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Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Martha Miller Want to be green this holiday season and even have a little green left over? It may seem impossible once inside a store not to buy, buy, buy! But with a little online planning you don’t have to get caught up in a spending spiral. Truly the best gift you can give yourself and your family is not to owe another dime in 2009. Vow right now not to do it and you’ll create opportunities for a happier and greener holiday and a more relaxing New Year.
Christmas Trees: Real or Artificial? REAL! A comparison chart available at ChristmasTree.org/debate.cfm succinctly shows pros and cons of each. It’s easy to see that 100% biodegradable, lead-free, PVC-free trees are the way to go. Every time an artificial tree is purchased, it creates a demand for more products that are not biodegradable and eventually end up in landfills. The National Christmas Tree Association, which supports this site, sums it up by saying, “…fake trees are a burden to the environment indefinitely.” Buying from a local Christmas tree farm helps support your community, and the trees stay fresher longer. Trees trucked in from far away may have been cut weeks or even months before. To find a local Cut and Choose Farm go to ChristmasTree.org/home.cfm, click on “Find My Tree Now,” and enter your zip code. After the holidays, check back here to “Find Tree Recycler.” LED Lights Two years ago, before I truly felt the connection between outdoor lights and my January electric bill, I decorated with hundreds of lights and left them on ALL night. The sting of that “total due” still makes me wince. This year, I’m making the switch to LEDs (light-emitting diodes.) While they may cost a little more upfront, they typically use 80% to 90% less energy than other stringed lights. Also, LEDs don’t heat up which could pose a safety hazard. Comparison shop at PriceGrabber.com. Christmas Cards Send cards that do double duty. The Children’s Art Project at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center sells patient-designed cards and gifts. Proceeds fund programs for cancer patients. Check out the 2008 line at ChildrensArt.org. Locally, check out the Children’s Miracle Network’s annual holiday cards. Another Option: Save paper, postage and time by sending electronic cards. Websites like AmericanGreetings.com even offer photo e-cards. Green Gifts Children: Limit gifts. This is the perfect year to cut back on the amount of toys we buy. Set a strict limit, say two gifts per child and stick to it. Think carefully about how much time the toy, game, puzzle will be played with. Girlfriends, Sisters, Mother: Zulugrass jewelry (LeakeyLife.com) is a gift that gives back. These beautiful strands ($8 -$12) are handcrafted by women in Kenya at workstations near their homes, not in factories. Available in over 200 color combinations, these natural grass beads can be worn as bracelets, anklets, belts or necklaces. Your purchase allows the women of Maasai to continue their traditions and to provide for their families. Rebecca Ponton (rponton@leakeycollection.com), who distributes Zulugrass products, says, “Customers can see that they are making a tangible difference in the life of the Maasai women.” Grandparents, neighbors: Everyone appreciates home-cooked food. Make one of your specialties in bulk and freeze in serving-size containers or search dozens of recipes at (BusyCooks.about.com/od/christmas/a/giftsfromkitche.htm.) One of my favorites is Mexican Soup. Find the recipe posted here. Brothers, Father, Teachers: When you purchase a t-shirt from Common Threadz (CommonThreadz.org), a non-profit company, you give back in three ways. These artist and celebrity-designed t-shirts ($38) bring awareness to causes like Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity International. And for every t-shirt sold, Common Threadz purchases a school uniform for an orphan in a developing country. Be Charitable: When times are tough, non-profit organizations need help even more. Pajama Program provides new pajamas and books to children in foster care. You may have seen Pajama Program founder Genevieve Piturro on Oprah. Make a donation or buy a gift card in someone’s name at PajamaProgram.org. Locally, Valley View Mall is a participant in the program. Wrap It Up If you love choosing wrapping paper, bows, cute tags, and stickers, watching it get wadded up and thrown away can make you turn green and not in a good way. Here’s how to stifle the waste. First, for any really large presents decide if they have to be wrapped at all. Sometimes a giant bow will suffice. For medium-sized gifts, look for recycled or recyclable wrapping paper or festive cloth bags that can be reused. Bows are easy to reuse and so are stretchy ribbons, curly ribbons and yarn. Get creative with store carrier bags by gluing a strip of wrapping paper across the logo. Bags then coordinate with other gift-wrapped presents making the whole stack look professionally done. Traditions are important. Small changes made this season to be kinder to the environment may continue for years making a huge impact over time. Happy holidays!
Brown turkey, drain and set aside. Sauté garlic, green pepper and onion in olive oil in a large soup pot. Add turkey and all the other ingredients to the pot, plus one can of water. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for a couple of hours. Freezes well. Serve in a bowl, top with sour cream, grated cheese and corn chips. Martha Miller specializes in online topics. Check back here when a new issue of Coulee Parenting Connection is available to find her latest column. Miller’s work has appeared in numerous national publications, including “Parents” magazine. You can view her other credits at MarthaMillerWrites.com. |
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