Autumn has arrived and so have the pumpkin spice lattes and changing of the leaves. The weather may be unpredictable, but one thing you can always rely on is that fall in Texas will be beautiful and offer plenty of outdoor activities. This is the perfect time to show your appreciation for the environment by partaking in sustainable, waste-free traditions that embody the essence of the fall season.
Pumpkins are a great seasonal staple with endless ways to use them for food and decoration. Unfortunately, pumpkins become a common household waste item each fall, adding millions of pounds of waste to landfills annually. The good news is, there are ways to make sourcing and decorating pumpkins sustainable! A visit to the pumpkin patch is the quintessential fall activity that can’t be missed, just make sure you’re visiting a local pumpkin patch to reduce your travel miles to save on gas and emissions. While carving your pumpkin, set the seeds aside and roast them for a healthy snack or save the guts to make a puree. When the fall season is over and your pumpkin begins to rot, put it in your compost pile!
Apple picking is another favorite fall activity to do with family and friends. Did you know some apple varieties are naturalized in Texas? Naturalized plants are not native to the area but can survive and even thrive there anyways. If you plan to visit an apple orchard, make it as sustainable as possible by visiting a local (preferably organic) orchard. Buying from organic farms helps support sustainable agriculture that avoids pollution and uses fewer pesticides and fertilizers.
Composting can be a fun way to add sustainability into your life and, in turn, add life to your garden. Your apple cores, pumpkin guts, and fallen leaves can be used to make high-quality fertilizer for your garden. By doing this, you’re reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and have the satisfaction of making an end product that benefits your soil. Check out this composting guide to help you get started.
Seasonal, local fruits and veggies have many benefits over store-bought, out-of-season produce, including a smaller environmental impact, higher nutritional value, and less packaging. This makes shopping at the Farmer’s Market the perfect fall outing! Apples, winter squash, cranberries, and carrots all grow during the fall season. Not only can you find delicious seasonal favorites, but you can also start your holiday shopping early! Many Farmer’s Markets host vendors who sell handmade and locally crafted goods.
Fall is a great time to get outside, enjoy the cooler weather, and watch the leaves change. The National Park Service offers free entrance days to all National Parks certain days of the year. In the fall these days are National Public Lands Day (fourth Saturday of September) and Veterans Day (November 11). Make sure to stay on the trails, leave the leaves, and follow the principles of Leave No Trace to protect the natural ecosystem. Unplug and enjoy Texas’ natural beauty.
Fall is the perfect time to start planting new seeds and saplings in Texas. The cooler weather and additional autumn rains help these plants establish before enduring the hot days of summer. Fall is also a great time to start a vegetable or herb garden. There are numerous tasty fruits and vegetables that grow this time of year, so why not try adding some fall and winter crops to your garden!
There are so many delicious fruits and vegetables that are in season during fall, so it's the perfect time of year to learn how to preserve them for future use. Whether you’re looking for ways to store apples from your apple picking adventure or stocking up on veggies from the Farmer’s Market, there are several ways to preserve your produce for future use. Dehydrating, freezing, canning, and pickling are all time-trusted methods for making your food last.
Bird-watching in the fall is especially enjoyable because it’s peak migration season for many bird species. As temperatures cool, a wide variety of birds travel south, offering a chance to see rare types of birds that aren’t around other seasons. The changing colors of the leaves provide a beautiful backdrop, and the crisp autumn air makes for a refreshing outdoor activity.
If you participate in the spooky celebration, choose to thrift your Halloween costume! The United States generates thousands of tons of costume waste every year. Now that’s scary! Thrifting or making your own costume reduces the demand for new, single-use costumes and ensures that fewer textiles are sent to landfills. If you’re not interested in crafting or shopping for a new costume, wear one you already have in your closet!
Whether it’s taking family photos at the pumpkin patch or capturing the sunset on your hike, you’ll want to remember these moments. There’s no better way to capture the beauty of fall than to spend a day photographing the autumn leaves and everything nature has to offer. If your photos are particularly inspiring, tag us on social media!
The more time we spend in nature, the more likely we are to value and protect it. Immerse yourself in the beauty of autumn with these 10 festive fall activities that will help you connect with nature and embrace sustainable living.
