Fall time is here and I’m sure you’re looking for unique eco friendly fall things to do (that aren’t boring!). Although the kids are back in school, fall is the time to enjoy the cooler temperatures from the summer heat before the chilly winter weather kicks in! It’s the time to enjoy the cozy vibes and embrace the season.
What better way to incorporate the earthy feeling of fall than with an eco friendly fall bucket list! This list incorporates 27 fun activities to do during the fall to make the most of the season. Even though the days are getting shorter, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy spending time in nature and bringing eco friendly habits into your family lifestyle.
This post is all about 27 unique eco friendly fall things to do!
1. Make your own apple cider
Fall is one of the most perfect times to go apple picking. There are so many different varieties of apples to choose from during this peak season, but what do you do with them when you get them? Try making your own apple cider! The recipe if following is from Delish. It takes about 10 apples to make 8 cups of apple cider. The apple cider is not only delicious, it makes your home smell AMAZING! Find the recipe here! *Note: for some fun fall brunch vibes, add champagne for Apple Cider Mimosas!
2. Host a bonfire party
I’m personally a fan of bonfires year-round! Honestly, they’re fun and cozy no matter the season. If I had to choose a favorite season though, it would be fall! Indulge in those chilly fall evenings with a bright and crackling bonfire party. Don’t forget the items for s’mores! I like to switch it up by adding other chocolate treats to my graham cracker and marshmallow combination, to make it even more fun.
3. Go back to school thrift shopping
Fall means back to school! Instead of only shopping at traditional stores for clothing items, try doing some back-to-school thrift shopping! Thrift shopping for back-to-school items is fun because you’ll find unique pieces no one else has. You may even be lucky enough to find some vintage items! I’m always surprised by what I may find at the thrift store and you may be too! Look for bags, clothes, accessories, binders, items for dorm rooms, pencil cases, and even lunch boxes.
4. Visit an antique store
If you love the thrill of a deal antique shopping may be for you! This fall, take a trip to an antique store. Find items that you can reuse and repurpose to give them another life in your home! Antique shopping is fun because you find the most unique and one-of-a-kind items, usually valued at less than you would expect. Antique sometimes means a trip down memory lane! Find items that remind you of past memories or find unexpected items to use in your home.
5. Go rollerskating
If ice skating is for wintertime, rollerskating is definitely a great fall activity.
Growing up rollerskating was something everyone did! I have photos from my 9th birthday getting a new pair of rollerskates and immediately going outside to practice. If you don’t already have skates, invest in some! Whether you choose a rink or just skate outside, this is a great eco friendly fall thing to do. Enjoy your time outdoors and take in the beautiful fall foliage while skating!
6. Decorate pumpkins
Yes, decorating pumpkins seems like one of those obviously eco friendly fall things to do, but I challenge you to take it a step up! Make pumpkin decorations unique with some of these ideas:
7. Reuse your pumpkins with these recipes
According to research, out of the 2 billion pounds of pumpkins grown in the US and UK each year, about 1.6 billion pounds of those pumpkins are tossed in the ground (source). This is a problem because waste in the trash accumulates in landfills. Landfills are one of the top producers of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. Accumulation of greenhouse gases are contributing to climate change.
Instead of tossing your pumpkin in the trash, cut them up and try these recipes:
- 5 Best Recipes For Cooking With Fresh Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Puree Recipe
- Vegan Black Beans and Rice One Pot Recipe
- Healthy Pumpkin Bread (you’ll want to make the pumpkin puree from above first!)
8. Go to a football game
Experiences are a great way to fall season environmentally friendly eco living activity. Grab a few jerseys and get to a game! Whether it is a professional football game, a college game, or even a local school football game, attending a game is a great eco friendly fall thing to do! Grab your blanket for the cozy weather and cheer on your favorite team.
9. Watch the sunset
The cooler fall temperatures make us all crave to be outdoors. Watching the sunset this fall is a way to enjoy the outdoors even from the comfort of your home! In addition, sunsets help us appreciate nature and increase our gratitude for Earth. Whether you watch from a window, in your backyard, on your front porch, or somewhere in your community, take a few months and enjoy the beauty of the sunset in the fall sky. Tune in to your five senses and take note of what you see, feel, hear, taste, and smell,
10. Plant your fall garden
Fall planting is one of my absolute favorite eco friendly fall things to do! The heat has finally taken a break and it is a perfect time to plant and allow the plants to have the ability to establish before winter. Your plants won’t have to survive the harsh heat from the beating sun and will need less water to survive.
11. Go to the beach during the off-season
The tourists are gone and it’s time to add the beach to your list of eco friendly fall things to do! Yup, visiting the beach during the off-season is a must. There are fewer people, the beach is less crowded and you can really appreciate the peace and beauty of the beach.
12. Visit National Parks on their free admission day
Have you ever visited a National Park? It’s no secret why visiting a national park made my list of eco friendly fall things to do. National parks are areas set aside by a national government for the preservation of the natural environment (source). Here are two free admission days this fall to plan your national park trip!
- Saturday, September 24 – National Public Lands Day
- Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day
13. Take family photos at the pumpkin patch
Is it even fall if you don’t have a photoshoot?! This is a great eco-friendly fall thing to do because it helps to capture memories. Make a lasting moment of enjoying the beauty of nature during the turning of seasons.
