Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips
07. Dec, 2009 
2 Comments
As the December holidays approach, consider ways that you can help the environment throughout your celebrations. We’ll be writing a number of articles on this topic. Here is installment #1.
Create a Permanent Christmas Tree
If you celebrate Christmas, consider saving a tree, by having a permanent Christmas tree. Designate a tree in your yard as your official tree and trim it every year. If you don’t have a yard, there are many indoor plants that can serve as your “official” tree too. Use natural materials to trim your tree as well. Paint pine cones gold and silver. Place holly berries for a pop of color. If you use lights, buy the newer LED models, which use 80% less energy than other holiday lights.
If you do buy a new tree, make sure to put it to good use when Christmas is over. Branches can be used to protect delicate garden plants over the winter. Needles and and cones can be added to a compost pile. Wood can be turned into mulch or wood chips. Often, local Boy Scout troops will pick up trees that they donate to garden centers for mulch as well.
Consider Eco-friendly gifts
When you buy toys or gifts beware of things made of endangered animals or things made of wood that comes from tropical rainforests. If you spend wisely, you can help influence companies to do things that don’t harm the environment. Also consider product made from recycled materials and those that use either minimal packaging or packaging made from recycled materials. Also consider giving experiences instead of more stuff. Give tickets to a movie or a museum. Adopt an endangered animal or sponsor a rain forest acre in someone’s name. Provide for the needy on the other side of the world. Great ideas like these can be found at the following sites:
Buy Soccer Balls for Shool Children in Africa
Nature.org
Giveagreenbag.com
Gifts.com (Eco Friendly Section)
Worldvision.com
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Great ideas! I have some people who use Plastic trees because they consider it better than buying a new tree every where. But properly disposing of your Christmas tree can reduce the environmental impact.
Thanks for the great comment. Tell your friends to stop by yeahtips too.