3 Simple Ways to Go Green Irish Style

When it comes to going green there are many different steps you can take. You can do all kinds of things including cutting down your energy use, recycling, minimizing your water usage, cleaning with natural products, eating organic and locally grown food, etc. But in honor of my Irish roots, I figured now would be a good time to share 3 simple ways to go green Irish style.

1) Plant shamrock or clover: The shamrock is a widely-recognized icon associated with the Irish and in particular with St. Patrick’s Day. As you are probably well aware, people wear green or shamrocks as part of the St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

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But this year, instead of wearing a shamrock, you can go green by planting shamrocks or clover. This way you are bringing a new plant to life and you’ll have a little bit of Irish growing throughout the spring. Here are some facts and information about growing shamrocks/clover. And you never know, if luck is with you, you might end up planting a four-leaf clover!

2) Green up your food and drink. Many people in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day add a little bit of green color to their food. You can do this literally or discover the wonderful tastes of naturally green and/or organic foods.

If you are set on having a green beer, choose a good organic or locally brewed beer as your base. There are also many green food and wine options to choose from for a great meal. Needless to say, there is no shortage of ways to make your food and drinks green!

Image by Jaymi Heimbuch

For those of you looking for an appetizer or other dish using the “poster child” of Irish beers, Guinness®, here are a few recipes worth checking out. Besides, scientists have recently come up with some new technology which could create a more eco-friendly head on your Guinness.

Image by TiM_BiG

3) Get outside. Go to a parade, attend a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in town, have a picnic in the park, take the dog for a walk, go to a local festival, etc. While tradition has people attending celebrations all over the world, simply getting outdoors is a great way to go green. Spring is in the air, so it’s the perfect time to go outside and find some green!

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In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and in celebration of going green Irish style, here’s a little Irish blessing:

“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”

And please keep this in mind, being green isn’t reserved for the Irish or for St. Patrick’s Day. These are steps you can take every single day to help improve your life and be a little greener. What steps are you taking to go green?