How to Have a Green Holiday Season

How to Have A Green Holiday Season

by Manna Jo Greene

Sustainability

4 E’s: Balancing of Environmental Protection with Economic Prosperity and Social Equity, achieved by Effective Communication.

The Natural Step: What we take, make, break, fake  Minimize consumption of fossil fuels/heavy metals and minerals from below the Earth’s crust (lithosphere).  Minimize the use of any of the 85,000 man-made chemicals, added to the biosphere – seen as foreign to living cells that have evolved in their absence  Maintaining intact ecosystems and species diversity  Fair and efficient use of resources

Voluntary Simplicity: My sons and I have agreed to only celebrate by being together, sharing a meal and quality time together. If Christmas to think of the meaning of Christ’s life and honor this by choosing a celebration befitting his teachings and values. After the initial withdrawal, their reaction was that they are relieved and grateful.

Green Holiday:

Keep in mind the 4Es and the 4 principles of the Natural Step in all your holiday actions

If you do make purchases, plan your shopping to decrease transportation impacts.

Buy local, shop in locally owned business to support regional economy and keep dollars circulating in this community. (Natural Step #1, uses less fuel)

Shop at the Hudson Valley Materials Exchange for a variety of materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, useful as gifts, and for making and wrapping gifts for holidays, or year round.

Buy organically grown food and clothing, (#2, #3)

Give of yourself: Make, bake, take (theatre/sports), keepsakes and mathoms (special items you are finished enjoying but save for regifting). Give gift certificates for housekeeping, lawn mowing, gardening, childcare. Fill a photo album with old photos as a wonderful keepsake.

Donations: To Clearwater other environmental groups, Unitarian Fellowship projects, etc.

Reduced packaging and gift wrap.

Recycled holiday cards; reuse those you get as postcards the following year.

Reusable place settings for holiday entertaining

Grinding of the Greens (check with your local municipality). Use popcorn and cranberries for garlands, avoid using tinsel and artificial snow. After the holidays, set the tree at edge of yard to provide sanctuary for wildlife until spring.