Issue Nº 503

Tuesday

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

• How to throw a sustainable wedding

• The rise in native plants

• How to pay down your credit card balance

• A recipe for carrot green pesto

• A newsletter to keep you informed

Did You Know?

___ are Earth’s largest living structure.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

Say ‘I Do’ to a Sustainable Wedding

You want your marriage to last forever - but not the waste from your wedding! One wedding can produce a huge 400 pounds of waste and 63 tons of carbon dioxide - multiply that by the thousands of weddings that take place across the US every year, and we have a much bigger problem on our hands than your embarrassing uncle getting too drunk. So, if you’re planning your big day, here are some ways you can make it much more planet-friendly. 

1. Stay Closer to Home

It may be tempting to have a destination wedding in a far-flung country, but the car and plane journeys of your guests will soon add up, creating a huge carbon footprint. 

2. Offer Greener Food Options

Your wedding meal doesn’t need to be 100% vegan, but to make it more sustainable, consider having some vegetarian options on the menu. Plus, you can seek out a catering company that values sustainability - maybe one that tries to reduce food waste or sources ingredients locally. 

3. Say Yes to a Sustainable Dress

Upping the environmental credentials of your wedding dress might mean going secondhand - there are some gorgeous vintage wedding dresses out there, and it’d be a shame for them to only be worn once! Renting is also an option, but if you (understandably!) want to hold on to your dress, you can always seek out ethical and sustainable designers who’ll use planet-friendly materials. 

4. Pick Sustainable Flowers

When it comes to choosing your flowers, ask for locally-grown options, or even living plants. And, rather than disposing of the flowers when the wedding’s over, consider donating them to a hospice or hospital to brighten someone else’s day.

Gardeners are Seeing the Potential of Native Plants

The picture-perfect neatly trimmed American lawn is on its way out. According to a New York landscape design company, a growing movement of homeowners are turning away from non-native plants and towards wilder, greener lawns. 

This is great news because when green-fingered gardeners rewild their gardens with plants that grow naturally in their home region, the plants will flourish without the need for excessive amounts of water. In fact, 30% of the water consumed by the average American family is used up in outdoor activities like watering lawns. 

Native plants also bring the benefits of supporting local ecosystems, encouraging wildlife like birds and insects (or even deer and foxes), and sequestering carbon.

Homemade Carrot Greens Pesto

Some grocery stores sell carrots with the large leafy greens still attached. But don’t throw them away! Use them to make this delicious pesto and reduce the food waste footprint of your kitchen. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped carrot greens, stems removed

• 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped

• 3 tablespoons of walnuts, toasted

• ¼ cup grated parmesan

• ¼ cup olive oil

Mix the carrot greens, garlic, walnuts, and parmesan in a food processor, then slowly add in the olive oil while you keep the processor running. Season to taste, then mix this pesto with pasta, add to sandwiches, or use in a salad.

This beautiful sunset comes to us from The Canopy reader Andrea, showcasing the beautiful purple and orange hues of the sky.

Thank you so much to Andrea for sharing this moment with us! If you’d like to be featured in next Tuesday’s edition of The Canopy, don’t forget to submit your favorite sunrise or sunset photo that you've captured.

Image courtesy of The Canopy reader, Andrea.

Reflections:

• 🌎 Did You Know: Coral reefs are Earth’s largest living structure.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured in next Wednesday's newsletter!