other recycled foil brands out there.

Biodegradable dishes and flatware made from materials that compost readily. This is a far better choice that paper, plastic, or Styrofoam.

See many more picnic items at Picnic Fun – just check the fine print for materials (i.e. avoid plastics).

Eco-friendly garbage bags for cleaning up at the end.

Post from: Blisstree

Eco-Friendly Picnic Gear

1. Take reusables: A reusable picnic basket vs. a bag; reusable dishes; and reusable cloth napkins can all be taken along on a picnic. If you can carry your gear to the site, you can carry it back. Don’t take trash out into the woods.
2. Take biodegradable and recyclable gear: If you refuse to take along reusable gear, at the very least use a smart eco-alternative for disposable dishware and take along recycled content napkins.
3. Think organic and local: You don’t have to plan an entirely locally sourced organic spread, but more organics grown locally are better than less.
4. Carpool: If you’re planning a major picnic event be sure to carpool with another person or family when possible.
5. Don’t feed the animals: Don’t feed wild animals on purpose and don’t feed them accidentally either – i.e. take leftovers with you. Although you may not have considered it, feeding wild animals does have a negative impact on our natural habitats.
6. Take eco-friendly picnic activities along: An earth-friendly Frisbee is always a smart bet for fun times or pick up a kid friendly outdoor eco-toy.
7. Don’t just sit there; get out and explore: If you’ve got kids grab a cool kit like the Nature Bag: Environmental Activity Kit for Kids if you don’t have kids grab whatever book might come in handy – a plant guide, a bird watching guide, a rock collecting book, what have you. Explore nature while you’re out there.
8. Protect your own body environment: Make sure to wear human safe bug spray and sunscreen.
9. Green your grilling event: If you’re grilling make sure you grill safely and in an eco-friendly manner. It doesn’t take much more work to have a thoughtful eco-friendly barbecue.
10. Take out the trash: Hopefully you used mostly reusable so trash shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you took trash into the woods, take it home with you.

Coming up, some specific examples of earth-friendly picnic gear.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

10 Tips for Planning a Green Picnic

Here at Offbeat Homes we learned all about how to hold an offbeat picnic in four easy steps.

At Declutter It you can read five tips to help you organize your summer BBQ. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch by Robust Cooking

Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade at All Holiday Cafe

Rice Krispie Treats at Keeping the Castle

Homemade Oreo Ice Cream at Chocolate Bytes

Cool Summer Snacking at Inside Motherhood

Pasta Salad at Thrifty Mommy

Baking Delights is bringing enough chocolate for everyone to catch a chocobuzz with her favorite brownies

Nothing like sweet tea on a hot, summer day…Wait..I taste lime..mint…is that a non-alcoholic Mojito? Kettle and Cup has the answer.

Blogfabulous is serving up a super easy, keep your butt out of the hot kitchen solution to Hors’ devours.

Weary Parent is serving Chocolate Puppy Chow, a snack that’s bound to be popular with the kids

Tree Hugging Family shares 10 tips for an easy green picnic or green potluck

Just because you choose to live thrifty doesn’t mean you have to throw a thrifty picnic. Simply Thrifty shares tips for an elegant and inexpensive potluck

10 Summer party ideas and themes for your next backyard barbecue, or potluck.

Add some backyard Olympic games to your next barbecue, in honor of the Summer Olympics

And speaking of games, Marriage Actually is bringing a fun game for the grownups. Life Stories – a fun way to find out more about your spouse, friends and extended family.

Cyndi won’t go anyplace to picnic unless she can grill, but she doesn’t want to spend all day doing it. Try her tips for Grilling Chicken Fast, and get a jumpstart on your next picnic!

Who says picnics have to be complicated affairs? Keep it simple with cheeses, meats and homemade bread. Brewha-ha.com has a few suggestions – including a recipe for Polish beer rye bread

Whether you’re having a picnic, a barbecue or just looking for a fun activity to do with your kids outside, Susan at PlayLibrary offers a list of 50 outdoor toys and games that are perfect for summer.

This time of year there are bugs everywhere, don’t forget to bring the bug repellent along with your favorite dish to your next cookout.

Christine at Mad Cropper not only shares her favourite winter or summer recipe but also shares that you can turn recipes into creative works of arts. Find out how!

And while you’re out having all the fun and good food you can handle, don’t forget your pets – they enjoy special summer treats too!

At Quilting and Patchwork enjoy an array of potluck foods and memories from the Food Bloggers.

You never know what medical emergency could happen while your are picnicking…Marye at Simply Home Remedies is bringing the antidote for nearly ANYTHING!

Eliza at Babylune provides a checklist of tips to consider when taking baby picnicking.

Finally, when it’s all said and done – perhaps you can kick back with a nice frozen beverage. MomGadget prefers the Dominican Coco Loco

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Every tip known to man regarding picnics and potluck