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Have a "Green" Christmas

December 5, 2009 by Elterine

“Green ” Christmas ideas from the Green Team and the Urban Ecology Center

It’s holiday decorating time and we’ve got a couple of “green” decorating tips for you. Your home can be festive and eco-friendly this year!

If you get a live tree make sure no harmful pesticides or fertilizers were used when growing it so you can mulch it or compost it for your garden after the holidays. Or, if you prefer artificial trees, look for one at a “pre-loved” store like Goodwill.

Send a holiday e-card. About 2.5 billion holiday cards are sold each year. You can save money and the planet by sending yours electronically!

Decorate and reuse brown paper bags for eco-friendly wrapping paper with a personal touch. Or, buy recycled wrapping paper.

Use LED or solar powered lights to decorate your house and save energy.

Wrap presents in re-usable items, such as a scarf, dish towel, or canvas bags for grocery shopping!

There are lots more things you can do to make this holiday season more earth-friendly! Just think about how people used to decorate before there was so much mass produced holiday stuff. Use cut evergreen branches and fruits and nuts for fragrant decorations. Consider baking edible gingerbread holiday ornaments and reusing decorations you already have instead of buying new ones.