A few days ago we headed out to Franklin Canyon for a New Year’s,  first birthday celebratory picnic.  While having a picnic certainly isn’t a new idea, doing it without disposables certainly did drawn some attention.

Our lunch consisted of free range, beef fillet sandwiches, beans, green salad, custard with blueberries (everything organic, of course) and a bottle of Champagne- not organic, but French- and we all know Europeans have higher eco standards for things that go in their mouths. It was served on 19th century Limoges china, an antique table cloth, with matching cloth napkins, silver utensils and hand blown glasses.  Instead of cut flowers, we brought two pots of fragrant herbs to decorate the table.  (Later that day they were planted in the ground at our house).

At the end of the picnic, we had almost no trash, which delighted everyone at around the table.  Everything we brought was eaten, reusable or recyclable with the exception of the champage cork/wrapper and a little plastic wrap used to cover the custard ramekins.  Soon we will be able to buy biodegradable plastic wrap and we can walk away as if we never visited.

THAT’S IT FOR THE TRASH!

After our lunch, we loaded up the car, left the herbs in the baby stroller (because it looked cool) and circled the lake for some more fresh air and exercise.  Europeans aren’t the only ones who know how to enjoy a civilized outing.

And now we can enjoy our “decorations” for many meals to come.