10 Eco-Friendly Fall Activities to Try This Season

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Autumn is a beautiful time of year, with the temperatures cooling down and the leaves starting to change. It’s the perfect season for taking scenic hikes, enjoying seasonal produce, and being thankful for the natural world around you. 

As you take part in these fun fall activities, be sure to give back to the environment this year. Here are some eco-friendly ways to enjoy the autumn season. 

Guide to Eco-Friendly Fall Activities to Try This Season 

Need some ideas on sustainable things to do or places to go? Check out our helpful guide on 10 eco-friendly activities you won’t want to miss out on this fall season. 

1. Decorate Using Natural Decor

Instead of decorating with fake pumpkins or purchasing garlands and greenery with artificial red, orange and yellow leaves, opt for the real things. You can make your home or office just as cozy and welcoming — or even more so — by using natural decor.

Along with being more eco-friendly than using a lot of plastic, these decorations can be found free in nature. You can go foraging in your backyard, especially if you have a wooded area, and find all you need to create an aesthetically pleasing front door wreath or arrangement for your entryway tables.

Anything from acorns to pinecones can also be used to create decorative displays. You can fill a bowl with your findings and decorate your home with lovely elements that came directly from nature.

2. Go Thrifting for Seasonal Decor and Outfits 

Similarly, if you can’t find something in nature, go thrifting for it instead of buying new. Whether you’re looking for some seasonal candles to help set an autumn mood or some new sweaters to wear when the temperature starts to drop, there’s a good chance you’ll find what you are looking for when you go thrifting. 

Along with reducing your environmental impact by buying used instead of new, you’ll also be saving money. You’ll have decor you can reuse and new outfits to mix and match with — all for much less than if you purchased brand new. 

3. Visit a Pumpkin Patch 

Pumpkins are a quintessential fall necessity. Instead of just purchasing a pumpkin to carve and then throwing away all of the pulp and pumpkin once the season is over, you can save and use the entire pumpkin. 

The pulp can be used to make a delicious pie while the seeds can be roasted and seasoned and then used as a salad topping or snack. When you’re done displaying the carved pumpkin, you can either compost it or leave it out for animals to munch on instead of tossing it in a landfill. 

4. Create a Nature Journal 

Creating a nature journal is a great way to embrace all of the beauty the fall season has to offer. These journals can be used for everything from sketching fall scenery to recording observations made after spending time in nature. 

These journals will allow you to further develop your artistic skills and have a tangible way to remember some of the moments and memories you made throughout the season. You can even press and include your favorite leaves inside to preserve them.

5. DIY Candle Making 

Nothing helps set the stage for the fall season quite like a cozy scented candle. Many store-bought candles though contain toxic substances, which can be bad for you and the planet. Instead of burning candles with anything from paraffin wax to benzene, you can make your own out of more sustainable ingredients like canuba wax and add more natural scents by using spices or essential oils. 

6. Gardening 

While fewer flowers in your garden are blooming right now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t garden or start planning for next year’s crop and harvest. In fact, some seeds and saplings need to be planted during the fall season in order to be ready for the spring and summer. You can get a head start now and get your backyard prepared before winter comes around.

Now is also a good time to experiment with other types of gardening methods like hydroponics, which is a rapidly growing market that’s also being used to help overcome restrictions in agriculture. You’ll be able to learn new methods and grow your green thumb skills while helping the planet. 

7. Use Reusable Mugs for Your Seasonal Drinks

Whether you’re a big chai tea drinker or wholeheartedly believe nothing beats a pumpkin spice latte, your seasonal beverage consumption can lead to a lot of waste going into landfills. Instead of throwing away cups, lids and straws every time you consume the season’s favorites, you can opt for a reusable mug at home and cafes to keep your waste to a minimum.

8. Can Fruits and Veggies 

If you had a bountiful harvest in the summer, you can start canning all your fruits and veggies now to preserve them for later on. You’ll have a well-stocked pantry that you can enjoy during the fall and winter months when these goods aren’t in season. There are also other methods like pickling and dehydrating that you can experiment with to keep your produce fresh and flavorful. 

9. Go Hiking or Biking

Hiking and mountain biking are two great ways to stay in shape while taking in the beauty of the changing seasons. You can immerse yourself in the autumn colors and enjoy the nice weather. As long as you leave no trace, both of these activities are enjoyable and don’t create waste or cause harm to the environment.  

10. Make a DIY Costume 

While Halloween costumes are fun and festive, it’s typically something you only wear once and then get rid of. Buying new costumes every year can have more of an environmental impact compared to creating one out of clothing and accessories you already have at home. 

Making your own costumes gives you a chance to stretch your creativity and create a festive and sustainable solution. You can even host a DIY costume-making party with friends and family to get everyone in the eco-friendly, seasonal spirit. 

Enjoy an Eco-Friendly Season 

No matter what your favorite fall activities or hobbies are, there are all kinds of ways to enjoy the beauty of the fall season — while still being eco-friendly. Try out some of these ideas and make this season one to remember.