This year, many families are looking for ways to celebrate the holiday in an environmentally friendly way. There are several ways people of all ages can adjust their holiday celebrations in ways that preserve nature.
Instead of using traditional, mass-produced wrapping paper, consider creating your own or give gifts in bags that can be reused. One of the reasons to avoid commercial wrapping paper is that it cannot be recycled. Instead, purchase a roll of plain white butcher paper and use stencils, stamps or paint to create unique, personalized wrapping paper. You can even create a stamp using a potato. Use a cookie cutter to press a design in the flesh of a potato cut in half. Use a stamp pad to add the design to the paper.
Lights are an important part of home decorations for many, but by choosing LED holiday lights, you can save electricity costs as well as usage. It is possible today to get LED lighting that is soft, eliminating the harsh brightness of LED lights in the past.
When choosing food for your holiday meal, shop locally as much as possible. According to the Delaware Nature Society, agriculture and conservation work in partnership as food raised in a natural environment offers more nutritional value. Sustainable agriculture also protects waterways, soil health and supports native wildlife.
If some of the gifts under the tree will be an updated version of an electronic someone already owns, instead of throwing away the old one, recycle them. Cell phones can be recycled at kiosks located in department stores and malls. Some will even pay for a recycled cell phone. Even an old flip phone can earn a dollar or two when recycled.
Buy locally made, eco-friendly toys this season rather than mass produced plastic ones. Not only does this support small, local businesses, but it also reduces how far you must travel to purchase gifts. If you have a difficult person on your gift giving list, consider an experience, such as a food tasting tour, a camping adventure or a hike through a favorite forest.
Replace an artificial tree with a live, locally grown tree. Many of the live trees sold at department and grocery stores were cut many months ago and may not last through the season. Instead, visit a local tree farm where you can cut your own. Christmas tree farms help preserve open space and helps create habitats for wildlife. If you do choose a live tree, remember to recycle it after the season ends.
Use materials you have around the house to create Christmas decorations. If you have items that belonged to a loved one who has passed on, create a memento ornament that will remind you of them for ears to come. It is also a great way to keep children occupied when they are on break from school.
Consider making your own gifts this year.Create a gift basket filled with homemade cookies, infused liquors or other items you can create yourself. Add special touches like homemade ornaments, a favorite bottle of wine or a book you enjoyed reading this year.
No matter how you celebrate the holidays, there are ways to reduce your impact on the environment by changing just a few simple things. Learn more about eco-friendly living by visiting Delaware Nature Society online.
