HOLIDAY ECO-TIPS
Americans produce
5 to 10 pounds of waste per person per day - the most of any people on
the planet - and 25% more during the holidays.
You can simplify your life,
reduce consumption and waste, by practicing these holiday eco-tips!
Send e-cards
instead of paper greeting cards and save time, trees, and postage!
Give money you would have spent
on gifts to a favorite charity.
Set a gift price limit and
draw names for gift giving.
Give gifts of your time and
talents; like homemade treats or certificates for babysitting, walking
the dog, and gardening.
Save time and energy by shopping online for the perfect gift.
Reuse ribbons, bows and gift-wrap
from previous holidays.
Wrap gifts in recycled gift
paper or make your own gift-wrap using shopping or paper bags. Instead
of ribbon and bows use raffia and natural treasures like pinecones, evergreen
boughs, ferns, or seashells.
Decorating your home and garden
modestly saves hassle and resources, and gives you more time to spend
with friends and family.
Use candle luminaries in glass
jars outdoors instead of electric lights. Be sure to keep burning candles
away from flammable materials and do not leave unattended.
Host a potluck meal for your
holiday get-together. Sharing a favorite dish is easier on the cook and
reduces the use of prepackaged foods.
Decorate a holiday
tree outdoors with natural treats for wildlife!
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Hang carrots
and slices of oranges and apples |
|
String and hang
popcorn and cranberries |
|
Make and hang
wildlife treats |
Wildlife Treats
Recipe
| 1/2-cup suet
or lard |
1/2-cup peanut
butter |
| 1-cup birdseed |
1/2-cup raisins
or dried cranberries |
| 2 to 3 cups cornmeal |
Pinecones (optional) |
Directions:
|
Melt suet and
peanut butter together. |
|
Stir in seed,
fruit, and enough cornmeal to soak up the melted fat. |
|
Let cool. |
|
Spread mix under
pinecone scales or onto a tray and cut out ornaments. |
|
Chill in refrigerator
until hard. |
|
Use raffia to
hang treats outdoors on your holiday wildlife tree! |
Go to http://birdsource.cornell.edu for information on the Christmas Bird Count conducted by the Audubon Society
since 1900.
Recycle real holiday trees and
garland into compost and mulch for your garden,
or use them to create a brush shelter for wildlife.
HALLOWEEN ECO-TIPS
Wash pumpkins seeds in water,
spread out to dry on a screen or paper-towels, then place outside for
animal treats!
If you would like a tasty treat
too, just sprinkle some seeds with a little oil and seasonings, like salt,
onion or chili powder, then bake at 300° until they are toasted! Be
sure to let them cool before you snack!
Fill old pumpkins with ears
of Indian corn, seeds, apples cores and skins - even the cleaned pumpkin
seeds - and place outside for all your wild friends to enjoy!
Put old jack-o-lanterns into
your compost bin.
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