Check out this article for 40 fall photoshoot ideas!
14. Make a caramel apple
Did you go apple picking this summer? This is a great way to use up those apples so you are not contributing to food waste! Caramel apples are a staple in the fall and one of my favorites. They’re sticky, sweet, and so much fun to eat. Add caramel apples to your list of eco friendly fall things to do!
Here is a super simple recipe to make the most delicious caramel apples.
WANT MORE FALL FUN?
15. Create a “fall vibes” playlist
Music has a way of connecting us on a deeper level. Music is associated with our mood, our memories, and is good for the brain! When you’re thinking of eco friendly fall things to do, don’t forget to make your fall playlist. Create an ambiance of cozy warmth and all the fall feels with songs that remind you of crunchy leaves, changing colors, cardigans, and crisp air.
Here are a few songs from my “fall vibes” playlist.
- Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day
- September, Earth Wind, and Fire
- Autumn Leaves, Chris Brown
- Autumn Leaves, Ed Sheeran
- October, Alessia Cara
- Sunday Morning, Maroon 5
- Thriller, Michael Jackson
- Summertime Sadness, Lana Del Rey
- Spotify Fall Playlist
16. Make your own trail mix
Trail mix is a unique mixture of protein with a slight addition of sweetness. It is a crunchy, savory, on-the-go snack that is perfect for the outdoors, especially during the fall season. To make this trail one of our eco friendly fall things to do, we suggest not just buying the trail mix, but making your own!
Not only is making your own trail mix more fun and cost-effective, it also reduces packaging and cuts down on unnecessary additives in some foods because you know exactly what you’re adding in.
The trail mix I love to make has peanuts, pecans, dried mango, Reese’s pieces, and pretzels – so good!
For more inspiration, check out these 20 Best Trail Mix Recipes
17. Have a cozy self-care night
Grab some fuzzy slippers and cozy PJs and read a good book while enjoying a cup of plastic-free tea. Light a candle, play that fall playlist, and enjoy the vibes of the fall season.
Related Post: Super Simple and Relaxing At-Home Spa Date Night Idea
18. Movie marathon
Nothing says eco friendly fall things to do like a movie marathon! Here are a few recommendations:
- Harry Potter
- Waiting to Exhale
- Twitches
- Hocus Pocus
- Halloween
- Halloween Town
- You’ve Got Mail
- Silver Linings Playbook
19. Drink a pumpkin spice latte
This is fall must, right? To make this eco friendly bucket list item eco friendly, try to make your own pumpkin spice latte. If you can’t try out a local coffee shop and don’t forget your reusable cup!.
20. Start your Christmas list
If we’re talking unique eco friendly fall things to do, this is definitely it. Get started on that Christmas list! Christmas is so close! Although it’s on the same date every year, it always seems to catch us off guard and leave us scrambling for items.
When thinking about your lists, consider items for yourself and for friends and families. Writing your list and beginning your shopping early will help reduce overbuying and impulse purchases.
Related post: 5 Easy and Effective Christmas Shopping Hacks to Prepare for Christmas Day
21. Read a book from start to finish
Get lost in a good book! This fall check out your local library and find a good book!
Another great option is to borrow an ebook from you local library through the Libby app.
Check out this post on 5 book apps everyone should have!
22. Make homemade hot chocolate
As the weather cools down a great way to stay warm and cozy is with a cup of hot chocolate. To make it eco, make the hot chocolate at home with fair trade chocolate or purchase coffee bombs from local shops like etsy!
23. Have a backyard barbeque
Consider these tips when hosting an eco friendly backyard barbeque:
- Use reusable dishes and utensils
- Offer cups for drinks instead of plastic drink containers
- DIY popsicles
- Recycle what you can
- Compost
- Limit food waste by cooking only what you need and giving away leftovers
24. Open the windows
Letting in natural sunlight is not only peaceful, but it is also one of the best ways to bring the feeling of outside, inside. During the fall the breeze from outdoors add a cozy feeling to your home. Opening the windows is on our list of eco friendly fall things to do because it also helps decrease your energy consumption. In the beginning of fall when temperatures have decreased from summer, but have not hit the winter cold yet, it provides the perfect amount of breeze, for free!
Natural air is good for your lungs and helps to improve air quality.
25. Unplug and enjoy the weather
Go on a hike, go on a walk, or drive to see the fall foliage. Put your phone down or place it on “do not disturb” and truly enjoy the beauty of nature. The changing of seasons is a beautiful reminder of the way in which our lives change and go through different seasons. Slowing down to enjoy the natural ambiance of Earth is not only good for your health but also helps to facilitate a connection to our planet.
26. Celebrate National Gratitude Month
November is national gratitude month! Being mindful, conscious, and environmentally aware all go hand in hand. To celebrate national gratitude month Create a list of things you’re grateful for or list one thing you are grateful for each day.
27. Donate or organize donations
At the turn of every season, I find myself cleaning and decluttering. Is it just me? When you’re decluttering this fall season, be sure to donate your clothing and other goods as opposed to placing them in the trash.
Related Posts: The Only Eco-Friendly Cleaning Routine You Need This Fall
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