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.
Lifestyles & Community
Think green this holiday season
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
Is MSG (monosodium glutamate) harmful?
Monsodium gluatamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer often added to Chinese food, soups, processed meats and canned vegetables. The use of MSG remains controversial despite a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement that it is safe. Because of this, the FDA requires that whenever MSG is added, that it be listed on the label.
-
Common-sense job hunting
I spent a day with a high-powered and high-profile friend who mentioned that he has more than 700 people a year ask him to help get a new job.
He’s not in the employment business, but is super well connected.
Every now and then, he gets the right person to the right job. -
It’s a love thing
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” — Romans 8:35-39
-
Managing the calving season
Providing sound management during the calving season can mean more live calves.
Excessive losses can mean the difference between a year’s profit or loss for a beef producer.
It is important to have a short calving period to allow frequent observation and assistance if needed. -
Spinach: It’s not just for Popeye anymore
A spinach-loving reader recently approached me to request a column on things to do with her favorite vegetable.
“Favorite vegetable?” You may ask, and rightly so.
When many of us were growing up …and we’re talking Baby Boomers here, the only spinach product known to us was the stuff that came in a can, and it was, in a word, horrible! -
Topping trees is a bad practice
Topping damages hundreds of trees each year in Kentucky.
Many people are unaware of the detrimental effects of this practice.
Topping involves the drastic removal or cutting back of large branches in mature trees leaving stubs.
Topping can make a tree hazardous and reduce its life. -
Tips offered for better credit
Many people are aware that their credit score is important, but do not really understand what it is or how to build a strong credit score.
-
Josh Logan to perform in Kirksville
Hello everyone. Josh Logan will perform at Kirksville Community Center on Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and will entertain you with some great music.
-
Church group to discuss ‘Bad Women of the Bible’
Tates Creek Baptist Church is having a special Coffee Talk Bible Study to discuss “The Bad Women of the Bible” on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. in the church, located on Boonesborough Road.
-
Preschool screenings and birthday surprises
Hi!
... and the wind blew and blew. Perhaps this is the windy season!
Where is the snow? Students are starting to do snow dances, hoping they can coax enough snow to fall so they can make a proper snowman.
(I'm sure they hope it will fall on a weekend so they won’t have to miss school! lol) - More Lifestyles & Community Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
