The Thanksgiving holiday is here.

The University of Idaho Sustainability Center provides these tips to help you reduce your environmental impact during this time of giving thanks.

§  Use locally grown produce, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, apples, pumpkins and more. 

§  Purchase an organic and locally grown turkey. Also, try to a heritage breed turkey, which is a traditional "standard" breed of turkey that have not been "industrialized" for efficient factory production at the expense of flavor and the well-being of the turkeys. 

§  Invest in a set of beautiful cloth napkins. They add plenty of class to a table and can be reused for many years to come. 

§  Serve organic juices, beers and wines with dinner. 

§  Use natural, found materials to make the table’s centerpiece. These can include pinecones, leaves and other beautiful autumn objects. 

§  Try not to prepare much more food than will be consumed; Americans throw out nearly 40 percent of their food. 

§  Share food with those who have less; invite people who have nowhere else to go to your Thanksgiving celebration. 

§  Remember to recycle and compost. This also is a great time to help educate family members about sustainable living habits.