The winter holidays are the perfect time to start thinking green. This time of year, Americans produce an extra two billion pounds of garbage per week. Scary, huh? But don’t worry, you don’t have to add a whole lifestyle makeover to your “to do” list.
Even small changes can have a big environmental impact. Here are seven easy ways you can celebrate the season while doing your part to make it a greener, more environmentally responsible holiday:
1. Choose a Living TreeAlthough a fake Christmas tree may save you money over the years, sooner or later it will wind up in a landfill. Your best bet? A potted pine you can plant once the season is over. But if you go with a cut tree, that’s okay. Just recycle it after the holidays. Many municipalities offer Christmas tree recycling programs; visit Earth911.com to find one near you.
2. Light Up with LEDHang LED (light-emitting diode) lights, instead of the typical incandescent bulbs. They cost a little more to buy, but LED lights use 80% to 90% less power than conventional mini bulbs. Then run them for only a few hours in the evening to save on resources (and your electric bill).
3. Green Your Décor 
When it comes to decorating, let this be your mantra: “reuse, repurpose, recycle.” Instead of purchasing any new decorations, use items you already have. Strings of popcorn and cranberries make beautiful, vintage-looking garlands that can later be composted. For ornaments, hang gingerbread or sugar cookies, or everyday items you have around the house, such as cookie cutters, toy cars, Barbie accessories—even jewelry.
4. Give Earth Conscious Gifts
Think of all the consumables used to produce, package, ship, and sell the merchandise you find on store shelves. That takes a huge toll on the environment. This year, why not give homemade gifts or ones purchased from local artists? Some homemade gift ideas include baked goods, recipes, hand sewn or knitted items, and coupons (e.g. free babysitting, homecooked meal, etc.).
5. Wrap With Recyclables
To cut back on paper waste, wrap gifts in newspaper, comic pages, brown paper shopping bags, and old sheet music. You could also decorate old shoe or hat boxes and food containers you no longer use. Tie them up with shoelaces, tape measures, yarn, string, or anything you come across in your junk drawer that could fit around a package. Save gift bags and wrappings given to you by others for next year’s gift-giving.
6. Send Green Greetings
Another way to reduce waste is to mail holiday postcards, instead of the standard card and envelope. If you want to be particularly eco-savvy, cut the decorative fronts off of cards you’ve received and mail them to others as postcards (just not to the people who sent them to you!), or email your holiday letter and attach some photos.
7. Cook with Organic Foods
Shop at your local farmers market or natural food store and prepare your holiday meals with locally grown, organic foods. Locally grown foods don’t need to be transported as far, which cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. And organically-grown fruits and vegetables aren’t treated with potentially harmful synthetic pesticides that are bad for both you and the earth.
Finally, make it a point this month to donate your time and money to local charities. It is common in tough economic times to scale back and even stop charitable giving, which is why charities around the country are having a particularly hard time right now collecting what they need to help the less fortunate.
Giving back is part of living an eco and socially-conscious lifestyle, plus it just feels good. So get out there with your kids and participate in charity drives, volunteer, or make a donation to your favorite cause. Your holidays will be a much richer experience when you take time out to help others.
by Laurel Hostetler, Managing Editor
Health Dimensions
Sabbatical (n): 
