| With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, | | | | businesses. |
| it can be easy to put your green practices on the | | | | Make Your Own Decorations from Materials in the |
| back burner while you try to get everything done. | | | | Wild |
| Even if the occasional aluminum can gets thrown | | | | Instead of buying decorations shipped from who |
| away instead of recycles and your Christmas | | | | knows where, dress up your home with holiday |
| lights get left on overnight, you can still do your | | | | décor you create yourself with the most |
| part to be eco-friendly by committing to the | | | | beautiful materials nature has to offer. Use large |
| following practices. | | | | pinecones and evergreen sprigs in a glass bowl for |
| Avoid Disposable Products | | | | a centerpiece. You can also create a wreath by |
| I know it's tough to resist paper plates and plastic | | | | weaving bare twigs or pine branches together and |
| utensils when you're hosting a party for 20 or so | | | | decorate with mini pinecones, dried berries or |
| people but this year do the landfills a favor and | | | | mistletoe sprigs. For a little more glamour you can |
| forgo disposable for regular washable dishes and | | | | spray pinecones with a metallic paint and add bells, |
| silverware. Holiday-print dinner sets can be found | | | | bows or other tiny embellishments. |
| for less than $15 or $20 at your local retail store. | | | | Don't Forget To Recycle At the End of the Day |
| Don't fall for the logic that washing dishes is as | | | | After the eggnog is gone and the presents are all |
| bad as using disposable. If you wash dishes in a | | | | unwrapped, don't neglect all the recycling |
| fully loaded dishwasher (especially one that is | | | | opportunities that the holidays provide. Most |
| Energy Star rated), you use much less energy | | | | communities provide special collections for gift |
| than is expended making paper and plastic | | | | wrap and Christmas trees. Naturally all vegetables |
| dinnerware combined with the space used up in | | | | and fresh fruits can be composted. Empty cans, |
| landfills by those disposable products. | | | | boxes and cartons can be recycles. Lastly donate, |
| Buy Fresh Food from Local Sources | | | | sell or return all those gifts you don't want. |
| Rather than buying frozen convenience foods, | | | | As you can see, acting environmentally |
| purchase fresh vegetables and desserts from a | | | | responsible doesn't have to ruin the holidays. One |
| local farm stand. Some supermarkets even carry | | | | the contrary, you may find that having a "Green" |
| specially labeled food provided by local area farms. | | | | Christmas is just as much fun as having a white |
| By buying local you reduce the energy spent to | | | | one. |
| ship food while supporting your community's | | | | |