Nov 29, 2007
Wilton Bulletin Editorial: Make this holiday a green celebration
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The holiday season is fast approaching and most often we think of the colors of the season as being red or green. In this day of being environmentally conscious, “green” should be the predominant color.
Fairfield University has proposed the “Top 10 Tips for a Green Holiday Season.” More may be found at its newly launched “From Red to Green” Web site, fairfield.edu/greenmovement.html.
First on the tips list is the recommendation to either cut out or reduce the number of outdoor lights. The recommendation is to go with flower boxes outside and using candles (burned safely) to set the mood inside.
The second tip, which is interesting, is to wrap gifts in yesterday’s news; for instance, use the sports section for a sports fan.
Making an Earth-conscious gift basket filled with canvas grocery bags, reusable water bottles, and recycled stationery is on the list, as is purchasing a live tree instead of a cut tree.
An idea that some may like is dispensing with material gifts and going green with a pro-environment organization by “adopting” an acre of the rain forest, for example.
Turning trash into treasure by making one-of-a-kind gifts from found objects around the house or yard makes the list, as does redefining “gift.” What does the latter mean? The Fairfield list suggests the “gift” could be spending more time on a project with a child or shopping at Goodwill.
Saving holiday cards and reusing them the following year as tags on holiday gifts is yet another idea. Another paper-saver is writing down a treasured family recipe for other family members, or e-mailing the recipe to save paper.
Buying and using only recycled, biodegradable, green paper goods for all holiday entertaining is the last on the top 10 list.
While these are all worthwhile ideas to consider, let’s face it, for some of us, all of them are not realistic or even appealing. But if everyone practiced just one or two tips, this would go a long way in protecting the environment, a green gift all of us would appreciate.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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