Wooden Toys for Kids

This holiday season, parents will flock to stores to buy all types of gifts for their children. We’ve all seen the videos of parents fighting over the hottest new figurine or doll. This year, shirk the plastic type toys and instead invest in some wooden toys.

Wooden toys were the first type of toys kids knew. Dads would whittle a piece of wood to create toys in the shapes of animals, wooden dolls, puppets on strings, and toy cars. Kids would play for hours with these toys. Once the kids outgrew them, they could be passed on to younger kids.

Wooden toys have not lost their luster or durability but they have been passed over for the more colorful plastic types that talk and move. When kids are young, the one thing they have is their imagination. Wooden toys inspire the use of the imagination during play.

Wooden toys are also environmentally friendly. Many are used in their natural wooden state. Paints used on eco friendly toys are non-toxic and safe for kids.

When other toys are broken or the kids get tired of them, they are thrown away. Each year something new will replace the old favorite and they will no longer like it as much. In a landfill, those toys just sit and take up space.

Lots of toys that are thrown away still have their batteries inside. Toys that are filled with substances still contain them when they are disposed of. These chemicals can be released into the ground as the housings break down. This poses a potential hazard.

When wooden toys are broken, they can be fixed. If you know someone good with their hands, they can fix it for you. The point is that you don’t have to throw them away. Wooden toys can be passed down from generation to generation.

They maintain their shape and if scratched, the imperfection can be sanded out. Wooden toys hold together better than modern toys created on an assembly line. Small parts that break off of new toys can choke a young child.

If wooden toys are old and no longer usable, they can be disposed of. Because they are made of natural wood, they can be chopped up and used in compost. Colored wooden toys can’t be used for that, but maybe they can be refurbished and donated to local charitable organizations.

Introduce kids to wooden toys when they are young. Puzzles come in wooden and paper shapes instead of plastic. Most wooden toys have rounded edges so they are safer to play with and handle. Even if they gnaw on wood it won’t hurt them.

Choose wooden toys for the young’uns. They are environmentally friendly, safe for young children, durable, and repairable if they are d

Shop Responsibly this Holiday

For many, Christmas has become a commercial holiday. Instead of being a season of giving, we have bought into the media circus and it has become a season of greed and excess. This year tailor your shopping to be a bit more responsible in the items that you purchase.

Shopping responsibly doesn’t stop at spending frugally for what we need or want. It is also a matter of global implication. By that, we mean that we look at the people behind the products that we invest our monies into.

For example, let’s say that you wanted to buy a diamond ring for the wife this year. There are several jewelry stores in your area but which is the best one to use? One jewelry store may get their diamonds from a mine in South Africa that employs unsafe practices for workers or pays less than fair wages. By patronizing that store, you are condoning the practices by which they received their merchandise.

Who would have ever thought that buying and selling would come to such a level, but it has. People who do not value human rights are counting on us to let our wants overshadow any responsibility we have to our enslaved brothers or the environment. Eco friendly groups work to inform us about what is going on in the world and how we can make a positive difference.

The biggest way that can happen is through our shopping. We spend billions of dollars during the holiday season for gifts, decorations, and other things. Make the purchases mean something to someone besides just the recipient.

Shopping responsibly leads to helping the environment. Purchase recycled wrapping paper, low energy lighting for Christmas trees, organic cotton for creating clothing, and recycled ornaments and decorations. This supports the recycling industry. All paper that is recycled may not be suitable for paper bags in grocery stores, but it will make Christmas cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper.

Visiting fair trade merchants supports cooperatives and groups working in favor of oppressed and impoverished peoples in countries all over the world. These artisans use recycled goods and natural products like stone and coal to create ornaments, decorations, baskets, utensils, and more to be sold on the open market.

Fair trade merchandise can be purchased at a variety of stores including Wal-Mart, Target, Harris Teeter grocery stores, Whole Foods Market, and Costco. For a longer list of stores, go to www.transfairusa.org. Put in city and state or zip code to find merchants in your area who are fair trade certified.

Along those same lines, local merchants need your help and your patronage. Consider their wares when looking for unique gifts and decorations this year. Visit local farmers markets, flea markets, and trade shows to see who the local artisans are.

