In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holiday season. 4 million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags. Need I say more?

I know, you’ve heard it all before. Use newspaper; re-use kraft paper grocery bags (which you shouldn’t have in your possession, because you use a reusable shopping bag, right?) and decorate with paint or markers–get your kids involved; place gifts inside of other gifts. An eco-chic tote makes a nifty gift bag! blah blah blah. Everyone will be talking about your ingenuity at the egg-nog bowl.

Not at your holiday gathering, you say? You’ll be ridiculed? Oh, come on! You can stand up to that nonsense–think of the trees and the landfill space you’ll help to save. Take it from me. I know. It’s hard at first. But after a while, they’ll get used to what I’m sure my family calls, ‘odd eco-ideosynchracies’. Who knows, maybe you’ll even inspire them!

Okay, if you are just unable to gamble your holiday reputation on homemade gift wrap, at least go for recycled paper. Better yet, recycled gift wrap with soy based inks. Yes, you’ll find it on my website –I like to offer options for those who aren’t quite ready to make the leap. Baby steps to earth-friendlier living are very commendable.

What about the wrapping paper on gifts we receive? I say, make it a game to unwrap gifts as carefully as possible–the ones who’ve ripped their gift wrap to shreds get KP duty.
Here are some clever ways to reuse wrapping paper:

• donate it!
• cut up and put in an album along with your holiday photos
• use as drawer liners
• cut out pictures from the paper for future gift cards
• use scraps as decorative accents on another gift instead of bows or ribbons
• matte pictures with it
• create your New Year’s outfit, ribbons and all (kidding)
• wrap another gift, of course!

Whatever you do, don’t feed the paper to your blazing fire. Many decorative papers actually contain lead and other toxins and the last thing you want to do is poison your holiday guests (or, more importantly, your children). And not all wrapping paper is recyclable. If it contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver colored shapes, glitter, plastic, etc., it is destined for the landfill. Be sure to remove the tape before tossing it into the bin.

Giving is one of the most joyous experiences during the holiday season and year-round. Giving up wrapping paper is a way to give back to the planet, lasting well into future generations in the form of trees and open space (free of landfill).

Do you have a creative way to wrap gifts without wrapping paper?

Article by Lynn Hasselberger
myearth360.com

What’s in a day?
When a day is designated a special day, the intention is to honor the theme of it.  On our annual calendar there are some holidays that have turned into a hoopla, diverting us from the original intent.  Often we witness a kind of build up that requires planning and promotion, parties and events, sales and give-aways. Unfortunately, it leads to driving, picnicking, carbon emissions and trash.  We now have special days dedicated to nature, days that inherently and logically call for an occasion to slow us down.

Earth Day was last month and I stayed in my PJs all day and took a break.  I gave the earth a break by not stepping on it.  A pseudo off-the-grid performance where I read, wrote, made art, and foraged in my own fridge while in my robe and slippers.  My plan includes treading increasingly lighter by reaching beyond one day. (“National Pajama Week” is something I can support.)

This month bring us World Ocean Day (June 8th.)  World Ocean Day is a call to action for the protection of our oceans.  I already have started preparing for it.  I will by watching these two videos again:
Video one
Video two
Next, I will visit the Fake Plastic Fish website to begin the “Show Us Your (Plastic) Trash Challenge.”
My husband and I will be recording an entire week of the plastic garbage we create.  Learning about Beth’s (creator of Fake Plastic Fish) adventure in changing her habits shocks us into noticing all the plastic and to begin doing something about it.  Fake Plastic Fish is a tool that guides us from a “not so good” place to one that is better.  The site is a map made from experience to help us to begin removing plastic from our lives, and proving it can be done.

Days devoted to nature are opportunities to enact what “honoring” actually is, rather than falling prey to a pre-existing model of consuming.  As I look at the coming months I see many days to celebrate by slowing down.  I see many “pajama days” in my future.

Photo: “Plasticless” oil on canvas dedicated to twitter.com/plasticless
You can also follow Beth twitter.com/fakeplasticfish