Surviving Christmas: Keeping it Green

Trying to be 'green' lately, but not sure how to translate your efforts over to the Christmas Season? A few tips for starting new, green traditions.

1)  Bring Your Bags.  We are getting used to bringing our reusable bags to the grocery store, but it is just as important at the mall.  When buying gifts, people will often walk out with 15 tiny bags, when all those things would have fit into one reusable bag. 
2)  Consider a new Tree Tradition.  If you have a young child at home, consider buying a smaller (four foot or so) potted tree.  Decorate as usual, but at the end of the season, stick it outside, ready to grow a bit for next year.  You can buy or rent live or potted trees at many local garden centres.
3) Give Green:  Consider buying eco-friendly gifts.  With growing consumer interest in green products, it is easier to find green gifts for every member of the family. 
4) Buy Local:  From gifts, to wrapping, to food, try to buy as much as you can from locally-owned, or locally grown merchants.  This cuts greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, and supports local economy and jobs.
5) Re-gift.  If you get something, that you are honestly never going to use, give it to someone who will.  There is no shame in giving someone something you think they will use. 
6) Re-wrap.  Consider buying or making some fabric gift bags, that can be used over and over again.  If you receive gifts in paper gift bags, save them for next year.  I will be wrapping my gift this year in the few brown paper bags I have collected from trips to the grocery store when I forgot my re-usable bags. 
7) Decorate with Nature. Natural ornaments like holly, evergreen, cranberries, popcorn and fruit are all compostable, and smell great in your house!  It's fun to take a trip outside or to the farm to buy these things, and then create beautiful wreaths, garlands and centerpieces.
8) Give Giving.  Many charities are offering gift cards, or "Buy an Acre" or "Adopt a Wildlife" Certificates.  World Vision has a program for sponsoring families or entire communities with the resources to start their own businesses.  Locally, Madrona Farms, Save Mary Lake, David Suzuki Foundation, and assorted others are offering Gift Ideas this season.  Canada Gives lets you buy a charitable gift card, that the recipient decides who to donate it to. 
9) Don't pass on recycling:  During the holiday season, it seems a lot easier to trash things, than rinse/fold/break down and recycle them.  At this highly consumer-driven time of year, it is especially important to keep as much waste from the landfill as we can.

Hope you have a very special holiday season!