Save the planet and prevent waste but making informed choices this holiday season. In the process you will discover a world of new products you never knew existed.

Save Energy for the Holidays

What do I want this holiday season? A cheaper electric bill will do. During the holidays, we spend an enormous amount of energy decorating our homes, yards, and hosting family gatherings. Environmentally friendly groups want people to save some green this year by going green with their energy sources.

The number one thing that saps energy is the lights. We hang lights on our Christmas trees, in our living spaces, on the trees outside, and on our homes. The lights by themselves don’t give off much energy, but add several strings of lights and keep them on all evening, and you’ll have a problem.

Instead of purchasing the usual lights for decoration, think about using LED lights. LED stands for light emitting diode. These lights are controlled by computer chip technology. They do not emit any heat. This keeps the lights from being a fire hazard should they rest on a dried tree branch or a piece of paper.

LED lights also don’t use much energy. But, these are not the only lights that could be replaced. Think about the lights in your fixtures. Are they the regular tungsten filament light bulbs? These light bulbs use more energy and don’t last very long.

CFL bulbs are the talk of the town right now. They provide brighter light and use fewer kilowatts to do it. CFL stands for compact fluorescent light. You may have seen those coiled bulbs in the store. They are made to fit any light fixture. Replacing your regular bulbs with these ensures brighter lighting for the holiday parties.

Keeping the thermostat at a constant temperature saps less energy in the long run. Depending on what we are doing, we turn it up or down. This is a mistake because every change means more energy to meet the new temperature request.

If you live in a warm climate, try room darkening shades or using heavy curtains. This blocks the sun’s rays from getting trapped in your home and overheating the place. Also, installing ceiling fans helps to circulate the air in the room and save you money. Control the temperature by turning the fans on and off instead of tweaking the thermostat.

Also, using the oven can heat up a home considerably. Cooking during the evening when it is cooler avoids the uncomfortable sticky feeling that comes with cooking on a hot day. During the day, warm meals using the microwave. This keeps the temperature in the home from rising.

To see where you are losing heat from your home, have the power company come out and perform a free energy check. They will inspect the home and let you know how energy efficient it really is.

Looking to spend less this holiday season? Don’t forget to include energy bills in that equation. A few helpful energy-saving tips make all the difference.

Recycled Christmas Decorations

We all want our homes to look nice for Christmas. But, we envision that the only way that we can do this is to buy new stuff each year. New items are not the only ones that shine and make an impression on visitors. Learn how you can create recycled decorations from things lying around the house.

There are a lot of items that can be reused for creative decorations. Think of your Christmas cards. We get them and after the holiday is over we threw them away. Instead of throwing them away, use them to make new decorations for the house.

Christmas cards can be used to create a collage. For a wooden coffee table, have a piece of glass cut to match the dimensions of the table top. Underneath the glass, place a piece of thin cardboard the same size and cover it with the fronts of various Christmas cards. Cover with the glass.

Old ornaments can be given a new look with some non-toxic paint and some string. The color comes off of bulbs all the time. Instead of throwing them away, come up with other ideas to save them like covering with ribbons, colored buttons, or sea shells. Save some from the summer at the beach. Color them with holiday paint and create ornaments, candle holders, and wreath accessories.

Local artisans use soda cans, bottles, and cardboard boxes to make ornaments for Christmas. Around the holidays, several local artisans will showcase their crafts at venues around your area. You’d be amazed at the wonderful things they can come up with from items most people have thrown away.

Even used light bulbs can be turned into ornaments. Cover a light bulb with a brown sock or stretchy material. Fashion ears out of felt and use felt pieces for eyes, nose, and mouth and you’ve got a reindeer ornament. Tie a string around the top to secure the brown fabric and make a second loop to hand the ornament on the tree.

Besides recycling items around the house and creating ornaments, try using decorations that are friendly to the environment. Collecting these items can start at any time during the year. Like we said before, sea shells provide a wealth of ideas for decorations. Scratched CDs can be turned into Christmas tree ornaments.

Collect pine cones, nuts, sand, and broken tree branches. The tree branches can be weaved together to form a natural wreath. Pieces of discarded wood from household projects can be fashioned into nativity scene figures, crosses, wooden angels, and toys by someone who is skilled in wood working. Websites like www.ctstore.com use recycled Christmas trees to create wooden ornaments.

