Make it an earth – Part 1

Make It An Earth-Friendly Holiday Season

Do the environment, your family, and your friends a favor and celebrate the holidays in a earth-friendly manner.

Choose your tree carefully. If you buy a real tree, purchase one that you can plant in your yard after the holidays. If you choose to use an artificial tree use recycled materials for decorating and limit the lighting.

Decorate your tree with items you have recycled or can reuse in a decorative way. Be creative. Edible decorations such as popcorn and cranberry strands are earth friendly.

Use items found in nature for decorations. Pinecones and gourds are great for holiday decorating.

Buy cards that are printed on recycled paper. Use can reuse the front of old greeting cards to make name tags for gifts.

Wrap gifts in recycled paper. Or, rather than wrapping gifts, put them in reusable cloth tote bags.

Be creative and wrap your gift in a reusable towel made from recycled cotton. Put your gifts in decorative baskets. Use a scarf as a wrap for a gift.

Shop online to save gas. If you don’t shop online, limit the distance you travel to shop.

Buy gifts from organic and earth-friendly stores.

Give a membership to a conservation group as a gift.

Adopt an endangered animal in the recipient’s name.

You can find many items online that support the Rainforest. These items would make great gifts.

If you have friends or family that do not shop for organic items, give them a gift card for an organic grocery store to introduce them to earth-friendly shopping. If they already shop at organic food stores, a gift card to their favorite store will be appreciated.

Refrain from using disposable plates, cups, and napkins at holiday gatherings. Use cloth napkins and recruit some help with washing dishes after the meal or party. Good conversation can occur at the sink while doing dishes.

Give a gift that is not materialistic. Give a personalized coupon book to a friend or family member offering to perform certain task for them such as prepare a meal or take their turn at carrying out the trash.