It's Easy to Go Green for Halloween

How easy it is to celebrate green

Busy parents need greening to be simple. Whatever the choice may be (goodies, costumes, décor, etc.), adding an eco-friendly twist shouldn’t increase stress and chaos to an already hectic holiday season. But making healthy and green choices is, in fact, easier than it seems. The key is thinking (and acting) outside the conventional candy box.

1. Plan ahead. Halloween is a fairly last minute holiday, resulting in a lot of knee-jerk choices that aren’t good for kids or the planet. But if you make a habit of thinking ahead, you can find exactly what you want while saving time, energy and reducing stress. One idea is to create a reoccurring appointment in your calendar for each October 1^st. Decide what you are going to give away this year and, if necessary, order it online or pick it up. If you have the bandwidth to coordinate with a few friends or co-workers, you can save money by buying online, splitting the quantities and dividing the shipping charges. If the recycled plastic tops or eco-themed temporary tattoos are a hit, make it easier on yourself by giving the same thing away next year. (Make your green goodies a tradition.)

2. Take a different road. Who said goodies have to be bought at grocery stores? Most of us run out to the grocery store the night before Halloween to pick up that 10 pound bag of candy (or two), but what if we realized that great, green goodies can be found elsewhere, too? What about picking up some seeds while you’re at the nursery? Or some cool glass beads when you drive by the art supply store? Playing cards with magic tricks, recipes and Halloween jokes can be found at bookstores and toy stores. Lots of ideas for “treasures” can be found here.

3. Include the kids. Going green is a family affair, so make it easier on yourself and include the kids by asking for their ideas. When they’re involved from the get-go, they’re more like to stay involved and to have positive attitudes.

4. Relax. Going green isn’t an all or nothing deal and busy moms have a lot on their minds and plates. So start with simple green steps that will work for your family this year. You can always add more the next time around. Holidays should be about the fun, not about the stress. Even green choices, if stressful, won’t be sustainable over the long haul.

Other ideas:

The loot

· When it comes to which goodies to hand out, take a cue from doing laundry. Why? What “treasures” do your kids stash in their pockets? Polished rocks, feathers, seashells, and other items from nature are timeless treats for children of all ages. (And we’ve polled thousands of kids – toddlers to teens – who say goodies like these get two thumbs up!)

· No matter what goodies you give away, give just one (instead of handfuls). When we were kids, most of us received one treat and each door, but now everything is supersized – including trick-or-treating. Giving away just one of something is easy to do, costs you less and is better for children and the planet. And here’s a tip: Place goodies in a bowl and let kids know - with barely contained enthusiasm - that they can choose just one really special treat. When you do, something magical will happen. The kids will get excited about picking that one perfect treasure – more excited than if they had received a handful.

· Many stores have healthier options for Halloween, but they might not know it (or market them as such). Take a quick stroll through the aisles and consider treats and treasures such as: Larbars, honey or agave sticks (may cost as little as 5-10 cents apiece), Stretch Island fruit leathers, all natural gum (like Glee Gum), or mini packs of all natural or organic crackers, granola or granola bars, cookies, or dried fruit. For treasures, stickers, bookmarks and pencils all made from recycled materials. Click here for a big list of ideas.

· If you want to give out candy, consider organic options such as Endangered Species “Bug Bites” and look for candy in bulk. While still made with sugar, organic and all natural ingredients are better for children and growing foods organically is better for the planet and the people who grow them. Companies such as Surf Sweets sell organic candy with low price points.

Costumes

· Go green, save time and money by shopping for your child’s costume at a consignment or thrift shop such as Goodwill.

· Celebrate National Costume Swap Day^™ (www.CostumeSwapDay.com). Have a lunchtime costume exchange with co-workers who are parents, or with your church, after a weekend soccer game or combine it with a ladies night.

· Set the timer and let your kids go on a hunt through the house looking for Halloween costume components. (Be sure to tell them if any parts of the house are off limits). Let their imaginations fly. Instead of being a superhero or television character, the might just want to flex their creative muscles and be something unique.

· If buying, look for costumes made from petroleum-free fabrics that are less likely to contain phthalates, lead or other toxins.

· For the goody bag – use something you already own that goes with their costume. A chef can carry a bowl, a mountain climber a backpack, a princess a purse, football player a helmet, etc. Or go with the adorably eco, keepsake, reusable Green Halloween^® trick-or-treat ChicoBag^®.

Décor

· Instead of buying petroleum based or disposable décor items, think about using items from nature such as pumpkins, gourds, hay, etc. When you’re done, simply toss them into your yard waste bin (if allowed in your area) or compost. Or buy items that are recycled, upcycled, handcrafted or ethically sourced (e.g. Fair Trade) such as those found here.

· Candles are a popular Halloween décor item, but paraffin is an unsustainable product and contributes to poor indoor air quality. Instead choose 100% beeswax candles (available at most health food stores in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes). They burn cleaner and longer and don’t make as much of a mess. They also smell naturally sweet.

· Instead of buying décor for the entire lawn, consider decorating just the doorway. Go simple in the house, too, by choosing one area to spruce up. Focusing and simplifying will save time, money and resources.

· At the end of the holiday, pack reusable décor away carefully so that it stays in good shape and can be used for years to come. (Remember, when it comes to holidays, reusing=traditions.) While it may take some extra effort at clean up time, doing so will save money, time and resources in the long run.