Before you throw out what appears to be useless ornaments and Christmas cards, think about how they can be reused for another year of celebration. Get the kids involved and turn the quest for recycled materials into a treasure hunt through the house.

Real or Fake Christmas tree

The centerpiece of the living room during the Christmas holiday is the Christmas tree. The tree is where we place our presents for others. The twinkling lights reflect the light in our heart for others during the season. Some people choose to decorate a real tree and others opt for fake trees. Which is best?

Opinions differ on the subject. But, real trees are environmentally sound. They are grown on tree farms and harvested around the holidays in time for Christmas. People keep the tree watered throughout the Christmas holiday so the tree stays green and lush.

Artificial trees are made of metal and plastic. Plastic as we know does not break down in the landfill. Little pieces may flake off and contaminate the water table.

Artificial trees have one thing going for them. They can be reused each Christmas. As long as they are in use, they are out of the landfill. It saves money in the long run. Many artificial trees come pre-lit so there is no need to buy strings of lights.

One mistake that real tree buyers make is forgetting to water their tree once they get home. The tree needs water even after it is cut down. The warm air in the house can dry it out.

Once it dries out, the pine needles begin to fall off. There is no wakeup call quite like stepping on a pile of sharp, brittle pine needles in your bare feet. A dried out Christmas tree is a fire hazard. Those warm lights or a spark of some kind can send it up in a blaze of glory.

Many families like buying a new live Christmas tree each year. Finding the perfect one is a tradition. It does require some work. There is the job of securing it to the top of the car. Some tree farms let you cut down your own tree. That requires a chainsaw and some know how.

At home, the tree has to be carried in the house and perched in the waiting stand. Underestimating the height of your ceiling or the size of the tree could mean removing the tree again and trimming it. On a positive note, after Christmas, the tree can be chopped up for mulch in the yard. But, the gas and elbow grease involved in getting and disposing of the tree is enough for some people to switch to a fake tree.

The choice is purely personal. Once you have made the choice, it is time for the decorations. Instead of using glass and plastic ornaments, opt for edible ornaments. Even if you don’t eat them, they can be thrown down the garbage disposal after Christmas.

For real trees that come unlit, use strings of LED lights. They use less energy and last a lot longer than the current light sets. Natural ornaments made out of pine cones and berries reflect a hint of Christmases past.

Natural Decorations for the Holidays

We all like to decorate for Christmas. It puts the entire family in the festive mood of the season. Each year, many families purchase new decorations to change the look of our Christmas tree. This year, why not choose to use some natural decorations for your home?

Natural doesn’t mean decorations that look like nuts and berries. It refers to using actual nuts and berries as decorations. Using nature to spruce up the place is safe for the environment. After the holiday is over, it is easy to dispose of these decorations. There is no need to pack up anything except for the tree, if it is artificial.

Start with the garland. We like to decorate banisters, mantles, and archways. Nurseries have natural garlands for sale and so do farmer’s markets. Do you have holly bushes or evergreen bushes in the yard? Use the remnants to create strings of garland to lay about the house. The little pieces can decorate candle displays and be used to create wreaths.

Berries from the yard add color to the Christmas tree. Using a needle and thread, string a few berries intermittently with some popcorn kernels. The kids can help you do this. To make the decorations last longer and keep the bugs away, add a little shellac to the string with a small brush to seal in the smells.

In art class years ago, they taught kids to make ornaments using dough and salt. This was the one time salt was preferred over sugar in a recipe. Regular cookie cutters made various Christmas shapes in the dough before they were baked. The ornaments would get rock hard and then they could be decorated with non-toxic paint. A hole was punched in the cookie ornament dough before baking so a ribbon could be passed through later.

Pine cones are another decorating favorite. A dollop of glue applied to the bottom of the pinecone made a place for the string to be attached for tree hanging. For eco friendly decorating, use strips of organic cotton fabric in holiday colors to hang the ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Decorating is not limited to the Christmas tree and the banisters. Many people keep their Christmas cards from years past and hang them on the walls. This is a great way to recycle old Christmas cards.

