Kim Hornung-Marcy

December 06, 2021

What you can do during the Christmas season

1. Buy Less, emphasize the meaning of the season. Give time or experiences rather than buying things people don’t need or want.  Give to those who are most in need. For those who like plants this is a very green gift.
2. A locally grown real tree has the lowest carbon footprint especially if you chip it or allow it to be wildlife shelter for birds and small critters in your yard or woods or buy a living tree you plant in your yard in the spring. Avoid sending cut trees to a landfill. I know a family that has a potted Norfolk pine that is decorated as their Christmas tree each year.
3. Do not use metallic or shiny wrapping paper these do not recycle. Gift bags or fabric with ribbon can be reused multiple times and is better than paper used only once. Making a kitchen towel part of the gift and using it as wrapping is a way to avoid waste.
4. In this season of welcoming the Light of the World: take an inventory of your lighting at your home, church, parsonage. Incandescent and florescent bulbs are very expensive to run and take lots of energy. It is cheaper and better for the earth to throw them out and replace with LED or other energy efficient lighting. Putting outdoor lights on motion sensors saves energy and preserves the night sky – creating a healthier environment for many animals and allowing humans to see more of the stars. Make a goal to transition all lights by a date that works for you.