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Hints
for Greening Your Holidays
By Lynn
Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson
Here are a
few ideas to help reduce your family’s holiday season carbon
footprint while keeping the fun.
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Focus
the family on green. Gather ideas from everyone. Discuss how to
apply reduce, reuse, and recycle to every aspect of your
celebration.
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Giving
a party with more guests than plates? Ask invitees to bring their
own, then at the table, have each recount why they chose that
particular place setting.
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Forget
about wrapping paper. In fact, forget about using paper altogether.
Instead, opt for fabric. Scarves, thin towels, handkerchiefs,
napkins, or any material cut with pinking shears into a square can
be turned into a fabulous decorative wrap using simple “furoshiki”
techniques. Check outwww.furoshiki.com
for the how-to.
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Ready
for new lights? Choose LEDs over conventional strings. They last
longer, use less energy and come in every conceivable configuration.
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And
speaking of light, avoid conventional candles which are made from
petroleum and instead choose beeswax which burns cleanly and adds a
delightful honey aroma to your home.
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When
it comes to gifts, concentrate on meaning. Give of yourself. Make a
donation to a cause close to the recipient’s heart. Make a gift
from. If you are purchasing, choose among items that are fair trade,
made from sustainable or recycled materials and/or handmade.
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For
your Thanksgiving table, give seasonal fruits and veggies center
stage. For instance, carve a piece of out an apple and fill with a
beeswax votive candle, then write the guest’s name on the apple
for a compostable place card.
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Buy
local. The average Thanksgiving dinner travels 100+ miles to get to
our tables. Purchasing from neighbors helps the local economy and
lessens the amount of fuel needed to feed our families.
Lynn
Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are a mother/daughter duo and
authors of Celebrate Green!
Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the
Whole Family, available at
www.CelebrateGreen.NET.
For more tips on planet-friendly holidays, see also the CoolMom Holiday Guide.
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