Sustainable Gatherings
Today, as I write this article, I am also preparing to discuss environmental sustainability with my business ethics class. The discussion will start from a point in American history when John Muir advocated for federal protection of Yosemite and will extend to modern environmental disasters, such as the Kuwait oil fires, the Exxon Valdez spill and the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Business ethics is a type of applied ethics, which essentially is a set of values that governs decision-making in the workplace.
One of our family values is sustainability, and we strive to conserve natural resources. To that end, we recently had a small gathering for my daughter’s birthday, and, as usual, we looked at what we already had and tried to minimize waste.
In light of the pandemic, we took several health precautions. First, we limited the gathering to four families, including ours, and we said, in the invitation, that the party—pirate themed—would include mandatory mask wearing and social distancing.
In addition, we also said that everyone would be outside the entire time. On the day of the event, we set up four family tables in a T-shape so that each table was about ten feet apart. We also spaced out rocking chairs and seating areas.
In an effort to limit physical proximity between the guests during eating, when masks cannot be worn, we loaded each family table with everything they would need: paper plates, drinks, s’mores fixings and even hand sanitizer.
Instead of purchasing paper or plastic disposable tablecloths, I pulled out cloth tablecloths I keep stored for parties. We did have paper, disposable napkins, but we opted for paper products instead of plastic. In the past, we used dishes and flatware, but in light of COVID, I did want to reduce exposure risks, so I did opt for disposable plates and foods that could be eaten by hand.
For drinks, we had glass bottles and aluminum cans, which we disposed of in a recycling bin. No single-use, disposable plastic cups here. Unfortunately, the small juice boxes had to be tossed. Leftover hot dog buns went into the compost.
And then there were the games. We have an old 1980s satellite dish, so we filled up water balloons with paint and provided each family with a bucket of paint balloons. This activity went better than we expected, and now we have some very festive splatters on the dish.
My husband also cut a labyrinth into one of our fields, and the children wandered the paths, trying to figure out the way to the exit. I tried it yesterday, and I had to give up. I am going to give it another whirl tomorrow.
My daughter really wanted to have a treasure hunt, so I had to come up with eight clues (rhyming couplets) that would lead to a wooden treasure box filled with gold coins (chocolates). The children (nine of them) split into three teams—all still wearing masks—and they were given the first clue.
This activity took a good 20 minutes and involved them traversing much of our land and deciphering some difficult clues (arboreal abode = treehouse).
The evening concluded with s’mores by campfire and an outdoor movie.
With Haunticello up in the air, I wanted to offer some suggestions from safe Halloween gatherings and trick-or-treating:
1 – One option is the candy chute. Basically, some homeowners have gotten creative and experimented with delivering candy through a festively decorated six foot or longer tube (such as a PVC pipe). Children can stand safely away and homeowners can still participate in the fun from a distance.
2 – Instead of purchasing a costume, make one. The thrift store is a great source for ideas, and making a costume also leads to some truly creative creations. Last year, my daughter dressed as a plastic-filled ocean, which involved sewing several plastic bags and a stuffed turtle to old scrubs.
3 – Ghost zip line. I’ve seen some families construct ziplines that include a ghost delivering the candies from a house to a sidewalk. This requires a bit more ingenuity, but is definitely entertaining.
4 – Ghosting. This is a fun way of celebrating Halloween that involves putting together goodies bags and them delivering them to your friends—just leaving them on porches and then texting them once you leave. It’s like a surprise delivery!
5 – Candy Clothesline. You can set up a clothesline in front of your house with candy spaced out every six feet.
6 – If having a small gathering, a candy scavenger hunt is an option. Give the children clues and then have them hunt for the candy (sort of like an Easter egg hunt with clues).
7 – Have a Halloween bake fest with your family. Cook unusual fare, such as creepy dishes.
8 – Host a Haunted Home for your own children. Perhaps have a spooky room and stations in the house, such as where children are blindfolded and put their hands into a bowl of gummy worms (worms) or peeled grapes (eyeballs).
We are learning that we can still get together so long as we observe health guidelines —so long as we wear masks, keep a safe distance away, and wash our hands. Halloween can still be enjoyed so long as everyone is mindful of each other and we can also make do with reusable items around the house.