Menu

decorations

Hound puppy with a pine cone

Think Green This Holiday Season

, , , ,

Hound puppy with a pine coneThe holiday season is upon us, with many different customs, traditions, family gatherings, and decorations on the horizon!  It’s good to be conscientious with your holiday habits because it’s both good for the environment and good for your wallet.

One of the easiest and most sustainable Christmas decorations you can us are the ones you already have!  Be brave, look in those boxes in the attic, in the garage, or under the bed.  Some of them may be old but be right in style with a vintage theme.

Consider holding a neighborhood or family decoration swap party – bring what you no longer want and leave with a previously-loved 8’ tall light up Santa!

There are also plenty of places to purchase decorations in the community.  Besides the brick-and-mortar stores, there are online groups with endless of practical or crazy items for sale or for free, such as Facebook Marketplace, BuyNothingProject.org, and Freecycle that are based where you live.

For special and sustainable holiday entertaining for anyone, you can get out Grandma’s china and your Great Aunt’s glassware to use instead of throw-away plates and cups.  Your family will appreciate the sentiment, and you might convince your guests to do the same for special gatherings or everyday meals that are anything but ordinary.

Girl assembles cardboard tubes to create a countdown craft.Here’s a short video with a variety of ways to create a cozy winter table from nature.  Using things you have on hand or can find in nature, such as pinecones, candles, and sprigs of greenery, your table will be beautiful and sustainable.

Children find it especially difficult to wait until the celebration day.  Use cardboard tubes stacked and stapled together, then cover with some tissue paper and numbers to represent the number of days to count down.  Fill each tube with a small candy or trinket to make a game out of the waiting.

With a little creativity and scavenging, you can find sustainable and affordable ways to make this time of year special!

Word Boo and Bats

Keep Virginia Boo-tiful

, , , , , , , , , ,

Word Boo and BatsDon’t be afraid to try having a green Halloween this year!  There are many swaps you can make to end the cycle of buying more plastic and discarding it later.  Most are easy and inexpensive.  Here are just a few:

Instead of heading to the big box costume store this year, be an original:

–  Go to your local thrift store for all the basic items you need at a good price
–  Even go the back of your own closet (which could be scary!) for costume ideas for you or the kids
–  Swap with family and friends’ costumes from previous years
–  Old socks make great octopus or monster appendages
–  Don’t forget to check out your recycling bin for cardboard, boxes, cans, and cartons to transform into robots, tombs, and other props
–  Make a fun Trick-or-Treat bag out of a reusable shopping bag, sand pail, or most anything with a handleBoy in Box

Save time and money by passing by all the plastic decorations in stores.   Autumn is the best time to wonder outside for ideas and inventory for fall décor:

–  Press colorful leaves in between wax paper for long-lasting “pictures” to tape to your windows
–  Use old clothes to make a scarecrow
–  Collect acorns, pods from sweet gum trees, bright-red magnolia seeds, and display in upcycled jars on your porch (avoid taking indoors because hidden bugs might enjoy the warmth of your house)

Of course, you’ll want to visit your local farmers market or nursery for pumpkins and gourds to transform into Jack-o-lanterns or display indoors:

 –  If you purchase baking pumpkins and draw a face or us stickers, they’ll last longer on display and make a tasty pie later
 –   If you choose to carve your pumpkin, look for recipes to roast the seeds for snacking, or save the seeds to grow more next year
–  Pumpkins can be added to your compost pile, just cut them up into smaller pieces to quicken decomposition

So get crafty, show your ingenuity, save some money, and Keep Virginia Boo-tiful this Halloween!