I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas
by LDS Living Staff

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Christmas is a time of giving. Here are some great ways that you can give back to the environment during this holiday season:

Trees

Purchase or rent a real tree. If you buy a tree with roots still attached, you can replant it in your yard or donate it to the parks department (visit livingchristmastrees.org for more information). If you prefer a cut tree, choose one that’s grown without pesticides, which you can order from freshchristmastree.com. After the Christmas season, take the tree to the county recycling facility, where it can be turned into mulch. Search earth911.org to find programs in your area.

Lights

Decorate your tree and home with LED lights. Unlike incandescent bulbs, these lights last longer, use 80-90% less power, and are cool to the touch.

Burn candles instead of using electricity. Don’t use old, lead wick candles which could be toxic when burned (banned in the U.S. in October 2003). Use candles made of renewable and biodegradable vegetable wax or beeswax, rather than petroleum based paraffin wax candles.

Table Décor

Avoid using disposable plates, silverware, and tablecloths for your gatherings. After the party, wash your tablecloth in cold water to conserve energy.

Gift Giving

To purchase green gifts, visit: worldbuyers.com, canvastoclay.com, or greenfeet.com.

Handmade gifts are always a great idea. Be creative. You could also give an experience: a massage or pedicure, a session in a pottery studio, or an afternoon of horseback riding. Another great option is to donate to a charity in their name.

Oxfamamericaunwrapped.com invites donors to buy a camel ($175), cow ($75), sheep ($45), building tools ($25), or the planting of fifty trees ($30) to support Oxfam’s programs in developing countries. The recipient gets a card with a photo of the contribution.

Gift Wrap Wrap gifts with newspaper or previously used brown paper bags. Let the kids decorate the paper. Grandparents will love this!

If you prefer traditional wrapping paper, you can buy recycled paper and biodegradable ribbon from fishlipspaperdesigns.com or paporganics.com.

For packaging, use recycled materials such as used newspapers, shredded paper, or plastic shopping bags.

After the holidays, wrapping paper can be used to scrapbook the memories (visit ecologue.com for ideas).

Cards

Instead of using paper, create a family blog, a free, online multi-photo card, or an online slideshow. Email the link to friends and family.

Photo features furoshiki, a traditional Japanese cloth wrapping; taken by Katorisi

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Green Christmas?? Posted by Scott from Oregon Oh puh-leeze... let's just enjoy the spirit of Christmas without all the nit-picky worldly distractions that we so often complain about during this time of the year. To totally remake Christmas to 'save the environment' puts the focus of the holiday on the wrong thing... let alone make it more expensive for most people during a time of increasing economic problems.