Published: November 01. 2009 2:00AM

By Susan Schwartzkopf

We’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year, and like many of you, I have the almost impossible task of making everybody happy. Considering I’m a vegetarian with three nonvegetarian children (whose Thanksgiving requests range from Rice-A-Roni to gourmet fare) and will be hosting my often picky sister and brother-in-law who have meat-and-potatoes sensibilities, the odds are already against me. Add in a friend with his own ideas who wants to come over early to help cook the meal, and all of a sudden the cat — who gets his annual can of gourmet cat food, as opposed to the usual dry stuff — will likely be the easiest to please.

Something we all agree upon, however, is that we will spend the day giving thanks for our many blessings, including the ways the environment sustains and enriches our lives. With a goal of making the holiday as eco-friendly as possible, here are some ideas that can work for all of us:

The turkey : No factory farms! Try organic, hormone-free and free-range turkey. Your guests will never know the difference, but you will. Crusader Farms in Anderson and Whole Foods in Greenville offer pasture-raised and organic turkeys.

Vegetarian: Lucky for vegetarians, the usual array of holiday side dishes — potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans and cranberry sauce — are all meat-free. You can also add your personal Thanksgiving favorite to the menu. Our favorite is Corn, Bean and Pumpkin Stew, an amazing culinary blend of textures, spices and flavors.

The local organic challenge : Tap into your competitive spirit and help save the planet while preparing the feast. Challenge yourself to serve nearly all organic local food (cranberries, sugar and spices excluded) produced within 100 miles of home. The State Farmers Market, Earth Fare, Whole Foods and Happy Cow Creamery are all on my shopping route, as they offer a host of local food options.

Dessert: Pumpkin, apple and pecan pies can be baked using local honey as a sweetener, with crust made with flour from locally milled grain. All follow the local eco-friendly theme and are guaranteed to be two of our favorite things — very simple and very tasty. Bee Well Honey Farm in Pickens or Earth Fare in Greenville both offer locally produced honey.

The table: Consider a centerpiece made of things you already have around the house. We’re planning to use three ceramic bowls holding candles nestled in pine cones, pecans and old potpourri. Add a few fall leaves to the table, and voila! A beautiful holiday look — natural, elegant, and free!

So that’s it — the perfect way to keep all of our Thanksgiving guests happy and hopefully inspire others to have fun with some eco-friendly ideas during the holidays and every day.