3 Things to Start Now for an Eco-Friendly Christmas

It’s not too early to begin planning your eco-friendly Christmas. Feeling a bit bah-humbug? These three tips will get you started on the right foot.

Save eco-friendly wrapping materials
It’s so much easier to avoid buying brand new gift wrap if you’re organized. Although many of us have a drawer somewhere in our houses filled with scrap tissue paper, it’s often not enough when the holidays hit. Start saving colourful and fun paper now, from:

• kids’ artwork
• newspaper (the cartoon section is especially colourful)
• magazines
• sheet music
• outdated maps
• paper bags
• old calendars

Also save ribbon, raffia, hemp twine for gardening, and anything else you can think of. If you’re really feeling creative, ask the kids to decorate this paper for a personalized touch, with stamps, markers, and paints.

Be on the lookout for natural decor

Forage
In your own backyard of course! Of you can ask your neighbours, friends, or family if you can grab a couple extra pinecones or boughs of holly or evergreen branches from their yards. These will come in handy later for decorating your mantle, making centrepieces, or designing your own wreath.

Use up the jam
Cleaned glass jars make beautiful Christmas decorations. Use them to hold aromatic cinnamon sticks, small ornaments, beeswax candles, or pinecones.

Rummage through your odds and ends
Chances are, you’ve got some spare buttons, beads, and thread hanging around. These, combined with scraps of cardboard, fabric, and felt, plus a little imagination, can make beautiful homemade cards or ornaments.

Make your list and check it twice
The gifts you give can be eco-friendly too. Check out the December issue of alive, on natural health retailer shelves now, to see the hottest green gifts for everyone on your list in our 2012 gift guide.