Your mother was right. Although you might never admit it, in this case it’s true. Remember all those sheets of aluminum foil she saved and reused when you were little? Turns out she was part of the green movement before it was cool to be green. Take some advice from your mother with these clever ideas for recycling aluminum foil:

• Sharpen dull scissors by cutting through folded up foil that is six to eight layers thick. Cut through the stack a few times to achieve maximum sharpness.
• Crumple it up and throw it into the dryer with your clothes to reduce static electricity.
• Hang strips of foil on strings around your garden to keep away deer, rabbits, birds and other unwanted wildlife. Also, wrap it loosely around the base of new plants to keep bugs and insects from eating the stems.
• Roll up your sleeves and use a little elbow grease (and foil) to remove rust from steel and chrome pieces, including your grill, the oven or pots and pans.
• Save it for your 10th wedding anniversary! Believe it or not, aluminum gifts are traditionally exchanged on this landmark. Better start practicing your creativity now!

Right in the heart of winter, many find it the perfect time to let loose and hit the slopes. Preparing those mountain slopes for thousands of skiers, and traveling to get there, makes a big impact on the environment. This year, try to lessen your snowshoe footprint by skiing a little greener.

• Lower your travel footprint. Getting you to the ski resort makes the biggest environmental impact. Be sure you round up all your friends and carpool in a fuel-efficient vehicle. Or, find others traveling to the same resort on Facebook or Twitter. The best way to lessen your travel footprint on the slopes: ski close to home.
• Do your homework. With a little research, you can find ski areas that are working the hardest to love the planet. Groups like the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition or the National Ski Area Association can help.
• Find green gear. There many options out there for boards and skis made of sustainable materials. Better yet, buy used gear or rent your gear instead. It can be just as good as new… and is a whole lot cheaper!
• Donate your used equipment. Keep your old snow gear out of the landfill by turning it over to the Salvation Army or any other organization that will put your stuff to good re-use. Some companies will even take your broken old skis and remake them into one-of-a-kind furniture.
• Bring your own water bottle/thermos. Instead of ordering fountain pop, hot chocolate and bottled water at the lodge, bring your own thermos to fill up.

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This week’s tips made possible by Millennium Recycling.

Local Green Experts Series

(Following is a guest column, the first in our new Local Green Experts series.  Anita Kealey is founder of the South Dakota Institute of Design and Technology, .)

By Anita Kealy

She will grace the Miss America runway, not in sequined gowns out-sourced or manufactured in foreign workrooms. Instead in a wardrobe consisting of recycled textiles woven from media (cassette) tape combined with sustainable products such as bamboo, raw silk and reclaimed fabric remnants, all USA made (better yet in South Dakota).

Morgan Peck is a Sioux Falls native, studying Political Science and Economics at the University of South Dakota. She has held many campus leadership positions, including President of Pi Beta Phi sorority, Vice President of Political Science League, Student Government Association Senator, and University Technology Fellow. Currently a Presidential Alumni Scholar at USD, Morgan has also earned pre-acceptance to the University of South Dakota Law School as a Law Honors Scholar.

Since 1989, the Miss the Miss America Organization initiated the platform concept, requiring contestants to support an issue of personal and societal relevance. Morgan’s decision to promote activism and understanding by Getting Involved in Government Locally (G.I.G.L.) stemmed from her interest in politics and what she believes citizens of all ages need in order to contribute to problem-solving discussions in their communities.

Morgan is a graduate of O’Gorman High School where she garnered many local, state and national awards for her forensics activities. She was a three-time qualifier for two different national speech tournaments, and consistently placed among the top performers at these events. Morgan first graced the stage of the Sioux Falls Community Playhouse at the age of 8, when she played Molly in the 1997 production of Annie. She has since appeared in over 30 theatrical productions.

Vote for Megan!

The Miss America Pageant is Going Green! The 2010 Miss America Contestants tell “Green T” (Tamara Henry) what being green means to them. Now you get to vote for which one you think has the best insight on why Green Is Gorgeous. The contest will end on Saturday, January 30, 2010 and the winner will be announced in Las Vegas immediately following the pageant, which airs on TLC. Vote for Megan here.

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!

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This week’s tips made possible by Canfield Business Interiors.