You may think it is a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but I noticed garland hanging at my local Hallmark last night. This year, instead of having a white or blue Christmas, how about having a green Christmas?
First, let’s think about the Christmas tree. Many plastic trees are made from PVC, the product that many are telling us to avoid for safety reasons. This year, you may want to consider a fresh cut Christmas tree. Make it a fun family tradition by going out to chop down your own tree. Sure, it will probably take a bit more effort than just pulling the plastic tree down from the attic, but think of the benefits. Not only is the house going to have a great, Christmasy smell, but you are helping the environment by using a real tree. After Christmas, you can have your tree chipped up for mulch, check the Earth911 Treecycle database to see if there is a recycle center near you, or reuse the branches for wreaths.
Now, before you recycle that real tree, you need to decide how to decorate it. Take a clue from years ago – try stringing together popcorn or berries, use vintage ornaments from the past, or make your own ornaments. Trees don’t have to have the newest, shiniest ornaments to be beautiful. Sometimes simpler is better.
For outdoor lights, consider replacing your older lights with the more energy efficient LED lights. These not only pull less power, they are also much brighter than the traditional lights.
When searched for Christmas cards, why not consider making your own out of recycled paper. And, what of the cards you get? Recycle them by making gift tags for next year or using them to make decorations. If you don’t feel like using old cards for crafts, donate them to the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. They will recycle all kinds of greeting cards and you can even purchase the green, recycled cards for them.
In the next blog, I will talk more about how to have a green Christmas this year!
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