Those same cards can be used to make placemats for the holiday table. Affix the colored covers of the cards to a piece of cardboard and laminate the entire thing. Old paper towel rolls can be turned into napkin rings for the table.

What are some of your ideas for the holidays? Wherever possible, substitute manufactured decorating materials with natural decorations. You will save money and the environment.

Making Beeswax Candles

Candle making is a tradition from the Old Country. Hanging wicks and dipping them in wax until the candle is the correct consistency was something we did in art class. Get the family together during the holiday season and teach the kids how to make beeswax candles.

Beeswax candles can be made with beeswax sheets. True beeswax candle makers don’t use these sheets but for homemade candles, beeswax sheets are easy and safe for children to use. The wax is pressed into sheets for use in making different shapes of candles.

Beeswax is a clean burning candle wax. It cleans the air and removes odors as it burns. Beeswax also melts away until almost gone. Any that is left can be molded with more beeswax to create new candles to burn.

Before making beeswax candles, prepare by getting all of your supplies together and setting up an area to work. To make these candles you will need: beeswax sheets, scissors or a knife, candle wicks, a cutting board or other hard surface for cutting. When purchasing the supplies, check to see that the wicks do not contain any lead or other chemicals.

Beeswax usually comes in a light color which is the color of the wax. Adding color introduces chemicals into the wax that can be burned off in the flame. You can get beeswax candles in different colors but they may not burn as clean.

First, watch the children when sharp objects are around. Do any cutting that needs to be done and keep the knife pointed away from the body. Work on the kitchen table so the kids can lean as they work.

1. Lay out a sheet of beeswax. If using colored wax in combinations cut the sheet and add other colored pieces. Lay them close together so they overlap.
2. Take the wick and place it near the beginning of the wax sheet. Let an inch or so of the wick hang out of the bottom of the candle and two inches out of the top of the beeswax sheet.
3. Press the wick gently into the beeswax sheet. The wick needs to be secured so that it will not be displaced during rolling. After the wick is firmly in place, it is time to create the candle.
4. Slowly, roll the beeswax sheet over itself. Keep the rolls tight so no gaps are present in the wax. Continue rolling until the entire sheet is finished or the candle is as wide as you would like it. Larger candles like pillars have one or three wicks depending on width.
5. Cut the wick at the bottom even with the bottom of the candle. Trim the wick at the top of the candle until it is about half an inch long.

Create beautiful candles in various sizes and shapes. Kids can use their creations as homemade gifts or to decorate the house for the Christmas holiday.

Greener Cleaning for Holidays

As the holidays approach, we want to make sure that our homes are prepared for visitors and family. It brings to mind the spring cleaning frenzy we participate in once winter is over. Now, we are cleaning out the house to make way for holiday decorations, smells, and warm feelings. Here are a few ideas to use when deciding how you will clean your home this year.

Chemicals used to clean our homes are harming our health and many don’t even know it. The cleaning agents rub out soap scum and degrease grime on the stove but they also give off fumes that hamper our breathing and fill our home with unhealthy things. This year, get back to basics with some natural cleaning alternatives that still do the job.

We underestimate the power of the simple things. If it doesn’t have ten different unpronounceable chemicals on the label, we think it may not be effective. Natural chemicals and stain fighters take a bit more elbow grease but they do work.

Try baking soda for instance. Baking soda can be used as an abrasive to clean the tub and shower. When combined with water, it begins to eat away at the dirt. Use a scrub brush to remove the softened dirt and wash it away.

What about vinegar? Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner that most people don’t think about using. Vinegar can be used to clean windows, mirrors, other glass surfaces and to unclog the drain.

For windows, clean them with a bucket of hot water. This softens anything on the surface so the vinegar can do its work. Clean the window with some pure white vinegar. Afterwards, wipe dry with some newspaper.

Vinegar in combination with baking soda will unclog the drain. The bubbling action removes hair and other scum from the drain. Pour the baking soda inside the drain using a funnel or other instrument. Slowly pour the vinegar down the drain.

You will hear and smell as the two come in contact with each other. Wait about fifteen minutes and then flush with hot water. Repeat as often as needed to get rid of the clog.

