Summary of EMBRACE THE GREEN SCENE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:
The Oklahoma City Zoo‘s Sustainability Coordinator, Kelly Dillow, advocates for a low-waste holiday season, emphasizing that reducing waste means less cleaning for parents. She cites a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistic that household waste increases by 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, from 4 to 5 million tons.
Dillow’s reduced-waste holiday practices include decorating with bird-friendly, biodegradable items, such as a living tree adorned with popcorn garlands and dried oranges, which can be composted after the holidays.
She also suggests eco-friendly gift-wrapping alternatives like cloth, twine, newspaper, or paper bags, encouraging re-gifting or opting for local and upcycled items. Dillow recommends choosing experiences over tangible gifts, such as “Wild Encounters” at the OKC Zoo, education programs for children, or a ZOOfriends membership for year-round enjoyment of the zoo.
In closing, she invites others to adopt sustainable practices during the holiday season and beyond.
– **Sustainable Festivities**: Explore how to celebrate the holidays in an eco-friendly manner that reduces waste and is kinder to our planet.
– **Unique Gift Ideas**: Learn about giving sustainable gifts that benefit the environment, support local communities, and promote the well-being of wildlife.
– **Personal Experiences**: Get tips on prioritizing experiences like wildlife encounters and educational programs over material gifts.
– **Holiday Decorations**: Find out how to decorate with nature in mind, using mbeautiful and biodegradable materials
As the festive season approaches, a certain magic fills the air. Twinkling lights, cozy fires, and the promise of time spent with loved ones paint an idyllic picture of the holidays. Yet beneath the surface, there’s another side to this season of joy – an increase in waste that can take a toll on our beautiful planet. However, you can turn the tide of tradition and celebrate in a way that honors the earth. Welcome to a festive journey that goes beyond the tinsel and teaches us how to embrace the green scene this holiday season!
**Craft a Festive Wonderland with Nature’s Bounty**
Who says that holiday decorations need to come from a store? Nature offers a range of beautiful and biodegradable materials that can put a unique spin on your festive decor. Fallen pine cones can be gathered and adorned with a bit of natural hemp rope for a rustic ornament. Twist ivy or holly branches into wreaths or dry slices of oranges for a sweet-scented tree decoration that looks straight out of a winter forest.
Imagine a living Christmas tree twinkling with the soft glow of soy or beeswax candles adorned with garlands of air-popped popcorn and cranberries. Picture children are delighting in homemade ornaments made from felt or reclaimed wood. This holiday decor has a special twist – it feeds your feathered friends and contributes to the life cycle rather than taking away from it. When the celebrations are over, this tree takes one last bow, providing a feast for wildlife before gracefully degrading back to the earth.
**Wrap Your Gifts in Stories and Memories**
Instead of the sea of wrapping paper that’s destined for the landfill, think outside the box – literally. Use fabric scraps to create beautiful, reusable gift wraps. Old maps, sheet music, and newspaper comics offer a whimsical touch to your presents and can strike up conversations about the stories they hold. Imagine a gift wrapped in the colorful pages of a comic strip your family laughed over one Sunday morning or the map from a road trip that sparked your love for travel. These materials don’t just cover a gift; they encapsulate memories, making every present personal and special.
**The Art of Thoughtful Gifting**
During the holidays, our thoughts often drift to finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones – but what if we shifted our focus to the impact those gifts have on the world around us? Seeking out presents that support local artisans not only lifts your community but also cuts down on the carbon footprint of long-distance shipping. You’re not only spreading holiday cheer when you gift a candle made from locally sourced beeswax or a handcrafted toy from reclaimed wood. You’re investing in your community’s economy and making an environmentally conscious choice.
**Experience over Expensive**
The true magic of the holidays isn’t captured in the gadgets and glitz but in the moments that take our breath away. Instead of buying yet another quickly forgotten object, consider offering experiences that will be treasured for a lifetime. Take your family to a local wildlife sanctuary or reserve a spot for a friend at a conservation camp. By gifting a subscription to a local museum or zoo, you are providing endless opportunities for learning and enjoyment and supporting the institutions that work tirelessly to protect the wonders of nature.
**Thoughtful Consumption as a Lifestyle**
Embracing the green scene isn’t just for the holidays—it’s a year-round commitment. It’s making daily mindful choices, from bringing your bags to the grocery store to preferring a bicycle over a car for short trips. It means supporting local farmers through community-supported agriculture subscriptions or choosing eco-friendly products that reduce your carbon footprint.
In your enthusiasm for sustainability, infuse the holidays with intention and purpose. Host a potluck where guests bring dishes made from local produce, swap books as a novel take on Secret Santa or hold a clothing exchange party – turning fashion into a fun and conscious act.
As we gather with those we hold dear, let’s weave sustainability into our celebrations. Let this holiday season be a testament to the fact that what is good for the earth is also good for the soul. Let’s make merry in a way that’s considerate to our planet, cherishing old traditions and making new ones that will carry us toward a brighter, greener future.
