Think green this holiday season

December 9, 2009

Gina Noe The Richmond Register Wed Dec 09, 2009, 09:50 AM EST

During the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans produce an extra one million tons of trash per week compared to any other time of the year. Thinking green this holiday season can include more than just boughs of holly. Whether it is shopping, choosing a gift or entertaining, small changes in your holiday habits can make big differences.

During American Recycles Week, I passed on a few tips on how to have a wonderful, gift-giving holiday season and still be earth friendly. Here are a few more.

If you are looking for green gift ideas consider nonmaterial gifts. Tickets to a sporting event, movie, play or concert are a real treat. Give a gift of your time by making a photo album, scrapbook or framing a favorite picture. Everyone appreciates a home-cooked meal or baked goodies. Fill a basket with homemade jellies, muffins and cookies. Include the recipe. Dried fruits, drink mixes and roasted nuts are always appreciated. Package gifts from your kitchen in reusable tins, baskets or jars. Give a nutritious gift to children of fruits and nuts in a stocking you made yourself. It is an old fashioned idea, but an appropriate one.

If you don’t have the time or skills to make your own gifts, then buy from one of the many talented artists or merchants in Madison County. You might also pick up some homemade gifts at one of the many crafts bazaars during the season.

You still can catch the St. Mark’s Christmas Bazaar this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will have lots of baked goods, crafts and cookie trays. You can even get a delicious homemade breakfast while you shop. St. Mark is located at the corner of Main Street and Parrish Avenue in Richmond.

Don’t forget the three Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle. Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills every year. Reduce the number of bags thrown out by bringing reusable cloth bags for holiday gift shopping. Tell store clerks you don’t need a bag for small or oversized purchases. Wrap gifts in recycled holiday paper or funny papers. Use old Christmas cards for tags and hand deliver whenever possible to save energy and for a personal touch. Remember to save and recycle used wrapping paper, bags and ribbons from gifts received.

When buying gifts, check product labels to determine an item’s recyclability and whether it is made from recycled materials. Buying recycled encourages manufacturers to make more recycled-content products available.

For more information about how to enjoy an environmentally friendly and festive holiday, attend Homemade Holidays presented by Karen Grant and Cheri Stacy, Extension nutrition education program assistants. Kay and Cheri will share recipes and samples of homemade gifts such as body scrubs, pet treats, bath salts and flavored vinegars. They also will have directions for making cleaning products from items found in almost everyone’s kitchen or laundry room. A basket full of green cleaning products would be a unique and welcome gift.

Homemade Holidays will be presented Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Berea Library, 319 Chestnut Street, and from 1-3 p.m. at the Richmond Library, 507 West Main Street.

(Source: Ashley Osborne, Extension Associate for Environmental and Natural Resource Issues)

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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Lifestyles & Community

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