green living winter 2011 - wordpress.com

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Although the holidays are a time ofmassive consumption, there are still

ways to make the season moreenvironmentally friendly.Here are few ideas to sprinkle a littlegreen on your Christmas:

Wrap in styleInstead of non-recyclable, store-boughtpaper, try wrapping your gifts in oldnewspaper or magazine pages. Otherrecycled paper options include old mapsand art created by children.Scarves, dish towels, tie-dyed materialand bandanas all make first-ratewrapping paper. Feeling ambitious?Make your own reusable fabric swatchesto wrap holiday gifts in year after year.

Light Up the NightReplace incandescent Christmas lightswith light-emitting diode (LED) lights.e initial cost is about 50 percent more,but LED lights use 90 percent lessenergy, and can lead to $50 a month inenergy bill savings.Switch from conventional candles tobeeswax candles. Conventional candlesare made with paraffin, a highly refinedpetroleum product. ey emit traceamounts of organic chemicals includingacetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein

and naphthalene. Additionally, manycandle wicks contain lead.Beeswax is a natural substance producedin the beehive of honey bees. Whenburned, beeswax provides a pure, clean-burning flame, free of chemicals.

Feast on Local FoodBuying locally grown foods has bothnutritional and ecological benefits.Produce shipped long distances isusually picked before it’s ripe and isshipped by trucks and planes, which useprecious nonrenewable resources.Conversely, locally grown produce ispicked at peak freshness, travels fewermiles and retains its nutritional valuebetter.

Recycle Your Christmas TreeChristmas trees are a natural resource,and since most are grown on farms, theyare a renewable resource. When theholidays are over, however, don’t burnthat tree or toss it in a landfill. Christmastrees can be used as mulch, birdfeedersor natural habitats for fish and wildlife.Visit www.earth911.org to find amulching facility near you.

Choose Green GiftsA fresh flower bouquet or fruit basket isalways a good choice for that hard-to-buy-for relative. Baskets can be filledwith other edible treats too—homemadecookies, bread, and candies are classicfavorites.Stick a coupon for a special experiencein your child’s stocking—a trip to thezoo, the ice skating rink or an interactivemuseum can be fun for the whole family.Organize a gift swap with friends andfamily. Place the items on a table and leteach person choose a gift for someoneon his or her Christmas list.Christmas is a magical time filled withlove, laughter and gratitude for thiswonderful world we call home.Protecting our natural environment nowwill ensure future generations enjoy alifetime of green Christmases.Green Living is a regular feature inFamily! magazine. Our goal is toprovide simple, practical ideas to helpfamilies remain conscientious stewardsof our natural resources. By workingtogether, we can leave the abundantbeauty of this great planet intact for theenjoyment of future generations.

By Laura Hampton

Happy HolidaysEco^