Ideas for Decorating, Gift Wrap, and More
Christmas Trees and Wreaths
For a list of choose-and-cut trees, go to http://kitsap.wsu.edu/ag/u-cut_trees.htm#bi. Or, give a living tree, plant it together after the holidays, and watch it grow through the years (and help global warming). Care tips for “living” Christmas trees are at http://forestry.about.com/od/christmastrees1/ht/living_x_tree.htm. (Contributed by Tom Bartuska)
Make a Wreath! Create a wreath for your own home or as a gift, using the Bainbridge Gardens wreath-making machine. Only backyard tree and shrub trimmings are used and it supports a local business, when you buy the frame from them. Bainbridge Gardens also handles the UPS shipping. www.bainbridgegardens.com. (Contributed by Bobbie Morgan)
Ornaments and Holiday Lighting
Make Your Own Ornaments. Have an ornament-making party using materials found in nature and pretty scraps you have around the house: pine cones, flowers, cranberries, and popcorn all make festive decorations that cost little or nothing. (Contributed by Kathleen Thorne)
Recycled Memories. Can’t bear to toss your now-grown children’s rattles, matchbox cars, and other small playthings? Or that stash of souvenirs from long-ago tourism experiences? Turn them into Christmas tree ornaments that are sure to trigger memories and stories from family members at your holiday gatherings. And puzzled looks from others. (Contributed by Kathleen Thorne)
Holiday Lighting and Fireplace Ideas. Use beeswax or soy candles instead of regular wax candles. Use a timer for outdoor lights; set it to turn on at dusk and off at 10 or 11 p.m.
Use fireplace logs that are made from eco-friendly materials. Java logs are made from used coffee grounds and natural vegetable wax and produce 10 times less creosote and carbon monoxide than wood. (Contributed by Diane Landry)
Gift Wrap
Fabric Gift Wrap. I have wrapped presents in a dish towel (which can itself be part of the gift), and also in toile from a partial bolt of fabric that I bought at the Rotary Auction, along with ribbon from the auction. I had not thought of the Rotary Auction as a place for alternative wrapping materials, but they have a whole department of fabrics and ribbon. (Contributed by Bobbie Morgan)
Cloth Gift Bags. At www.wrapsacks.com you can find colorful cloth bags in all sizes that you can buy as gift bags. They come with a serial number that lets you follow the progress of your reusable bag around the world. Or make your own cloth bags from recycled fabric remnants (see above). (Contributed by Marcia Lagerloef)
Recycled and Recyclable Gift Wrap. Since commercial gift wrap is not suitable for recycling, consider using plain brown paper (either from grocery bags or on rolls) with colorful stamps to decorate it. For ribbon, try yarn that can be reused again and again (and then put out for birds for nest building). For gift tags, cut up old greeting cards and made your own. (Contributed by Katya Bridwell)
For large gifts, wrap in old pillowcases, tablecloths or bed sheets. (Contributed by Diane Landry)
Reusable holiday gift wrap. 30+ years ago I made holiday gift bags from seasonable fabric. The bags are various sizes to accommodate various sized gifts. I cut long rectangles of fabric, stitched the sides together, "hemmed" the top and pulled cording through the "hem" in order to close the bags. Fabric holiday gift bags can be simple, or you can use your creativity to create something unique and special. I have used my bags every year and so have saved a lot of paper and time by not using wrapping paper. (Contributed by Christine Christensen)
Skip the Wrapping Paper. I use beautiful ribbons that can be used over and over again. Kids don't care so much about the wrapping so I have even put the present back in the brown box it came in and then put a big ribbon on it. At our house I have explained that Santa does not use wrapping paper. He places his toys around the tree for instant glee in the AM. Or wrap up gifts in fabric scraps, tea towels, dish towels (new ones), which add to the gift, paper from grocery bags with stamps or kids drawings, or the comics section from the newspaper. (Contributed by Patricia Intihar)
Sustainable Living
Recycle Gifts. I've gone to birthday parties where it was requested that only recycled gifts be given. That is, used gifts. Also, for cards, my friends and I use a Post-It to write a message and attach that to the card. That way, the card can be re-used. (Contributed by Tom Leurquin)
Give a Home Energy Inspection. An on-Island home inspector, Orca Inspection Services(www.orcainspect.acereport.net) does Energy Conservation Home Inspections. Many of the repairs that result from this inspection are fairly easy, low cost fixes. These inspections would make a great gift for any home owners concerned with sustainability and energy savings! (Contributed by Mimi Stewart)
Think “green” with your family (Contributed by Tom Bartuska)
1) Have a friendly discussion on green practices and “One Planet Living” www.oneplanetliving.org/, give or share a book on green living or carbon footprints. Have fun calculating your ecological footprint www.myfootprint.org/ and ways to increase your green living.
2) Give Green Power at www.pse.com/solutions/forbusiness/Pages/businessGreenPower.aspx or install your own PVs.
3) Think Big: discuss/plan ways to walk to all daily activities (work, school, shops, parks, etc) and if difficult, consider a long term plan to move to where you can create and be part of a walkable community (your car and home uses by far the most energy). Make plans to purchase a car which gets at least 40+ MPGs.