All Treats and No Tricks for Those Who Go Green
As an avid recycler, composter, and green gardener, I use every opportunity to be green. Halloween can be a bit tricky but offers us a chance to be inventive with our eco-friendly efforts. Let's explore some of my favorite green and eco-friendly ways to celebrate this ghoulish holiday.
Trick
or Treat Goodies
Treats
don't always have to be food. In fact, most candy packaging is excessive
with a tiny treat packaged inside paper, packaged inside plastic, making most a
non-green option. As a retired teacher and gardener, my
favorite choices are recycled bookmarks, stickers, and seed packets.
Ghostly
Parties
Halloween
parties are a much better green option for serving organic, home-baked goodies
in a safe environment. Involving children
in the planning, baking and hosting makes this an even more memorable
event.
Compostable
Invitations
Begin
by hand-delivering handmade invitations for those who don't use email or text. Leftover scraps of construction paper make
great invitations;
inquire at your nearby elementary school. Other options include using recycled paper or
a small paper bag, which can be reused.
Please use markers filled with non-toxic ink.
Boo...tiful
Decorations That Won't End Up in the Landfill
The
best indoor decorations are locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables, like
pumpkins, gourds, and apples. Also,
peruse thrift stores with your children and allow them to use their
imagination. They may find the perfect
vampire coffin. Look for sheets—great to
use as ghosts.
Seasonal
Treats
The
options are endless with my two seasonal favorites: pumpkin and apples. Pumpkin ice cream, bread, cupcakes, cake, and
smoothies are always a hit. Moreover,
who can turn down a caramel apple?
Locally
Grown Treats
The
best way to ensure your party food ingredients are locally grown is to shop at
a neighborhood farmers' market. If this
isn't possible, check with your grocer.
Think Local
and Organic When Thirsty
Organic
and locally made apple juice and cider are abundant this time of year. This and pumpkin smoothies will satisfy everyone's
thirst.
Recycle
and Reuse for Your Halloween Costume
Thrift
stores offer the best costume choices. With
a little imagination, you can take an old lace dress and turn your little girl
into a stunning, yet scary witch.
Makeup
Non-toxic
makeup can be made from items in most people's pantries and bathrooms.
Try
This:
For generic face paint, combine 1
tsp corn starch, 1/2 tsp water, 1/2 tsp cold cream, and 2 drops of food
coloring. Stir well.
For realistic-looking blood, combine red
food coloring and corn syrup. Applying this might take a bit of practice,
so allow yourself plenty of time to play with it. Add peanut butter or coffee grounds to the
mixture for more gore.
Compost
Compost
all leftover jack-o-lanterns, fruits, and veggies.
More
by Rebecca
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and Why Do We Celebrate It?
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