Seasons greeting website version 2013

Season’s Greenings Give a gift to the environment this holiday season by reducing waste, conserving resources and energy and choosing environmentally-sensitive gifts.

Decorating 

Use edible decorations such as popcorn & cranberry garlands. These can be fed to the birds afterwards.

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Buy good quality decorations that will last.

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Tie fabric bows on the tree.

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Use dried flowers, fruit, pine cones & branches to decorate the house.

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Avoid single-use decorations such as window stickers, spray snow & “icicle” tinsel.

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The trick is to decorate with items already found in your home.

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Involve the whole family.

Packing Materials 

Use newspaper or real popcorn instead of plastic foam “peanuts” for cushioning.

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Reuse cardboard boxes & paper grocery bags for mailing.

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Shred your junk mail to create packing material to store your ornaments each year.

Gifts 

The list of environmentally friendly gifts is unlimited.

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Ideas include: Compost Bin (you can start composting in the winter)  Recycle Bins  Travel coffee mug for the office  potted house plants  Reusable Lunchboxes  Charitable Donation  E-Reader 

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Look for gifts that are durable, energy efficient & not over-packaged.

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Consider drawing names of family members from a hat—you’ll be able to put more thought into one or two special gifts.

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Make gifts rather than buying them. Receiving home-made gifts is always a treat.

Jams, jellies or baked goods can be packed in reusable containers and decorated with a festive cloth ribbon.

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Spend time rather than money. Suggest to friends that you do something active rather than exchange gifts. Fun times spent together are much more memorable than another tie.

Cards 

Choose cards that are made from recycled paper with a high post-consumer content.

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Support charities by buying their cards.

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Email greetings.

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Make your own cards using reused materials.

Wrapping 

Tin boxes & gift bags can be reused year after year.

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Use brown craft paper & rubber stamps to make your own paper.

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Make a “Hollywood Box”: wrap or decorate the top & bottom of a box with a separate lid. Encourage its reuse.

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Instead of buying gift boxes, use a cereal or cracker box.

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Like the look of silver paper? Cut open a chip bag & wrap with shiny side out.

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Make the wrapping part of the gift—tea towels, baby’s receiving blanket, even shirts.

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Make gift tags from old cards.

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Often a tag is unnecessary—sign your name on the wrapping.

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Discover the art of Furoshiki, wrapping gifts in fabric that can be used again. No tape necessary.

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Make gift bags from brown lunch bags. Let the kids decorate.

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Make a “Santa sack” for each child in the family to put their presents under the tree. Reuse like a stocking each year.

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Discover Pinterest.com for more ideas. You are only limited by your imagination.

Entertaining 

Buy food in bulk.

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Buy ONLY what you need.

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Purchase holiday supplies in packages that are recyclable in our region.

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Take shopping bags with you.

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Use washable/reusable utensils, plates, cloth napkins & tablecloths instead of singleuse paper & plastic. Consider renting party supplies.

Christmas Tree Real or artificial? There is no clear answer to which type of tree Is better for the environment. 

ARTIFICIAL TREE: an artificial tree can be used for years if it’s properly taken care of & stored. When it begins to look old & shabby, use the branches to make wreaths.

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CUT TREE: buy one grown on a tree farm & as locally as possible. They are in the business of growing Christmas trees on land that is largely unsuitable for other kinds of agriculture.

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INDOOR PLANTS: break with tradition & decorate a large indoor plant such as a Norfolk pine or a rubber tree.

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After the holidays, recycle your tree. Stick it in the snow next to the bird feeder as a perching site...or cut off the branches & use them to protect plants...or chop it & use it for mulch. Compost it along with wreaths & other “live” decorations.