a guest post by Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson

1. Green up your attitude. Even with the economy in the doldrums, this can be your family’s best Christmas ever. All it takes is looking at the situation as one brimming with potential to make wonderful memories, no matter your cash flow situation. Most people will admit that our focus on consuming has created tremendous problems. So why not give your family’s fixation on “stuff,” a makeover this Christmas and focus on doing instead of buying? That’s not as hard as it might seem. When you enthusiastically explain that “This year, we’re going to make all our gifts,” or “Every night during December leading up to Christmas, we’ll participate in one fun activity as a family,” or “On Christmas, we’re each going to receive one very, special gift,”

your family will be excited and look forward to the day just as they have in the past. Avoid focusing on deprivation and fear. Encourage fun, laughter and meaning.

2. Select a truly green tree. Millions of Christmas trees are purchased, then tossed into landfills each year. You can help by purchasing a living tree, then planting it. Or checking with your local municipality to see if they collect trees for composting. Or chopping up the tree and composting it yourself. If you decide on an artificial tree, avoid purchasing new if possible. Check out local thrift stores for gently used ones. And artificial trees should last at least 10 years. Don’t toss yours until it’s really shabby.

3. Let there be the right light. If you’re buying new, LED lights are the new gold standard. They are bright, but do not heat up and last much longer, at much less cost than incandescent. If you love candles, choose beeswax. They burn cleanly, last longer and fill your home with the fragrance of honey.

4. Create edible décor. Go for no-waste holiday décor. This might include gingerbread people for the tree or table. (If they are too stale to eat after the holiday, smear them with peanut butter, dip in bird seed and hang from trees outdoors). Old-fashioned strings of popcorn or cranberries are festive and can be eaten by birds as well. A pretty platter in the center of the table holding organic chocolates or other small desserts makes a nice centerpiece even when the goodies have been eaten.

5. Wrap it up right. The latest and greatest way to wrap gifts is using fabric. Get directions for fabulous, but simple wrapping techniques in our book, Celebrate Green! or online www.bobowrap.com where they sell gorgeous pieces of fabric just for this purpose. You can also make your own from any lightweight material you have available. Cut a square using pinking shears. Or cut two squares the same size, sew around the edges leaving an opening. Turn, sew the opening closed and iron. If you’re not the crafty type use a silk or cotton scarf or even a napkin for small gifts.

6. Give of yourself. Most of us would love to have someone else do things that we dislike or are not particularly good at. So if you love to cook, why not offer to make a meal once a month for your mom who does not. Car washing is a chore for most people. Make a coupon book with 12 hand washes and make a friend or relative very happy. Maybe you can walk someone’s dog, weed for them, give a great massage or put items on e-bay. Your talents are as valuable as any other gift.

7. Go paper free, not just when wrapping, but when greeting. Seven billion greeting cards are sold in the U.S. ever year. That’s a lot of trees. While not all are sold during the winter holidays, this year, consider going tree-free when it comes to greetings. There are some wonderful tree-free alternatives like those made from odorless elephant dung from website to learn more.

Posted by: admin on December 18, 2008.

Tagged as: holiday