ECOUSABLE

I went to the EcoGift Festival this weekend and happened upon this booth. First off, really great group of people behind this product; knowledgeable, friendly, and very passionate about what they do. I found this bottle unique for a handful of reasons. They are made with stainless steel, they are made locally (to Los Angeles, anyway), and they have a great twist off top. But the COOLEST part of this bottle is the brand new filtration system that is coming out very soon.

Built into the top, is a filter that purifies 65 components out of the water. This means that you can fill your bottle with tap water, and not have to worry about anything. I know that many people lean towards bottled water because they fear contaminants. This is a product that allows you to feel confident in a move away from plastic, because it handles the purification for you.

I think that everyone needs a reusable water bottle. Not only does it help the environment, but it helps you and your health. I know that this product is on my stocking stuffer list for a handful of people, and I hope that it gets onto yours.

The filtration product, I think, comes out this week. Either way, you should get a bottle. You can get more information from their website, HERE.

The Christmas Tree tradition started in Germany. Because of its shape, it was a symbol of the holy trinity; father, son, holy ghost. It became revered as God’s Tree. The tradition became fashionable after Queen Victoria, in 1846, took a photo with her family by a decorated tree. From that point on, the decorations of the tree became more important than the symbol of the tree, itself.

It is a shame that these trees are raised to be killed for folly. Many of them are filled with pesticides. And, in killing them, the ecosystems, even in Christmas tree farms, that have formed around them are destroyed.

This year, at least in California, it would be great to consider this:

THE LIVING CHRISTMAS COMPANY

It’s simple! You select the type and size of tree you’d like to adopt and we deliver it to your home for Christmas. The price includes delivery to your door before Christmas and pick up after. We will also hold a small deposit that will be refunded once your tree is safely returned.

You can keep your beautiful Living Christmas Tree for three weeks or so, after which, it becomes unhealthy for the tree to remain inside. You’ll need to select drop-off and pick-up times for your location, based on your availability and the good health of the tree. Even though you’ll still have to say goodbye to your tree, know that, instead of going out with the trash, it will be returned to the North Pole, so it can continue growing until next Christmas.

By renting your tree, it stays alive. It is returned at the end of the season and the company maintains it for the following year, when you can rent a tree again. I think this is GREAT. Prices, at this time, are a little higher than purchasing a dead tree. They are trying to make it as economical as possible. With growth and popularity, it will be!

If it isn’t too late, I would hope you all consider renting a tree this year.

TREE PEOPLE

Well, all these trees are gone to make your Holiday cards and junk mail. So give the gift of a tree. Gifts start at $25 and increase from there. This is from their website:

Contributions made to the Gift of Life program provide funds to support TreePeople’s restoration efforts. This includes both planting and caring for trees, fostering a healthy natural environment surrounding Los Angeles. Due to the nature of our work, we do not have tags or plaques on each of the trees. Specific trees are not designated to specific dedications.

You can go to their website and make your purchase on line. Although, you can send to anyone you want, all around the country, trees will only be planted in Los Angeles. I’m sure with simple research you can find someone local to your area, if not in California. Or, contact TreePeople to see if they have partner organizations.

Go HERE for their donation page.

HOLIDAY CARDS

There are so many traditions, that while sweet and generous, are a big waste of the Earth. Holiday cards are one such thing. People, whom you haven’t talked to in years, feel obligated to send you a card wishing you and your family well over the holiday season.

I guess I have never been one to understand the tradition, although I think the sentiment comes from a heart felt place. However, the waste of trees in order to produce such influx of mail is astonishing.

Americans, on average, purchase 7 billion holiday cards each year. That is an astonishing amount of virgin paper used for a simple greeting. On top of that, there are other environmentally damaging manufacturing practices used to make paper greeting cards, such as toxic printer inks and fixing agents. We must also consider the additional weight of the mail. Yes, your carrier is coming to your house anyway. But the sheer weight of all the greeting cards mailed annually adds to the fuel-consumption requirements associated with shipping them by 18-wheeler, plane, and mail truck. And then there is the fact that sooner or later, our greeting cards end up in a land fill. Even if they go to a recycling bin, there are some costs with transportation and conversion of the old cards into something reusable again.

So… what to do? If you absolutely MUST send something, please choose recycled greeting cards. They can be found in most places. Here are some online resources:

My Good Greetings
kidbean
Cards Direct

What would be my FAVORITE solution? Give an eCard!! You can get these from many greeting card websites… you know the ones… a simple google search will direct you accordingly.

Or, you can make them even more personal, by spending the same, if not less, amount of money having them designed by an artist. My friend Ruth Ann designs amazing web based holiday cards. I am sure she can create them according to whatever theme you would want. Another benefit, is you are not limited with what you want to say. You don’t have to restrict to whom you send based on mail cost or card cost. And, best of all, you are not hurting the environment.

Here is Ruth Ann’s website: http://ruthannanderson.com/

However, I am sure with some simple searches you can find other people, as well.

Consider all the ways you can be green this holiday season… Happy Holidays!