ShareThisBeing green starts with an appreciation for the natural world. Take a hike and look at birds, animals, trees.
-- Give nature-related gifts (binoculars, tree/flower identification book; National Geographic magazine subscription, movie or book; the "Planet Earth" and "Blue Planet" film series; a bird feeder/supply of seeds/bird identification book.
-- Buy local.
-- Give gifts that don't require batteries.
-- Offer to recycle an electronic product that's been replaced by a new one.
-- Give neighbors and friends coupons for chores such as taking out the trash, shoveling snow, gardening, baby-sitting, etc.
-- Wrap gifts in cloth grocery-store bags, the funny papers, calendar pages, old maps and posters, brown bags, fabric, wallpaper, bubble wrap, mesh fruit bags, holiday and popcorn tins, kids' artwork, a dish towel. Sew drawstring gift bags from holiday fabric.
-- Decorate packages with pinecones and boughs, holly, oak leaves, acorns, bittersweet, sweet-gum seed pods.
-- Reuse paper and ribbon and recycle the rest.
-- Instead of buying a puppy or kitten, foster one. It's an excellent way to have a trial run before making that big commitment.
-- Give consumables: soy-based candles, soaps, green products, homemade meals, baked goods, event tickets.
-- Give used books and gifts purchased online or at antique/thrift/pawn shops.
-- Purchase fair-trade chocolate and coffee.
-- Make holiday postcards by hand or on computer. Postcards cost 28 cents to mail, letters cost 44 cents.
-- Give enlarged photographs you've taken.
-- Shop online.
-- Make donations to worthy causes in the name of an individual, but request that the individual (and perhaps you) not receive subsequent requests for donations ad infinitum.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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