Party food

· Don’t make food ahead, instead, make it an activity. Here are a few ideas that are easy and fun to make (not to mention healthy and high on the ‘yum’ scale):

o Pumpkin smoothies

o Pumpkin seed “gorp”

o Halloween pizzas (use pre-made, whole wheat crusts and have available orange, black and green veggies to customize)

o Halloween-ka-bobs (let kids make their own with Halloween colored foods)

Putting some green into your Halloween does not have to be difficult or costly. In the continuum of being green, all families can hop on board! You can start wherever you are. For example, if your family eats organic and shops mostly locally, Green Halloween offers additional ways you can make your holiday even healthier and more green with tips even seasoned health-conscious parents will find useful. If your family has yet to try healthy alternatives, this is a great year to start. The Green Halloween website (www.GreenHalloween.org) offers even green-newbies fun, easy and affordable ways to start new holiday traditions your whole family will enjoy. Being a part of Green Halloween means trying one new tradition–or trying them all. By going green for just one part of your Halloween, you’ll be making a difference you and your family can be proud of.

~Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter founders of Green Halloween^® and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net

Eight Great Green Halloween Kid Crafts

Halloween is so much fun. It’s a lot of fun to celebrate and there’s no stressful present buying involved. It’s just fun and games.

And crafts! Lots and lots of crafts.

Searching the web, I found a lot more great green Halloween crafts that you can do with your kids.

Click here to see the Halloween crafts.

Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween (Part 2)

When it comes to decor, Halloween lines right up after Christmas. Americans spend $1.5 billion decking their homes with the latest in ghosts and goblins, much of it tossed when the holiday is over.

In reality, there is no need to purchase decor. This is a definite area of want. And while we know that most people are short on cash this year, many will still want to make some purchases.

If you're one of those, keep these ideas in mind while spending green to celebrate green.

Buy less. Whatever your budget, cut it by 25%. Will anyone really miss that life sized witch among all the other yard decor?

Buy what will last. Dollar stores do offer great bargains. But poor quality items are likely to end up in the landfill. Better to spend a bit more on fewer items that can become a part of your holiday tradition. Be sure to wrap carefully after October 31, to preserve for the future.

Look for local and handmade items, especially those produced from recycled/recyclable or sustainable materials. Check for local artists through http://www.etsy.com/

A great solution to the decor challenge is to go DIY (do-it-yourself), preferably using materials you already have on hand, can secure via swap or, best of all, select from nature. This is the perfect time of year to pull together items from nuts to branches to leaves and use them to brighten your home (see activities below). If you feel challenged when coming up with ideas, of course the internet is an incredible resource. Just do a search for "recycled Halloween crafts."

Here are a few to get you started:

Wonderful ideas from Value Village including a t-shirt wreath and ghoulish goblets

Use recyled light bulbs to make pumpkins. You could hang these in a row or fill a basket on a table with them. Make a stand for each one and use to hold placecards.

Make this glass jug jack-o-lantern if you happen to have an old jug on hand.

Grab your tent pole sticks and make this scarecrow.

Goodie buckets can be used for trick-or-treating, but also for decor. Make several for your table and add branches with colorful leaves or berries.

Got extra clay pots? Make a scarecrow for the center of your table.

When it comes to table decor, simply bringing in a selection of natural items and arranging them in containers or even directly on the table, can create a stunning tableau. Best of all, everything can (and should) be returned to where you found it for totally wastefree decor.

If you're itching to purchase new lighting, look for LEDs or solar. (Get rid of the old ones by recycling them through http://www.holidayleds.com/.

Bonus craft: Shadow box picture frame chandelier

Here's a project that's easy to assemble, but packs plenty of punch.

Gather:

Shadow box picture frame or any frame that is deep enough for you to place items on the glass without them sliding off.

Leaves, moss (if you are taking moss from nature, be sure it is not in an ecologically sensitive area), whole acorns, acorn caps, small pinecones

Glue

4 screw eyes

Wire, ribbon, rope or whatever you have on hand for hanging

Directions:

Remove all backing from picture frame.

Turn frame over so glass rests on bottom.

Screw one screw eye as close to each corner as possible while avoiding the area where the two sides meet.

Randomly glue items like the acorns etc. to the frame. Use as many or few as you like.

Glue on moss.

Decide how low you want to hang the chandelier, then cut four pieces of wire to that length plus a few inches.

Feed each length of wire through a screw eye, then secure it by winding the wire around itself.

Bring the four lengths of wire together in the middle so that the chandelier is balanced. If you have a round item like a nut, you can wind the wires through that to secure. Be sure whatever you use has a large enough opening to hang from a hook in the ceiling.

Fill with leaves, acorns, candles (in holders), small pumpkins or whatever you like.

Note: If you prefer, make without screw eyes and wire and simply place in the center of your table.

Of course, when it comes to Halloween activities, trick-or-treat can't be beat.

But for parents who are green-leaning, this traditional activity presents challenges. They don't want their kids to miss out on the fun, but neither do they want them eating all the candy. If you're facing this conundrum, you might want to consider inviting the Halloween Fairy/Witch to your home.

Eco-friendly activities before and after the holiday can engage your kids and help them learn about green issues as well.

For instance:

Visit an organic farm/orchard to select a pumpkin or pick apples and talk to the farmer about how veggies and fruits are raised.

Spend an hour outside, hunting for decor. Be sure you have permission before taking items from nature, especially from parks or any ecologically sensitive area. Once you bring the items home, have each child make a special item for the table. Rotate the items during the week preceding Halloween.

Roll beeswax candles for pumpkins or other displays.

Do craft activities as a family each day leading up to Halloween.

Try out new recipes for Halloween menus. If you're hosting a Halloween party, making something to eat is can be a central activity and the resulting treat can be taken home as a party favor (if the kids can wait to eat it!).

~Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net