The holidays are a time for giving, eating and spending time with loved ones.
Unfortunately, they can also involve more waste and excess than other times of year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go green this season.
Below are some tips to help families have an eco-friendly Christmas.
Below are some of Michael Kelly's top tips for going greener this Christmas
Top Tree Tips
Michael says, when it comes to the tree, choose a live one; live trees are a renewable resource and are replanted on tree farms contributing to our air quality and ecosystem. “You could also opt for a potted tree for indoors and then enjoy a ‘Nature Restoration’ activity with the family after Christmas as you plant it outside again or place it outside in a large pot and decorate it for the birds with seed balls, peanut butter, and seed trays. It’s a fun activity for the kids and offers an important food source during the long cold winter days of winter for the birds. And finally, on the tree, of course, use LED lights on the Christmas tree and at home!
Dinner Time Wins
On to the dinner, the first tip is to buy less, every year Irish households dump tonnes of food waste, we never need as much as we think so don't fill that trolley.
A Turkey and ham dinner with all of the traditional trimmings can see 10’s of thousands of food miles racked up. We all need to make a more conscious effort of buying local and hyper-local, buy your food from a farmers' market or direct from producers themselves not only will it taste better but it is a more sustainable food shopping practice. And if you do have leftovers - a turkey carcass makes great stock for soups and you can compost the vegetable peel.
Go green with gifts
Homemade gifts are not only thoughtful but for more unusual present, homemade treats or sauces are a completely unique gift. In the GIY Know-It-Allmanac we have some delicious recipes for Rocket Pesto, homemade ketchup or Beetroot Chocolate Brownies all so simple that even kids can make them successful. Ideally, reuse wrapping paper and if you do feel you have to buy some then avoid the shiny please and buy some brown paper that is fully recyclable.
Get Back to Nature
Christmas is also a wonderful time to reconnect with nature. Consider starting a family tradition of a nature walk or plan a small patch of the garden for growing your family’s favourites during 2020. The GIY Know-it-Allmanac is a month-by-month guide to growing, cooking and eating food and it has all the tips and tricks that you could need. It focusses on seasonal foods and highlights each month’s significant dates, likely weather, along with ‘get crafty’ projects and garden to-do lists.
Buy local (especially veg etc for Christmas dinner)
Buy wooden toys or books instead of plastic if possible?
Cut down on glittery wrapping and use old newspapers that you can decorate yourself with marker with lyrics from Christmas songs or little painted holly bows.
Gifting
1 homemade ketchup in a jar, wrapped nicely with a ribbon or string, a homemade tag, etc - recipe from the book
2 Rocket Pesto in a jar, wrapped nicely with a ribbon or string a homemade tag, etc - recipe from the book
3 Brownies in a recycled paper box - wrapped nicely with a string and a tag for gifting
