By: Patrick Troyer, Paulding SWCD
Before we know it, families all around will start to gather for a well-known holiday and favorite holiday among many, Thanksgiving! While many of us have our eyes on the prize, the turkey, how many of us know about this holiday and the traditions that surround it? How can we also enjoy the holiday in an environmentally friendly fashion? What about the turkey? In this week’s article, we will answer all those questions and more as we learn about Thanksgiving!
First, let us start with everyone’s favorite topic, the turkey. It is important to first note a distinction between the wild and domestic turkey. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) writes that although the wild and domestic turkey may genetically be of the same species, that is about as close as it gets to the two birds sharing any similarity. One of the most notable differences is the color of the feathers of the two turkeys. The domestic turkey’s feathers are a snow-white color while the wild turkey has a plain brown color with hunts of red, green, copper, and gold mixed in. The wild turkey is much smaller in size coming in at an average of 24 pounds while the domestic turkey can range anywhere from 30-50 pounds. The wild turkey has the ability to fly while the domesticated turkey does not due to breeding for genetics that lead to turkeys with more meat, according to the South Carolina DNR. Some wild turkeys have the ability to fly speeds upwards of 55 miles per hour!
Turkeys were domesticated well before the European settlers came to North America. South Carolina DNR write that turkey bones have been found on burial grounds of Native Americans in Tennessee, Kentucky, and in other parts. It is noted that turkey remains were found in Arizona that can be traced all the way back to 25 A.D. with raising turkeys being one of the most dated forms of meat production throughout North America. While the pilgrims thought their favorite turkey with them to the new world, little did they know it was already quite popular across North America!
One of the most famous traditions surrounding Thanksgiving involves the turkey. The Turkey has received a blessing on its life from the Thanksgiving table each year from the President of the United States. The History Channel writes that of the 50 million turkeys that find their way on the dinner table, two lucky turkeys are granted a pass on their life, at least temporarily. The pardoning of the Thanksgiving Turkey is believed to have begun with Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Other White House history buffs will put the origin more recently on President Harry S. Truman as he was the first one to accept a turkey from the National Turkey Federation.
The first official pardoning of a turkey took place with President George H.W. Bush in the White House Rose Garden in 1987 according to the History Channel. Since then, two turkeys received an official pardon on their life from the current sitting president with one turkey as the main pardon and the second serving as an alternate. Cooper Farms right here in Paulding County was selected for the pardon with turkeys Mac & Cheese making their way to the White House. In 2017, the president pardoned just one turkey that was aptly named Drumstick. Stay tuned to see what turkey or turkeys will get a pardon on their life for 2018!
Thanksgiving, just like any other holiday offers a good opportunity to be conscious about the environment. One easy way is to use dinnerware that can be reused. How many times have we filled our paper plates to find they are not as strong as we thought? Using fewer disposable products is a win-win for everyone with less waste finding itself in the landfills. Ask family members or friends to bring dishes with them to share. The Wilderness Society writes that water can be saved by filling one sink with hot soapy water to washing and another for rinsing.
The holidays also provide a great opportunity to recycle our paper, plastic, and glass products. The holidays bring an increase in waste products, it is always helpful to recycle where we can. Should the weather be nice on turkey day, be sure to take the family out for a walk outside to enjoy all that nature has to offer us. Enjoy the time spent with family and friends this holiday season and enjoy the many traditions we all share!
