[caption id="attachment_661" align="aligncenter" width="272" caption="Image courtesy Las Vegas Holidays"]
[/caption]
We can all agree the holiday season brings a lot of joy and happiness, and of course, the unwanted stresses of finding the perfect gifts, fighting the mall parking lot, and feeding the masses.
But as you prepare for the holidays this year, keep these following tips in mind - they'll save you some money and give Mother Nature her very own Christmas gift:
Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
Sure, we've all used last week's comic section to wrap a gift, but you can also use old maps, children's artwork, or even an attractive scarf, dish towel, or bandana. Most mass-produced wrapping paper found in stores is not recyclable and ends up in landfills, so adding your own creative touch will cut down on unwanted waste. And statistics show that if every family wrapped just three gifts with something other than wrapping paper, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. At that rate, trees will be hugging YOU!
Purchase Energy-Saving Holiday Lights
Although it may be hard to part with your family's favorite strand of lights, it may be time for an upgrade. Nowadays, you can decorate your home and tree with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights, saving families an average of $50 on energy bills during the holiday season. LED lights can be purchased at numerous major retailers including
Target,
CostCo,
Home Depot and more. News like that would brigthen anyone's day!
Feast on Organic and Local Produce
Get green and lean by munching on sustainable meat and produce grown by local family farmers. Not only does it taste better, but you'll be giving back to the very planet providing it for you. Talk about food for thought!
Click here to find a Farmer's Market near you.
Stuff Stockings with Yummy Treats
Who doesn't like reaching into their stocking and pulling out a handful of goodies? Instead of buying pounds and pounds of candy, invest in some
organic, fair-trade chocolate, nuts, coffee and tea. Who said eating chocolate couldn't be guilt-free?
Give the Gift that Keeps Giving
While our Christmas list runs long of things we
want, there are plenty of families that have a long list of things they
need this holiday season. Sponsoring a child, sending a care package, and making a donation in your name - or someone else's name - are just a few ways you can give a gift that is not only much needed, but also much appreciated. What more could you want?
Click here to find an organization you'd like to help.
Buy a Pesticide-Free Tree
It's fact: some growers use more than 40 different pesticides, as well as chemical colorants, on Christmas trees. The good news is that there are now numerous
tree-farms that offer pesticide-free trees. Sounds like Old MacDonald has more than animals on his farm.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
Between canned green beans, bottled wine, and Christmas trees, there will be plenty to recycle this season. Many of us have recycle bins provided by the city we reside in, but if that blue trashbin won't hold everything, load up the family station wagon and take it to your
local recycling center.
And when it comes to recycling your Christmas tree, call (800) CLEANUP or visit
www.earth911.org to find a tree-recycling program near you. These programs turn trees into mulch or wood chips and help cut back the more than 10 million Christmas trees that end up in landfills. Better to have a full heart than a full landfill!
Make Your Home Your New Year's Resolution
Take a pledge this New Year's to reduce your home energy use by making minor changes. For example, installing only six compact energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs can save the average family $60 a year. Lowering your home's thermostat just five degrees can melt away 10 percent of your energy bill. Check out
The Sierra Club's complete list of energy saving tips. Now that's a resolution worth keeping!
There's so much that can be done this holiday season and in our everyday lives to make our environment a healthy, prosperous one. Let's give back to the very planet that has provided us with a place to exist.
Cheers to going green this holiday season!
