December Green Tip

Sustainability for the holidays is a goal many of us have. Here are a few ways to achieve it: Increase a child’s curiosity about the natural world by giving an ant farm or science related kit, a museum membership or a visit to a farm. For adults and teens, instead of material gifts purchase a service, tickets to an event, camping trips, dance or other lessons, dinners out, massages or a gift certificate for locally produced products. You might make a gift of food or write a poem or decorate pottery. Equal Exchange, Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV are socially conscious gift companies. Gifts of farm animals, portions of a well and many other types of charitable gifts are available from Heifer International (www.heifer.org/gift) and World Vision. When stuffing stockings you can use nuts and fruits, and for wrapping gifts use newspaper, cloth and saved ribbon. Holiday lights should be LEDs and/or used in moderation. It’s possible to send electronic greetings (Hallmark.com or Bluemountain.com) but if that is not your taste consider cards from recycled paper or postcards. There are many choices for recycled and eco-friendly gifts online. You may even end up repurposing something yourself and reducing what goes into the waste stream.