Simplify the Season

Hey Neighbors!

I hope you all are happily anticipating the warmth and abundance of Thanksgiving. It's so hard to believe it's already here! Tomorrow marks the official start of the holiday season and If you're anything like me, you've already started to think about what's next on the agenda. Before we know it, the days will be jam-packed with festivities and we'll all be up to our mistletoe in treat baking, merrymaking, and gift giving.

It's hard not to be smitten with the lights and music, and many projects to dive into that make the season bright; however, I've been giving some thought to one of the many excessive parts of the holidays, and that is none other than gift wrap. Oh, it's so hard to resist when we are tempted by all of the shiny paper and the latest designs that retailers flash at us. The bows, and ribbons in perfectly curated collections - they're just so festive and pretty! Who doesn't want a pile of fancy boxes all tied up meticulously under their tree?

At the risk of sounding Grinch-like, let's all take a collective deep breath and think about what happens after the holidays. All of the gifts have been opened and there are literally piles of paper and boxes everywhere. I personally feel very sad when I see all of my hard work, time, and money lying around on the floor shredded to bits. What's worse is that I know I'll save some of it...but only some. What about the rest? Say it together folks: the landfill. That's right, bags upon bags of trash will go right into the landfill. We all know it, and I'm convinced we all want to do something about it, but how? And what? I have some ideas. Here are 10 ways you can create less waste this season. And they're easy.

1. Skip the disposable bows and ribbons and decorate with natural materials. Use pinecones, sprigs of greenery, or cinnamon sticks that can be repurposed. 
2. Use natural twine or jute instead of tape and ribbon. You can reuse these items in the garden to tie up heavy plants or save them for next year.
3. Wrap gifts in a reusable box or bag that will have other uses or can be gifted again many times. Satin or velvet ribbon is a great choice for bows since it can also be reused next season. 
4. Use baskets made from natural or recycled fibers that can become storage for kids' books, craft supplies, or closet organizers. 
5. Try using compostable butcher paper with non-toxic paints. You can even get your kids involved making wrapping paper for grandparents or friends who will appreciate their one-of-a-kind artwork. Whatever doesn't get framed or hung on the fridge can go into the compost later.
6. Make your own gift tags and holiday cards from the same paper, but use stamps and non-toxic ink so the cards can feed your garden next spring in the form of compost.
7. Use linen or other bits of fabric to tie up packages. These can have a second life in art or sewing projects.
8. Paint leaves in gold and silver craft paint for decoration or tags...and again into the compost it goes if you use non-toxic paints.
9. Let the box be part of the gift. A cast iron skillet filled with gourmet ingredients and other kitchen gadgets is perfect for a foodie. A gardener might enjoy seeds, small hand tools, and gloves tucked into a pretty ceramic pot or garden hod. Even kids can get in on the fun with small toys given in a  cute bucket or if you're going big, maybe even a wagon!
10. Last but not least, one of my favorite ideas is inspired by the Japanese art of gift wrapping known as furoshiki. Furoshiki is the ultimate in eco-friendly gifting. It uses decorative scarves or pieces of beautiful fabric tied in amazingly creative ways. It's truly an art form. 

I do hope you'll be inspired to try some of these ideas and in turn inspire others to create less waste this holiday season. We're all a part of this neighborhood and each of us can do a little something no matter how small to keep it healthy and safe for the next generation. Have a lovely holiday.

Author

Jennifer Eppolito, Education Horticulturist
Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College