Lemon is a good bleach alternative. Rub half a lemon on discolored grout between ceramic tiles to return it to its natural color. It also works on shower tiles and shower doors. Lemon is added to most household cleaners so why not cut out the chemicals and use pure lemon? Natural cleaning brushes can be purchased to use in conjunction with natural cleaners.

The chemical load of your home will be greatly reduced and the air will be cleaner. Speaking of cleaner air, give up those spray air fresheners in favor of beeswax candles. They provide a pleasant natural scent as they burn. Beeswax candles also trap odors in the air and neutralize them.

Don’t worry stocking up on chemical cleaners to get the house ready for visitors. Use all natural agents instead, most of which are already around the house.

Gift Wrapping Alternatives

Who doesn’t want to have a few presents to open on Christmas morning? Once the gift is open we are left sitting in a pile of paper and plastic tidbits. These items litter the landfills for hundreds of years because they are not biodegradable. Here are some ideas for alternative gift wrapping this year.

There are men and women sitting eagerly at the counter waiting to get a hold of our gifts. They are the department store gift wrappers. They swaddle our purchases in brightly colored paper, metallic ribbon, and handsome bows. Obviously they have some artistic talent because our home wrapped gifts never look that good.

The problem with all of this is that the person opening the gift is going to trash their careful handiwork into a million tiny paper pieces. There are a few exceptions. Some people carefully unwrap their gifts, folding the paper as they go. These are the ones who reuse the paper each year for other presents. We applaud you.

For the rest of us, the garbage can gets full rather quickly with discarded wrapping paper. Much of this doesn’t get recycled or isn’t recycled. Decide to end the senseless landfill waste by using other materials for gift wrapping this year.

Try recycled wrapping paper. This paper may not look as pretty as other wrappings but the purpose of gift wrap is to conceal a present inside. It is not the paper that is most important but the treasure within.

How about cloth wrappings? Stores sell fabric in Christmas colors each year. Purchase a few yards in different colors and create reusable gift wrapping.

If you are good with a sewing machine it will take no time at all to turn that cloth into a fabric wine bottle cover, a wrapping for flat boxes, a cloth wrapping for a square box, or a cloth bag for multiple gifts. The wrappings can be sewn with a drawstring to cinch the bag closed.

These decorative cloth wrappings can be used by the recipient to give a gift the next year at Christmas. The point is that the garbage won’t be filled with wrapping paper again this year.

Gift baskets are a fun alternative to traditional wrapping. Baskets come in many sizes and are made from natural materials. Fill them with items the person will love including homemade presents.

The gift basket can be used throughout the year after the gifts are gone. Use it to hold towels, bath toiletries, fruit and vegetables, or whatever else you choose. The basket can continue to be used or passed on the next Christmas.

How will you present your gifts this year? Go for the environmentally friendly approach and you will not only be giving a gift to someone you love but will be helping to protect the earth as well.

Fair trade Christmas Ideas

When shopping for Christmas gifts and other items around the holidays, we try to use all of our options. But, what we are looking for is quality and that can’t be compromised. One idea many people haven’t tried is fair trade items. Buying these items will help another person somewhere around the world.

The idea of fair trade is a fairly new one. It is less than twenty years old in its practice. The purpose is to help craftsman and artisans around the world, especially in underdeveloped countries to have their work recognized. By recognizing their work, they are helped to live a better life.

To ensure that profits are realized in the village or co-op where the products were made those who deal in fair trade merchandise buy directly from the product originators. There is no middleman waiting to get their share of the profits.

Those who deal with fair trade items also ensure that no other illegal activities are going on. If workers are abused or forced to make their goods under substandard conditions, the merchandise is not used. Also, proper eco friendly practices must be used in the creation of the items for sale. For farms, no use of harmful chemicals can play a part in crop production.

Products from several countries are featured in stores on and off line for sale. These items are sold at a fair price to you and a fair price to the people making them so that no one is cheated. Their beautiful handiwork is seen all over the world and is of the greatest quality. These artisans are true to their craft and practice to get the best products possible.

Many use recycled products to make their products. Some have developed cottage industries out of collecting recycled materials and creating something useful with them.

These individuals and cooperatives have created many items that we can use to decorate for the holidays where we live. They craft ornaments, figurines, unique gift items, and other products. Acquiring these items is easier than you think. They are as close as the Internet on your computer or the store down the street.

