A Green Christmas

No...I'm not going to talk about no snow on Christmas. ;) I've been fortunate so far not to run into that problem that I can remember. When I say green Christmas, I'm thinking of trying to not waste things as much as possible. I know many of us go crazy on gifts, food, decorations, etc. So...I'm thinking maybe try to go green and waste as little as possible each year if possible and think of more ways to do that.

So I was thinking and here are some things I came up with so far:

* Buy a quality fake Christmas tree and use it forever. We have a tree that is ten years old...this year it will be eleven and it's still good! Think of how many trees we can save if we all do this. :)
* Send digital Christmas party invites and Christmas cards or buy ones that are made from recycled paper or you can make your own. I find alot of homemade things are much more meaningful as they put in their own time and creativity into it.
* Make your own Christmas tree ornaments using natural and/or edible materials like gingerbread cookies, popcorn, and candy canes. Kids love to help out making these and alot of our ornaments are things that the kids made.
* Instead of purchasing the usual lights for decoration, think about using LED lights. They do not emit any heat and they don't use much energy.
* As the holidays approach, many of us do major cleaning around the house. Use green cleaners such as baking soda, lemons, olive oil, castile soap, and vinegar to clean your home for any parties and events.
* If you can, use beeswax candles instead of conventional ones. They are made of natural wax without toxic substances and they burn clean. Be careful of using candles that have lead in the wick if you aren't using beeswax candles. When you burn those it can do damage to you and those around.
* Use recycled gift wrapping paper, bags or use nice cloth bags to wrap up your gifts. I have collected alot of bags and tissue paper from gifts throughout the year so I rarely ever have to run out to buy some wrapping paper.
* Make your Christmas feast local and if you can afford the extra money go organic. With summer here, the farmer's market is booming with great, fresh fruits and vegetables. So I'll be doing alot of buying from them and getting them ready to last through the winter.
* We all love certain smells that make us nostalgic of Christmas so use essential oils to scent the home instead of conventional and toxic air fresheners. Combine them with at least four parts of water in a spray bottle to spritz potpourri, silk flowers, and other natural arrangements in your home like holly leaf garland and pine cones.
* Buy eco-friendly gifts that are sustainable, natural, and fair trade. One friend of mine sent me a card telling me she had a tree planted in my name. Or perhaps donate something like a goat or chickens from a company you can buy and they will purchase it for you and send it to someone who is in need to help them sustain a living with it.
* Cut up your old cards and use them for decoupage projects, gift tags or kids crafts.
* For those toys that need batteries use rechargeable batteries. There’s a USBCELL out that recharges by plugging into your computer. Standard rechargeable batteries are also a good choice. At least you can use them several times before throwing them out.
* Put together an organic fruit basket for a friend.
* Buy handmade items with less packaging such as a sweaters, stuffed toys, wooden toys, puzzles, furniture etc.
* Bake something for someone. Think of someone who might enjoy a batch of homemade cookies or a pie. It's especially great to give for someone who doesn't have much time to do any baking themselves.
* Instead of buying them another gadget that they might already have and probably don't really need, give them an experience. An afternoon of horseback riding, a massage or pedicure, a session in a pottery studio or tickets to a concert or play are all environmentally friendly gift ideas. Many gifts given each Christmas end up buried in the back of the closet by January, and eventually make their way to the landfill, but an experience will last forever in someone's memory.
* Try to buy toys that are considered safe green toys. Kid stuff that's safe, nontoxic and sustainable.

Have a very merry GREEN Christmas!