The end of the year is a time for celebration with family and friends. But with all the driving to Grandma’s house, chopping down the Christmas three and wrapping holiday gifts, it can be a tough time for the environment.
This year, make a pledge as a family to green your holidays for next year! Because if you start planning now, you and your family will have a whole year to start making changes.
Here are a few tips to get you started crafting your 2010 family plan:
- Decorate a tree in your yard or in a pot instead of cutting one down or buying an artificial one.
- Gather together to make arts and crafts for decorating. You can even turn it into a scavenger hunt!
- Have a meaningful conversation instead of sending those holiday cards. Call each other instead.
- Give gifts that skip the plastic and wasteful packaging and are as local as possible. Or, skip the real gifts all together and help families and charities in need.
- Instead of wrapping presents in single-use paper, use newsprint, reusable gift bags or boxes decorated by the kids.
- Buy local produce for the holiday feast.
- Making doing the dishes together part of your holiday celebration. Use those fancy dishes that are gathering dust in the hutch and skip the throw away plates, cups, napkins and silverware.
Whatever you do, the key is to put the plan in writing and to all pledge to follow it for next year’s celebrations. That way, we can enjoy both the season… and the planet!
For more local green tips sent to your inbox each week, sign up for ONE TIP TO KNOW.
This week’s tips made possible by Canfield Business Interiors.
Filed under: Local Food, One Tip to Know, Recycling, Reduce, reuse
