Healthier Holidays, on a Budget

Healthier Holidays - On a Budget

Healthier Holidays -- On a Budget
By Patricia Dines
From The Next STEP newsletter
November/December 2008 (VIII/6)
(c) Article copyright Patricia Dines, 2008. All rights reserved.

You can create healthier, less-toxic holidays &emdash; and save money too! Here are some ideas to get you started:

* Decorate with nature. Bringing nature inside helps you create a holiday mood while reducing toxic manufacturing and waste. How does your backyard inspire your creativity? Turn branches, leaves, pine cones, and seasonal foods into attractive centerpieces, wreaths, and mantelpiece décor. You can even explore nature's art with family and friends. After the festivities, offer what's left to the birds and compost pile.

* Use natural scents. Replace commercial scents and their mystery ingredients (often toxic petrochemicals) with diluted essential oils in a spray bottle; fresh flowers in a vase; or herbs simmering in water or thrown in the fireplace. Much better!

* Give less-toxic gifts. Choose organic foods and clothing, toys made from natural materials, and books that educate people about creating a healthier home and world. The options are plentiful!

* Manage pests less-toxically. Discourage ants without toxic sprays by removing what's attracting them, blocking their entry points, and wiping paths clean with a soapy sponge. Remove mold and reduce regrowth with diluted tea tree oil.

* Discard responsibly. Setup an easy system for guests to help recycle holiday trash. Keep toxics out of landfills by recycling your old techno-toys, including computers, TVs, phones, etc. More recycling information is at <www. recyclenow.org> and in the Recycling Guide in your Yellow Pages.

By being creative, we can truly make this a season of love for all. For more about the above suggestions, look up past TNS issues by topic at <www.healthyworld.org/STEPIndex.html>. For more eco-holiday ideas, see <www.healthyworld.org/ecoholidays.html>.

WEBSITE BONUS: ADDITIONAL TIPS

* Offer experiences not products. Easy gifts that mean a lot and nurture your relationships can include: a coupon for an afternoon babysitting, a day helping clean out the garage, a pre-paid class registration, cookie-making lessons, a massage gift certificate, theater tickets, or a night out on the town.

* Wrap ecologically. Choose recycled and chlorine-free papers. Avoid metal wraps; they can't be recycled. Or cover packages with magazines, comics, sports pages, old maps, fabric, even brown paper bags stamped with pretty images and tied with raffia. Decorate packages or paper bags with leaves, twigs, and flowers.

* Keep pets safe. If you have pets, avoid adding commercial extenders to your Christmas tree water. Pets often drink this water, and these products can harm them. For more tips for keeping pets healthy, see <www.sspca. org/Holiday Hazards.html>.