Charming, St. Patrick’s Day,, the “wearing of the green” takes on more significance than ever.

At least people are starting to pay attention. Bit by bit, the world is going green. And what better way to celebrate eco-progress than on that greenest of holidays, St. Patrick’s Day?

Admittedly, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the most elevated of occasions. It’s a tip of the hat to Ireland and its national patron — and an opportunity for everyone, Irish or not, to have a bit of fun. That’s the spirit in which we present Lighter Footstep’s list of ways to “green” your St. Patrick’s Day.

So settle in for a bit of earth-friendly blarney, and let’s green our St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Buy organic beer
What’s St. Patrick’s day without a mug or two of beer? Beer is one of humankind’s most ancient inventions, probably discovered when soaked grains fermented in the presence of airborne yeast spores. The process has certainly become more sophisticated over the centuries, giving rise to any number of beer tastes and styles. But it’s all basically the same stuff: water plus grain plus yeast equals a fun night at the local pub with your mates.

Good luck separating an Irishman from his Guinness. Its rich, chocolatey body is ubiquitous in all corners of Irish society (and much of the United Kingdom, for matter). Quite a few pints will be hoisted this weekend in honor of St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.

Consumer interest in organic foods has certainly caught the eye of most beer manufacturers, who are now producing a broad assortment of brews produced with ingredients which meet organic production standards. Even giants like Anheuser-Busch have gotten into the act.

But one company bucking the trend is Guinness. Given their domination of the Irish market, if you’re looking for an organic St. Patrick’s libation, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

An obvious choice for fans of traditional stouts Old Plowshare Stout. It’s brewed by California’s North Coast Brewing Company, a pioneer in organic beers. There’s also Peak Organic Beers in a variety styles ranging from pale to amber ales. The good news is that your local health food store or well-supplied beer seller is likely to have an organic brew to meet your tastes. Just be sure someone is functioning as the Designated Leprechaun before getting behind the wheel.

Wear the Green (organics) proudly
It’s a great time to be an eco-friendly consumer. Not only are organic food finally filtering their way down to your local big-box grocery, it’s easier than ever before to find quality organic clothing.
Growing cotton takes it’s toll in n terms of water use and the sheer tonnage of pesticides used to keep conventional fields healthy. But that’s not the only way farm cotton, one of humankind’s best-loved and versatile fibers. Sustainable cotton production addresses these concerns, which are better for the land and the people who work it.

Wear the green all year long. Most major clothing companies — even Levi’s — now carries an organic line or two. Looking for something organic with an Irish touch? Try this shamrock beauty from OfflineTshirts.com. It’ll bring good luck to you and the earth.

Go veggie with your Irish cooking
Cutting back on meat consumption is an earth-friendly choice. And there’s no reason to let traditionally meat-heavy Irish cooking get your way. Try your hand at producing a veggie version of an old classic, Beef and Guinness Stew. You’ll find an easy recipe at About.com which substitutes seitan — a wheat gluten food — for the dish’s conventional ingredients. TheFoody.com has a delicious (and meat-free) version of Irish Vegetable Stew and there are all manner of veggie “bangers” available at your local health or whole foods store just waiting to be fried. Wash it all down with one of those organic beers. Irish eyes are smiling.

Plant something green
Seems obvious, doesn’t it? If you’re green at heart, put some green in your garden. Or you can pay to have something planted where it will do the most good. For a St. Patrick’s Day twist, scatter some organic clover seed in your garden. It’s attractive, bee-friendly, and helps hold moisture into the soil.

And hopefully this post isn’t going to torture anyone who chose to give up chocolate for Lent but any chocolate that has less guilt associated with it is worth talking about. Many of us will enjoy a choco-bunny or some Peeps this Easter but for me the Cadbury egg has always been a special treat. Cadbury has committed themselves to a greener Easter this year by reducing their use of plastic as part of their ‘Purple Goes Green‘ campaign which was officially kicked off in July 2007. Cadbury is committed to ensuring the economic, social and environmental sustainability of around a million cocoa farmers and their communities through the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership. The chocolate bunny has gone greenarroz.jpg
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to cook up something Irish. Most Celtic-themed recipes I found involve a lot of meat and/or beer and/or whiskey. With spring in the air, I opted for something a little sweeter, and made Irish Rice Pudding from the current issue of Rachael Ray Magazine. I love rice pudding, but admit I only order it on occasion and never dreamt of making. This recipe seemed easy enough to give it a whirl… perhaps too easy!