Take some time during this Thanksgiving season to think about why you live green 365 days a year. Minnesota's beautiful lakes and rivers, clean air, healthy families, many more tomorrows — these are reasons to give thanks!
Reduce your ecological paw print: Green pet ideas
Our pets are like members of the family — our living green family. Are Fido and Fluffy walking the walk? Here are some ideas to get you started.
ADOPT: Choosing a pet from a shelter helps reduce consumer demand for more animals when millions are euthanized each year. Check out Pets 911 and Petfinder.com to find pets needing homes and animal shelters near you. Another important step to help control the pet population is to spay or neuter your pets.
PICK IT UP: Your pet's waste, that is, since it can lead to water quality problems if it washes into storm sewers on the street and then enters our lakes and rivers.
Flush it, trash it, bury it? Check with city officials in your community about how to best dispose of pet waste. If the recommended method is to flush your pet's waste, prevent plumbing problems by first removing cat litter or debris such as rocks, sticks, or leaves.
Do NOT put your pet's waste into your backyard compost bin. Your compost pile doesn't get hot enough to kill organisms found in dog and cat waste that can cause human health problems. This is particularly important if you use your finished compost on vegetable gardens.
FEED: Making your own all-natural dog food or buying organic cat food might seem like healthy green options for your pets, especially in light of the pet food contamination incident earlier this year. But talk to your vet first and consult a pet nutritionist, to make sure the new diet is nutritionally adequate.
PLAY: Just like with kids, it's the time you spend with your pets that is important, not the amount of stuff you give them. So don't go overboard buying lots of pet toys and other gadgets. Stick to what they really need -- love and attention.
Make your yard pet (and kid) safe, by using non-toxic lawn care products and practices. A safe and healthy yard is better for our lakes, rivers, and streams, too.
If you do buy pet toys, look for ones that are made from organic cotton, hemp, or recycled materials. Look for collars and leashes made from these materials, too.
Remember: since dogs and cats aren't four-legged humans, we need to talk with our veterinarians and do some research before we make green changes to our pets' lives.
Things to be thankful for: Find local foods for Thanksgiving
There are lots of ways to make your Thanksgiving a greener holiday. Since the main focus of the day is on food, here's an idea to help you find local things to eat this year.
Search the Minnesota Grown Directory to find growers and producers in your area. If you're buying a turkey, don't wait too late to place your order!
Clean out your mailbox
Check out Catalog Choice, a free service that lets you decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive.
Days of our green lives: Community events and resources
Take the next step in living more sustainably. Check out the events and resources offered by Do It Green!
Minnesota Green Careers Workshop: Green career opportunities are unlimited, but where are they and how do you snag one? What action can you take now to get on your green career track and work for a sustainable world? Barbara Parks from Green Career Tracks will help you answer these questions and get you started on creating your own green career customized plan. Visit the website or call 612-345-7973 to RSVP.
November 8, noon to 2 p.m. at Washburn Public Library (Minneapolis)
November 10, noon to 2 p.m. at Natural Built Home in Minneapolis
Pick up your copy of the 2008 Do It Green! Magazine and help bring back local shopping with an ecological flair at the Green & Fair Trade Gifts Fair. Buy holiday presents and attend living green demos on November 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Macalester College in St. Paul. For more information, call 612-345-7973. This event is brought to you by Do It Green! Minnesota and Macalester MPIRG.
Do It Green! Resource Center & Twin Cities Green Grand Opening: Take advantage of this collaborative effort to check out living green information and products on November 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Twin Cities Green store in Minneapolis. There will be food and beverages, music and a relaxed atmosphere to learn and shop.
Learn how and what to purchase to become an eco-smart shopper at Living Green: Eco-Smart Shopping, a course sponsored by Dakota County on November 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Eagan). The course is free, but registration is required -- register online or call 952-891-7000.
What is the Natural Step? Learn more at Social Justice, Sustainability and the Natural Step Framework, a seminar on November 13 and 15 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Register online or contact the Alliance for Sustainability at 612-331-1099.
Hear about one Minnesota family's experiment to eat locally, at Eating Locally for Goodness Sake! This is a free event on November 15 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Baxter/Brainerd office of the MPCA. For more information, call Kent Montgomery at 218-575-3032, Ext. 14
Host an Energy Challenge Block Party! This is a fun way for neighbors to learn how to save $500 or more a year on their energy bills. Minneapolis block clubs can enter a contest to win prizes. Sign up with the Alliance for Sustainability.
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Our pets are like members of the family — our living green family. Are Fido and Fluffy walking the walk? Here are some ideas to get you started. 
Things to be thankful for: Find local foods for Thanksgiving