Of course we’re dreaming of a Greener Christmas; so here are the 12 days of Christmas brought to you by the Pushor Mitchell Green Team!
On the 1st day of Christmas, we pulled out our “green gift list” for the people on our lists “who have everything” (a massage, pedicure or manicure, an afternoon of horseback riding, a concert or movie and/or dinner tickets as opposed to a gadget that will end up in a landfill);
On the 2nd day of Christmas, we went to second hand bookstores and found all the books on our lists (usually always in great shape and you can get 3 to 4 books for the price of one);
On the 3rd day of Christmas, we went to the Farmer’s Market at Parkinson Recreation Centre to buy not only locally grown fruits and vegetables but we also found arts, crafts and artisan gifts;
On the 4th day of Christmas, we bought LED Christmas lights. Not only are we saving energy, but we’re also saving money as the LED Christmas lights use up to 95 percent less energy. Don’t forget to use your timer (worth 2 ERAs);
On the 5th day of Christmas, we recycled our old lights by removing the bulbs and taking the light strings to the recycling depot. This is the sixth year this has been done and the depots are located at (pick up only until the end of January):
- Kirschner Depot, 1988 Kirschner Rd, open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
- Westside Landfill, Asquith Rd, open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
- Glenmore Landfill, 2105 Glenmore Rd, open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; and
- Planet Earth Recycling, 2035 Louie Drive, open Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
On the 6th day of Christmas, we pulled out last year’s Christmas Cards to reuse the picture side for name tags.
On the 7th day of Christmas we pulled out last year’s gift boxes, wrapping paper, ribbons and bows to reuse;
On the 8th day of Christmas, we bought Christmas tea towels on sale at the dollar store and used them for gift wrap (alternatives are: color comic section of newspaper, magazine sheets and calendar pictures for smaller gifts in stocking, cloth gift bags, bandanas, scarves or pillow cases 2 gifts in one).
On the 9th day of Christmas, we bought rechargeable batteries;
On the 10th day of Christmas, we donated our gently used toys and clothes to charities;
On the 11th day of Christmas, we made homemade tree decorations by stringing popcorn and cranberries and using pinecones, feathers and ribbon to make a garland; or make a braid with ribbon and weave small pieces of eucalyptus or another natural element like cinnamon sticks into the braid.
On the 12th day of Christmas, we pulled out the name tags we requested our family members save off of their gifts last year, so we can reuse them for several years (one less job to do during this busy time as the tag is already filled out);
So Have Yourself a Greener Little Christmas Now!