SO as the holidays rapidly approach us and no one seems to have enough time to do all the stuff they want or need to do I would like to offer just a few tips that may make your holidays a little greener!
I am sure everyone is busy wrapping gifts, I can remember the days of garbage bag after garbage bag FILLED with wrapping paper that just get tossed to the curb, so much waste!! Why go spend your hard earned money on paper that is just going to be thrown away after about 30 minutes of use? Why not have a more " old fashion" way of wrapping by using news papers or paper bags and maybe decorating them up with some pine cones or string bows??? And after all the paper gets torn off the presents it can be put into your compost bin or tilled directly into your garden!!
May of use have had the same lights used for decorating for years...and that is good....however there are many more options these days for more energy efficient lights. So if you need to replace any of yours this year try going for the LED lights that are just as bright but use less energy. And if you are just replacing some that you already have don't throw away your old ones take them to the Goodwill or Salvation Army so that someone else can enjoy them.
And then there is the question " what on earth do I do with all these boxes???" Well since you asked, flatten them down and put them on top of your garden. Why? First they act as natural weed suppression.....if the weeds can't get sunlight they can't grow! Second worms love cardboard boxes. The boxes will actually attract worms to your garden....and we all want lots of worms!! Lots of worms = healthy soil!
Please make sure you are composting all your food wastes too. I know I do ALOT of cooking for the holidays and what better way to get that compost bin full? ( and if there is any left over beer from your holiday parties put that in the compost bin too!!!)
Some of you may be using the fireplace or wood burning stove....don't throw away that ash!!! Spread it out into the garden, flowerbeds or put it directly into your compost bin. ( just make sure it is not hot so you don't damage your bin!!!)
In some towns and cities there are recycling programs for your tree...but if your location doesn't have that you don't have to throw your tree in the trash! Let your tree dry out and shake off the needles to use as mulch or dry your tree and have a little bonfire and use the ashes for the garden or compost bin! You can even just put the tree in a corner of your yard to let it decompose naturally. By doing this you are actually creating a habitat for birds and other little creatures. They will use the tree until it is no more.
Well I guess that is all for today. If you can think of something I forgot or have your own little tips please feel free to leave your ideas in the comment section below!!