One store that carries fair trade products is Ten Thousand Villages. You can go to their website and join their mailing list. In their stores they feature products made from recycled materials and fair trade items from around the world. They can be found at www.tenthousandvillages.com.

Other stores on the Internet are also fair trade dealers. They showcase items for Christmas such as ornaments, baskets, nativity scenes, garland, and clothing. Here are a few websites to check out for your holiday needs:

* www.oneworldprojects.com
* http://shop.rupalee.com
* www.transfairusa.org

The last on the list is a site where you can go to find fair trade shops in your area and online.

Looking for something else this year? Maybe you just want to help someone out in the global community. Look for fair trade merchandise.

Edible Tree Ornaments

Christmas belongs to everyone especially the children. Most of the memories that we treasure for a lifetime are created during childhood. Help your kids to make memorable moments with edible ornaments.

Edible ornaments are fun to make and even better to eat. One advantage of these ornaments is that there is less to pack away in containers once the holidays are over. These ornaments are biodegradable if the kids don’t get to them.

Start with the garland. Usually we string tinsel and other items that can be harmful to pets and children if they are eaten. In the early days of Christmas among the settlers, foods like popcorn and nuts were used for garland. Little treats could be placed on the tree that the kids could eat later.

Go back to the old ways and have the kids string a few strands of popcorn garland. Use their favorite popcorn flavors. You run the risk of more popcorn being eaten than strung but it is a chance you will have to take. Actually, stale popcorn is easier to string than freshly popped. Leave a bag or two of microwave popcorn sitting for a day or two and then begin decorating.

Pretzels can be strung as well. You won’t need a needle for this stringing procedure. Pretzels can be placed at intervals between the pieces of popcorn.

A popular tree ornament is candy canes. The red and white striped treats are a staple of Christmas. Now, they come in a variety of colors and flavors besides peppermint. Choose colors that complement your décor and color scheme for the Christmas tree.

They come individually wrapped so the candy can be shared with everyone after Christmas is over. In fact, if you have a Christmas party, let each child take a souvenir from your tree home to their tree.

Nuts can be glued together in the shape of a ball and hung like a Christmas bulb. Leave enough space to slip a piece of string or ribbon through the top and tie it to the tree branch. Since the shell is discarded anyway, a dab of Elmer’s glue won’t prevent eating them later.

Carefully choose which decorative edibles the kids can eat from the Christmas tree. For a fake tree, the branches are made of plastic and each ornament is safe for eating. With live trees, determine if the tree has been sprayed with anything to prevent bug infestation. Any small bugs or remnants of sprays can render the food inedible after coming in contact with it. In that case, use some sort of ornament hanger to keep the edible ornaments away from the tree branches and needles.

Edible ornaments are fun to make. Shellac the ones the kids want to keep so they are preserved for more Christmas memories.

Eco Friendly Christmas Gifts

The world is going green. That’s not a bad thing. When we respect the environment it respects us. Besides, the fewer chemicals floating around in the air, the better our bodies feel as well. For Christmas this year, consider giving some of the folks on your list a less tangible but more sentimental gift.

You know the people in your circle better than anyone. For those who would appreciate an environmentally correct gift there are a few ideas to choose from. The first is making charitable donations in their names.

Everyone is not as appreciative of donation gift giving so be sure that the recipients are the sentimental type. People, who like to donate to charities and campaign for causes, are more likely to find this a worthy type of Christmas gift. If you know their favorite charity, contribute in their name. Adopt a whale, adopt a dog or cat, or donate money in their name to the local homeless shelter. These organizations can send you a confirmation that can be placed in a Christmas envelope and presented to the people on your list.

Who says that a Christmas gift has to fit into a package? Instead of bringing the gift to them, bring them to the gift. This Christmas, think of gifts that won’t leave any waste behind.

Instead of buying a CD for a friend who likes music, treat them to a concert. Wrap up two tickets to an upcoming concert or a night of jazz on the town. Live music sounds better than recorded anyway. This is an excuse to dress up in our best evening wear.

Tickets for other shows are appropriately eco friendly as well. Take the kids to the zoo, the aquarium, or a science show as a part of their Christmas present. Younger kids seem to appreciate this type of activity more.

