Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Holiday tips


With the Christmas season fast approaching, we at the CUMC Green Team thought we'd share some of our favorite ideas for a greener holiday. Between now and New Year's Day, we'll post easy hints for making your holiday fun AND eco-friendly! And if you have any extra tips, please share them in the "comments" field (click on the "Comments" button at the end of this post).


Green holiday hints


  • Recycle!! This is probably one of the simplest things we can all do - at Christmas and year-round. Between the advertising flyers, wrapping paper, toy packaging, and added grocery shopping, Christmas generates a lot of waste! You can recycle wrapping paper, tin cans, boxes (both "regular" paper, toy packaging, cereal-type boxes, and corregated cardboard), even those glass wine bottles! (If you live in the Chattanooga city limits, all of these items except glass can be collected via curbside pickup. If you live outside the city limits, all - including glass - can be dropped off at one of Chattanooga's many recycling centers. CLICK HERE for curbside pickup schedule/guidelines and drop-off locations.)


  • Consider gifts that are friendly to the environment. Charitable donations are a great option for the person who has everything - and they produce virtually no trash and no harmful production process. If you want to give something more tangible, why not make or purchase a handmade gift? Etsy.com is an online marketplace where crafters sell their own wares. Gift certificates or memberships to local attractions make great gifts as well. (When my brother-in-law's children were young, my husband and I gave them a much-needed evening out: a restaurant gift card, tickets to the movies, and a coupon for free babysitting. And since having my own daughter, I've received gift memberships to the Creative Discovery Museum, Tennessee Aquarium, and Chattanooga Nature Center. I can promise you that parents with young children would love a free date night, a gift that continues "giving" year-round, or things that don't take up a lot of space in their homes!)


  • Decorate naturally. Decorate with fresh greenery rather than plastic. Trim branches from that holly bush out front, gather pine cones with the kids, fill a bowl with red and green apples, or replant your live Christmas tree when the holidays are over. (Young Life is selling live wreaths and garlands to raise money for its ministry.) Be creative! And share with us here what you come up with!


  • Take a time out. If you decorate with outdoor lights, do you leave them on all night? Consider buying a weather-friendly timer for your outdoor decorations. These timers can be set to come on at dusk and to turn themselves off at the time you designate.

Be sure to check back often for more great tips! And don't forget to share your own hints with us too!

No comments:

Post a Comment