Think outside the box this holiday season. Even if you aren’t a very crafty or creative person, or have never thought much about “Going Green,” the holidays are a great time to start! Those who are seriously into preserving the environment often cringe at the mere thought of all the waste that goes along with the holidays, such as not so eco-friendly gifts, wrap and dispensable party wares. I’ve come up with a few simple solutions to give you the opportunity to have a healthier holiday season. Not only will you help preserve the planet in the long run, but you may even save a few bucks by using some of the belongings you already own and incorporating them into your holiday décor.
Decorations
Think long term. Eliminate wasteful paper products and disposable pans and other bake wares. Purchase or use glass cookware and dinnerware. Invest in cloth items such as cloth napkins, placemats and tablecloths or make them yourself from fabric. Hint: if you purchase blue or red fabric items, they can be used many times through the year for other holidays or everyday use.
Collect pine cones for free. Bring the outdoors in!
Decorate the house with live greenery—the best choices are herbs such as basil and rosemary, which have a wonderful fragrance, and you can use them for cooking all year long.
Look in your kids rooms for decoration ideas. Whoever said you couldn’t build a menorah or tree decoration out of Legos? Or a cool snowflake scene from an Etch-a- Sketch or Lite Brite!
Christmas Trees
- Get a live tree that you can have in your house and then plant outside after the holidays—in your yard or somewhere else. The planet needs more trees and they sequester carbon. Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain nonbiodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead. (Please read the warning labels.)
- Grow it yourself: Plant a few seedlings each year, and, in a few years, you will have your own tree that you can bring in for the holiday season.
Save Money
Energy: Attach your indoor and outdoor lights to a timer, and program them to be on only for the several hours in the evening when people will see them.
Wrapping paper: Wrap presents with recyclable wrapping paper or get creative and make your own. Gifts can be wrapped in newspaper, fabric or make use of some of your child’s artwork that you have been holding onto! How about putting your gift in a reusable bag?
Cards: Make your own holiday cards! Recycle children’s artwork or use some of the cards from last year. Or make your own recycled paper! Take old newspaper, mix it with water in a blender and pour out over a screen and set out to dry. Try sprinkling some seeds in it and the recipient can just plant the card! How clever! Or check out the website www.sproutem.com and you can order custom seeded paper.
Gifts:
If you must purchase a gift, look for items made from recyclable material.
Give gift certificates for goods or services you know the recipient will use.
Shop consignment stores! Not only will you help keep items recycling, but you will also save some money too!
Think Green – Great gift ideas include water bottles, plants, battery chargers, cloth napkins, energy saving light bulbs and a reusable shopping bag. Better yet, create your own “green” bag and put a bunch of small items in a reusable shopping bag.
Make Something! Whether it’s a cake, pillow, home accessory, scrapbook, painting, ornament or scarf—be creative.
Some of these ideas are great to continue on throughout the year at any other gift giving time or holiday. The kids can easily pitch in and may even come up with some new clever ideas to reuse items and to help save you some money—and to cut down on waste.
About the Author:
Kara Ferraro is a publisher and freelance writer with two elementary aged children. She is always looking for clever, budget friendly activities to do with her family and ways to save money.
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