The holidays are just around the corner, and with them traditionally come the least green months of the year. During the holidays, Americans create an average of 25 percent more trash than usual, which amounts to 1 million additional tons each week between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Wrapping paper and shopping bags alone account for about 4 million tons of trash annually in the US. So in the spirit of Crunchy Challenges past, I have been perusing the web for ideas on how to make our holidays a bit greener. Luckily, most of the suggestions I have found cost very little money - usually much less than the traditional alternatives, which is especially good news this holiday season. I have compiled my favorites here:
read/hide the rest...
1. Make your gifts when possible - homemade gifts are usually appreciated more than store-bought gifts, and it saves you mucho dinero. Some ideas:
a. Crafts: This, of course, requires that you have some skillz, but there are some projects that most anyone can do. How about knitting or crocheting simple square dishcloths, bath loofahs, or scarves for loved ones? If you aren't a knitter but want to start, check out the videos at knittinghelp.com and consider joining ravelry.com for more ideas. Or how about sewing some aromatherapy foot warmers? Sew a square pillowcase of scrap fabric together and fill it with buckwheat or rice or cherry pits and some nice smelling herbs. The lucky giftee can heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds for a nice foot warmer or heating pad all winter long. Or you can make your own soap, candles, scented bath salts, lotions, lip balm, etc. Huge list of ideas here.
b. Arts: paint some contemporary art (seriously - no talent required) on a gallery canvas and frame it. Or if you like to write, compose a personalized poem or haiku about how your friend loves to trout fish - it will mean a lot more than one of those silly singing fish!
c. Food! Everybody loves gifts in a jar. Here's a link with lots of recipes (just google "gifts in a jar" for more). If you like to can, give your own jams and jellies. Ready made baked goods like mini quick breads, fudge, and cookies are also popular. If you like to brew, you could bottle your own beer, wine or cider. If the gift is for a cooking enthusiast, you could paint an empty wine bottle with non-toxic paint and then fill it with an herb infused olive oil, complete with an oil pour spout on top.
d. Give "gift certificates" like these for your own personal services like a massages or babysitting.
2. If you do want to buy gifts, try to find them first at your local consignment store. It's cheaper and prevents you from buying something brand new with all the packaging when you could be keeping something identical to it out of the waste stream. Consider giving gifts with minimal packaging, like experiences - tickets to a concert, gift certificates to a restaurant, a day at the spa, etc. If you do buy brand new gifts, try to buy eco-friendly items. You could also donate a tree on someone's behalf, have organic meals delivered for someone too busy to cook, or give eco-friendly cleaning services.
3. Declutter. Re-gifting is cool, granted that you are sure the new recipient will appreciate the gift and can really put it to good use.
4. Send e-newsletters instead of traditional paper greeting cards and letters.
5. Use recycled, reusable, or biodegradable wrapping paper/bags.
For you readers who plan to give us (particularly Masha) gifts this year (and let me emphasize that being a reader of this blog obviously IN NO WAY necessitates that you give us a gift!), we are currently trying to downsize, so we ask that you keep this in mind. I think the best possible holiday gift will be just hearing from and spending time with family and friends. And, perhaps, 18-24 month girls clothing from your closet or local secondhand store. :)
I'll leave you with a few more catchy reasons to have a Happy and Crunchy Holiday season!
The holidays are just around the corner, and with them traditionally come the least green months of the year. During the holidays, Americans create an average of 25 percent more trash than usual, which amounts to 1 million additional tons each week between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Wrapping paper and shopping bags alone account for about 4 million tons of trash annually in the US. So in the spirit of Crunchy Challenges past, I have been perusing the web for ideas on how to make our holidays a bit greener. Luckily, most of the suggestions I have found cost very little money - usually much less than the traditional alternatives, which is especially good news this holiday season. I have compiled my favorites here: 
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