Freda Mooncotch member for 1 year 25 weeks Send a message

It's that special time of year again when people begin planning for holiday celebrations. In addition to the frantic search for the right gift or decoration, many shoppers are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly during the holiday season. From presents to party-planning, observing the holidays in true "green" style is possible. The following ideas will help those looking to celebrate in a creative and eco-friendly way.

The World Vision Gift Catalog offers items that benefit children and families living in poverty here in the United States and around the world. The World Vision Gift Catalog, located at worldvisiongifts.org, offers more than 100 poverty-fighting gifts ranging in price from $20 to $39,000 that can be purchased in the name of a friend, colleague or loved one.  The gift recipient in turn receives a special card describing the gift that was purchased and the impact it will have in the life of a person in need.

Eco-friendly gifts include:

•Help bring clean, safe water to African families by donations to dig new wells.

•Animals such as goats, alpacas and chickens that will provide families with milk, wool and eggs

•Seeds, fertilizer, equipment and training to assist farmers grow food to feed their families.

In the new book, The Green Year (December 2008, $14.95, ISBN: 9781592578290, Alpha Books) author Jodi Helmer provides simple and inexpensive eco-friendly ideas for each day of the year. Holiday ideas include:

•Gifts that don't require batteries. Nearly 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holidays. Eventually, worn out batteries end up in the landfill where they leach toxic metals into the soil and groundwater. You can help keep batteries from going to the landfill by choosing holiday gifts that don't require batteries. If you do buy gifts that require batteries, give rechargeable batteries.

•Fair trade handicrafts: Many stores sell items that help provide a fair wage to tradespeople around the world.

•Stainless steel water bottle: Got a fitness buff on your holiday list? A stainless steel water bottle is a trendy and eco-friendly gift. Stainless steel water bottles are free of bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic substance used to make clear and shatterproof plastic. BPA has been linked to cancer, interferes with fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems like hyperactivity.

•For pets, choose toys made from recycled or natural materials. Stuffed toys made from recycled water bottles and hemp tug-of-war toys are readily available at pet stores. 

Eco-Friendly Families, a new book by Helen Coronato, (August 2008, $15.95, ISBN: 9781592576713, Alpha Books) is a parent's perfect guide to raising a family with "green" values. Gift ideas include:

•Plant a mini herb garden in anticipation of holiday hostess gift needs

•Gather a snowman kit for a favorite child of for the young at heart

•Using an empty toilet paper roll, add small trinkets and candy inside and wrap with comics or cloth to create a personalized Christmas Cracker in true English tradition

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living, (August 2007, $16.95, ISBN: 9781592576623, Alpha Books), helps increase awareness and concern over global warming.  Author Trish Riley suggests the following decorating ideas:

•Decorate a tree living in your yard instead of buying a cut tree that will end up as mulch and which has most likely been sprayed with agricultural petrochemicals that you don't want to expose your family to in your home.

•Clip colorful pages from old magazines to patch together customized gift wrap for each package.

•Buy LED holiday lights if it's time to replace old ones.

The Pocket Idiot's Guide™ to Your Carbon Footprint (May 2008, $9.95, ISBN:9781592577743), is a highly practical and easy-to-use reference that helps readers learn how to do their part to combat global warming.  Author Nancy Grant suggests the following green holiday tips:

•Get together with the folks on your street, in your neighborhood, your community to discuss and agree on reasonable times to begin and end "light up" events. For example, Sunday thru Thursday are school nights --everyone could agree to shut off their decorations by 9pm on those evenings, when most children have gone to bed.

•Be honest with yourself about your shopping habits and budget. If you're not going to be buying from a particular company's catalogue, phone their 800 number and ask to have your name removed from the mailing list. This will reduce the energy and resources needed for printing and shipping.

•There are many recycling options for your discarded catalogues. You can bundle them with your old newspapers -- or check with your local pre-school or kindergarten. Could the children use the colorful pictures for class work or craft projects?

•When shopping, leave your car in one parking spot and walk or ride public shuttles between shopping districts.