Cooler mornings, changing leaves, football Saturdays and pumpkin everything. Fall has finally arrived in central Ohio, and there’s plenty to look forward to.
It’s also a season full of simple opportunities to waste less, reuse what you have and enjoy more of what’s close to home.
Whether you’re looking for a new trail to explore, a farmers market to visit or something to do with the pumpkin sitting on your porch, add a few of these ideas to your fall bucket list.
Take a walk in the crisp fall air
Few things say fall quite like a walk through a trail covered in colorful leaves. Central Ohio has plenty of places to take in the changing scenery, from Metro Parks to neighborhood trails and local parks.
Make a morning of it. Bring a reusable water bottle, grab a coffee in a reusable to-go cup on the way or pack a snack for the trail. And if you come across some especially beautiful fallen leaves, bring a few home for natural fall décor.
Pressed leaves can become seasonal decorations, table accents or part of a simple fall craft. When you’re finished with them, they can go right back to the outdoors or into your compost.
Add it to the list: Take a walk somewhere new and bring home a few fallen leaves for natural décor.
Visit a fall farmers market
Fall is a great time to wander through a farmers market. Apples, pumpkins, squash, greens and other seasonal favorites are showing up at markets around central Ohio.
Pick up something local for dinner (click here for recipe inspiration), find an ingredient you’ve never cooked with or grab a few apples for the week. Bring your reusable bags and plan a meal around what you find.
Buying what you’ll actually use is another simple way to make the most of your food and avoid unnecessary waste. When you’re done cooking, give those food scraps a second life through composting. You can compost at home or use one of the many food waste drop-off sites around central Ohio. Find a location near you and see if there’s one along a route you already take.
Add it to the list: Visit a local farmers market and build a meal around one seasonal ingredient.
Explore a fall festival or local event
Fall brings plenty of reasons to get out and explore central Ohio. Check out a local fall festival, community event, craft fair, football game or neighborhood celebration.
As you enjoy the food, music and activities, take a look at what waste options are available. If the event has recycling or composting bins, make sure you’re putting items in the right place. If you’re going to a food festival, consider bringing reusable utensils and a reusable container for leftovers so you can skip single-use plastic items. And if there isn’t a disposal option for something you have, bring it home and dispose of it properly.
A little planning can help keep the fun going without leaving unnecessary waste behind.
Add it to the list: Find a local fall event and make a plan for what you’ll do with your waste while you’re there.
Make a cozy night of it
Fall is a pretty good excuse to stay in. Make a big pot of soup, bake something with seasonal ingredients or turn leftovers into a new meal, then settle in with a favorite fall or Halloween movie.
You can make the whole night feel special without buying a lot of new things. Use what you already have for dinner, pull out your favorite mug and blanket and make the most of a cozy night at home.
Add it to the list: Make a favorite fall meal and pair it with a movie night.
Put together a boo basket
Boo baskets have become a fun way to surprise someone with a collection of little fall or Halloween treats. But you don’t have to buy everything new to make one.
Start with a basket, tote, bowl or other container you already have. Add a favorite snack, a book you’ve finished, a cozy mug, a candle or other small items from around the house. For anything else, check a thrift store or secondhand shop before buying new.
The result can be just as thoughtful, and the container and other items can be used long after Halloween.
Add it to the list: Make a boo basket using things you already have or find secondhand.
Give your fall wardrobe another look
There’s something about the first chilly morning that makes a new sweater feel necessary.
Before heading to the store, pull out the clothes you packed away last spring. You might rediscover a favorite sweater, jacket or pair of boots that still has plenty of life left.
If you do need something new, check out a thrift store, consignment shop or resale site. You can also borrow a special piece from a friend or find a new way to wear something you already own.
And when you’re switching out your wardrobe, set aside anything you no longer wear. If it’s still in good condition, consider donating it or passing it along. Click here to find a donation location near you.
Add it to the list: Put together a fall outfit using something you already own, borrow or find secondhand.
Make your pumpkin count
Pumpkin patches and porch pumpkins are part of the fun of fall, but the season doesn’t have to end when Halloween is over.
If you’re carving a pumpkin, save the seeds for roasting if you like. When you’re finished with it, remove candles, paint and other decorations before composting. Most paints contain plastic-based ingredients that can leave microplastic contaminants behind, so consider decorating without paint or make sure every painted area is removed before looking for a local composting option.
You can also get creative before the pumpkin hits the compost pile. Whole pumpkins can be used as fall décor for weeks, and pumpkins that haven’t been carved may still be useful for cooking.
Add it to the list: Give your pumpkin a plan for what happens after Halloween.
Have a cozy fall gathering
Fall is made for getting together. Host a football watch party, invite friends over for chili, plan a bonfire or turn a Saturday afternoon into a Friendsgiving.
You don’t need to buy a new collection of plates, decorations or serving pieces to make it feel festive. Pull out what you already have, borrow what you need and let the food and company do most of the work.
For leftovers, send guests home with reusable containers or ask them to bring their own.
You can also make the gathering about sharing more than food. Host a clothing swap, trade books or invite friends to bring something they no longer need.
Add it to the list: Plan a cozy gathering using what you already have.
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Sometimes the most sustainable thing on your bucket list is simply enjoying what’s already around you.
Take a drive to see the fall colors. Spend an afternoon at a central Ohio park. Visit a local coffee shop, walk through a neighborhood you’ve never explored or find a new spot to watch the sunset.
You don’t need to plan a big trip to make the most of the season. Grab your favorite sweater, head outside and enjoy those crisp fall days while they’re here. Along the way, look for a few small ways to waste less, reuse more and make the most of what you already have.
There’s plenty to enjoy this time of year, and you don’t have to look far to find it.
