Sustainable Saturday - Preparing for a Green Christmas

As Christmas is fast approaching and only two weeks away, many of us are thinking about decorating our homes or purchasing gifts for loved ones.

Here are a few ideas to lessen your impact on the environment this holiday season:

Consider a Living Tree - Our local stores have trees which you can purchase, have in your home for the holidays and then plant in your yard at the end of the season.  While we have yet to go this route at our house, the idea is definitely one we want to use in the future.

Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree - There is actually a National Christmas Tree Association which explains the benefits of real trees.  Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable and can be reused or recycled.  To learn about the many ways the Real Christmas Trees are being recycled and reused in communities nationwide, you can follow the links here.   

LED Holiday Lights - Over the last few years, LED lights have come down in price and there have even been incentives offered by popular retailers like Home Depot for you to "turn in" your old lights in exchange for a discount on new LED lights.  They conserve energy, last longer and are cool to the touch! 

Recycle gifts - At my office we do a White Elephant gift exchange.  Interesting things happen when you re-gift something, but every year I am amazed at how one person's junk is another person's treasure! 

Make gifts from scratch - One of our favorite holiday gifts to give, is homemade items.  This year we have made a Children's Tie Fleece Blanket for my niece (my children's cousin), Fleece Hats and Scarves for my children and niece, sugar cookies for teachers, friends and family and I have grand plans to make both of my children holiday aprons to give to them as Christmas gifts (we love to bake at our house)! 

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.
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