Well, it's that time of year again. My favorite time of year - Christmas. Sometimes it's hard to remember to be environmentally conscious as we drive to the mall to shop till we drop and plug in thousands of tiny twinkling lights, but there are still ways to be green during the holidays. Here are some ideas to help celebrate the season while still caring for the environment.
Gifts: Are you having trouble figuring out what to get that one person who's impossible to buy for. Everyone has different interests and likes, making it especially hard on a person playing Santa. One of my favorite gifts I have ever given was from
Heifer International. I was introduced to the organization a few years ago at a church fundraiser, and it's been a favorite ever since. The money is used to give a family in need an animal, or a flock of animals, providing them with a sustainable income, which is often a food source as well. When the animal reproduces, some of its offspring are passed on to other struggling families in the community. So, your donation continues to "pass on the gift."
You can also look for locally-made gifts. People don't realize how many
local stores and
craft fairs are in their area. Also, there are plenty of fair trade retailers that carry great gifts, like
Ten Thousand Villages and
Sugar Magnolia. I buy a lot of my gifts from these retailers because the gifts are beautiful, global, and all the products support artisans from around the world.
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| Sugar Magnolia on Hillsborough Street. |
And, if you're feeling really crafty this holiday season consider making your own gifts. The thoughtfulness behind gift giving is even more meaningful when your gift has a personal touch. Crocheting is pretty easy to pick up. Your grandma probably knows how and would love to show you. If your grandma isn't much on knitting, there are plenty of
online tutorials that give you step-by-step instructions.
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| A scarf and hat I made. |
The tree: There isn't a clear consensus on whether artificial or real trees are better for the environment. Live trees are biodegradable, not to mention they produce that terrific smell. But, live trees are often loaded with pesticides and are trucked long distances. Artificial trees, on the other hand, last for years, but they are made of plastic and lead. At my parents' home in the mountains, we use both. Because trees are grown in that area, we don't have to worry about buying a tree from halfway around the country. We can literally drive five miles to a local tree farm. You don't have to drive all the way to Boone or Asheville to get a live, locally grown tree.
Back Achers Christmas Tree Farm is a family owned tree farm situated on five acres on the southern edge of Raleigh.
Once your food coma has worn off and all the eggnog has disappeared, make sure to recycle your live tree. Many cities have recycling services that will mulch discarded trees. Goats will also gladly demolish your Christmas decorations.
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| Our 15-foot Christmas tree decked out with LED lights. |
Decorations:
LED lights use 1 to 3 kilowatt hours of energy, compared with 12 to 105 kWh for traditional incandescent lighting. LEDs don't get as hot as traditional lights, lowering the risk of fire, and if one bulb goes out, the rest of the string still works. Try decorating your house with seasonal fruits and vegetables like pomegranates and gourds, which can be eaten later. Ornaments are also an easy thing you can make yourself. Household items like CDs and yarn can also be turned into any type of Christmas decoration. Besides, who wants to be out buying expensive decorations when you could be outside making a snowman - the ultimate low-impact holiday decor?
Don't stop being green after the holidays are over. Make it a New Year's resolution to be green year round!
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