For a person who wants to go “green” help them out with a useful Christmas gift. Call it a “go green” starter pack. The present can be as simple as a composing bin for someone who likes to work outside. Use a gift basket to display the gifts. A fruit or nut basket leaves only the basket behind when the gift is gone.

People scoff at those monthly clubs that send foods and other items but the sentiment is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. For a gift recipient who is into jams, fruits, and the like, the timely arrival of a package each month is great. Check with sites like www.ecoexpress.com for organic monthly clubs of this type for your friends.

For Christmas, it is not so much about what we take but what we give. With eco friendly gifts, we are giving back to the environment and taking only what we need.

E-cards versus Paper Cards

We send sentiment to people in our lives that we care about. And Christmas is definitely a time were we want to connect and express our feelings to family and friends. It is important to let others know that we are thinking of them during the holidays. But should we send a paper card or an electronic one? Here are some pros and cons for each.


Paper cards

Paper greeting cards have been around for at least a hundred years. It is cheaper than a telephone call and people can choose to keep our sentiments if they wish. Christmas cards say what we would like to but can’t seem to put into words. The fun begins when we shop for the cards and choose just the right one for someone we care about.

In that regard, Christmas cards meet a need. Many companies are striving to be more environmentally friendly by using recycled paper for their cards. The argument against recycled paper is that it is not as strong as virgin wood pulp. That may be a consideration for paper grocery bags but for cards, the strength is in the wording not what they are printed on. Purchasing greeting cards on recycled paper supports the recycling industry as a viable alternative to plastic and other materials.

On the other hand, after the holidays, paper cards end up in the trash along with wrapping paper and other items. Some people recycle but most throw everything away in the regular trash to get rid of it. This paper goes to the landfill and stays their indefinitely.

Yes, paper is made from trees and trees are organic and therefore biodegradable. Unfortunately, in a landfill, the conditions are not appropriate for that kind of biodegradation to occur. Paper hands around as long as plastic in a landfill.

E-cards

The electronic card is the greatest innovation. It helps out those of us who forget to send out paper greeting cards in a timely fashion. An electronic card can be sent on December 23rd and arrive on the twenty-fourth. They make noise, show interactive scenes and can be personalized to say whatever we want.

Online, people get to choose from free card offerings or pay for more detailed cards for Christmas or the service to be able to send cards at any time and for any occasion. E-cards can be saved on the computer and viewed as many times as you want.

Electronic card programs eliminate the need to go to the store for cards. Some people use those. These cards can be created and sent to others. People do print them out and that contributes to the trash situation in the landfill.

Which is better, e-cards or paper? That is up to you. Be responsible with your choices and instead of throwing out those paper cards, find creative ways to reuse them.

Buy Beeswax Candles

One of the mainstays of aromatherapy is candles. Candles put us in a good mood. The flicker of the flame mesmerizes and relaxes our mind. But, most candles are made of paraffin wax. There is another alternative—beeswax candles.

Beeswax candles are made by, you guessed it, bees. Bees work to make the honey for the wax. It is all natural. Beeswax candles have many advantages over paraffin candles.

Paraffin is the wax that comprises most of the candles on the market. It is made from vegetable, animal, and petroleum wastes. You’d never know it to look at the candles, but this is what is in them. Most people don’t read the labels on candles anyway.

When you burn these substances, toxic substances have the potential to be given off in the flame. Have you ever seen black smoke coming from a candle flame? It occurs when the candle is getting close to being burned out because there is no more wax to burn. These are the chemicals being released into the air.

Decorative candles of this type do not burn clean. When the wax re-hardens you will see the black residue in the wax. The wax creates a pitting phenomenon in the center of the candle and the wax also drips down the side and ruins the look of the candle.

A little known fact is that the wicks in the center of the candles contain lead. The metal button that holds the wick can also be dangerous. When burning the wick, the lead can be released into the air as well. As we burn candles, we are polluting the air around us. People with respiratory problems shouldn’t burn paraffin candles.

On the other hand, beeswax candles are available. Many people pass them over as a fad. They cost more so why buy them when there are cheaper better smelling candles on the market?

Beeswax candles are environmentally safe. They burn clean. That means no pollutants are released into the air. The air is actually cleaner because what is given off by the beeswax works to eliminate odors and other pollutants from the air.

For people who like the way that their candles look, beeswax candles do not do any pitting when the wax is burned. In fact, the wax burns out towards the end of the candle. It doesn’t drip over. It continues to burn until there is nothing left.

Beeswax candles are not scented artificially. They do give off a smell of sweet honey. The color of the candle is the natural color of the wax.

Beeswax candles burn longer than paraffin wax candles. For your twenty bucks you will get over 100 hours of candle burning pleasure. So, use candles for aromatherapy and setting the mood, but clean the air and freshen your home in the process with beeswax candles.

Eco Friendly Air Fresheners

No matter how we try to prevent it, our homes are full of smells. Some of them are good and some of them are not so pleasant. Using aerosol sprays only mask the smells and can give off something worse. Try these five ideas to create air fresheners that help your home and the environment at the same time.

1. Use potpourri. It is everywhere and people only bring it out during the holidays. But, the scent will get used up and the potpourri will look nice but do nothing to help the air. You can replace it at this point or use some natural scents to freshen it. Dried herbs and spices can be of help. Use some fresh cinnamon or nutmeg to add a new smell to the potpourri. Using a few sprigs of fresh mint or sprinkling dried mint on the potpourri not only adds fragrance but mint is a natural ant repellent.

2. Essential oils can be used to scent the home. These natural oils come from plants and are non-toxic. Combine it with at least four parts of water in a spray bottle to spritz potpourri, silk flowers, and other natural arrangements in our home like holly leaf garland and pinecones. Avoid furniture because the oil can leave a film. If you notice that happening, add more water to your spray bottle.

3. Fruits make a great smelling wreath for the home. Cut an orange, apple, and lemon into thin circles. Allow the fruit to dry on a cookie sheet. Overlay the fruit to create a wreath design. It can be attached to a wooden framework or some wire. To preserve the fruit, cover with a bit of shellac or floor wax. They last for several weeks and can be hung on any door to freshen the room. Some people even use whole fruits and pierce the top to let the smell come through.

4. Beeswax candles are a natural air freshener. The candles give off a honey flavored scent that burns clean with no mess. Beeswax candles can be purchased in a variety of shapes and sizes. Avoid any color but the natural one if you want to remain eco friendly with the air freshener.

5. Combine several different scents to create a dried bowl arrangement. These arrangements can be put in wooden shallow bowls or clear glass bowls so they are visible to everyone. For decoration, use some natural wooden filler that are sold at most craft stores. Add in some fresh dried herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme. For a more seasonal smell, try some cinnamon sticks, fresh nutmeg, and some ground clove. Sit some beeswax pillar candles flat in the bowl as the centerpiece.

Are you looking for ways to freshen the air in your house? Use the above ideas to get started. When all else fails, bake a pie.

World Environment Day

June 5 is World Environment Day. It’s a good time to make an environmental pledge, start a green cause, or offer support to environmental groups.

I’m doing 3 things this year:

1.  Get a more accommodating compost bin for our kitchen waste.  We currently have two small pots with heaps of rotting fruit and vegetable peels.

2.  Buy more produce from local farmers to help reduce carbon emission.

3.  Plant a tree via Twitter.  You can do this too by following UNEPandYou on Twitter.  UNEP will plant one tree for every twitterer who follows their twits between now and June 5th, World Environment Day.

To gain a deeper understanding of our production and consumption patterns, watch Annie Leonard’s The Story of Stuff.

One Question

What have you done to help Mother Earth lately? 

Now that we are more aware about the problems of our planet, let's make sure we celebrate Earth Day right.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint. Calculate your emissions.

Plant a tree. Support the United Nations Environment Programme, Billion Tree Campaign. Identify which trees are indigenous to your area and help sustain the ecosystem.

Join the Green Generation.  Be conscious of your role to save our planet by bringing the concern to the workplace or better yet to your school!  The Earthday Network has some wonderful suggestions on how to take that big step against climate change.  

Everyday should be Earth Day.  One small act of kindness for Earth can ensure the future of our children.

Happy Earth Day everyone!