How to Have a Zero-Waste Easter Party

In preparation for Easter, we're taking a short break from our Going Organic series - but don't worry - we'll be back next week to wrap up!

This week we'll be sharing some fun and eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday in ways that are healthy for both you and the planet. Easter is a time of celebration and renewal. It’s also a great time to embrace earth-friendly practices. If you’re throwing an Easter party, you can make it a green one by having a zero waste party. Here’s how.

#1.  Use E-Vites. Invitations can now be sent via email. There are some extremely useful programs you can use online. These programs allow you to send email invites quickly and easily. They also keep track of who RSVP’d and many offer a message board so people can ask questions about the party. Electronic invitations mean you don’t have to use any paper or ink. They’re 100% electronic. A couple of the more popular ones are Evite.com, and Eventbrite.com. And if you have people you want to invite and they don’t use email, consider giving them a phone call.

Please Recycle Label (Photo credits: www.recyclereminders.com)

#2. Use  Recycled or Reusable Party Ware. Plates, napkins, glasses and all party decorations can be made from recycled materials. You can also use your own every day real or reusable dishes, or if you’re going to have a large party, consider renting dishes. You can also buy compostable party ware, like plates and cups made from corn.

#3.  Make Your Own Decorations. Easter time is spring time and it’s a great opportunity to decorate naturally. That means you don’t have to buy pre-made decorations. Consider using naturally dyed eggs, real grass, and twig branch baskets for decorations. Cut flowers for a spring touch and place them in vases. If you want to create Easter grass for baskets or decorations consider shredding magazines or using vegetable dye on papers in your recycled bin and then shredding them. Beet juice makes a beautiful natural pink color! 

#4.  Make It A Pot-Luck. Instead of cooking everything yourself or getting takeout, consider asking attendees to contribute a dish to the party. It means there’s less work for you and everyone feels as if they’ve contributed to the festivities. Let them know you’re having a zero waste party so they can be sure to bring food in recyclable or reusable containers.

#5. Compost Leftovers. Composting is a great way to make use of leftovers and you can use the finished compost to help indoor and outdoor plants thrive - use it in your sustainable garden to grow great food organically!

Coloring Easter eggs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#6.  Play Games. Games make a party fun. Easter egg hunts with real eggs instead of plastic ones are a zero waste game. The kids will love helping dye them the day before! Or have the eggs already boiled and cooled, and make the dyeing part of the party! Charades and scavenger hunts also have zero waste.

#7. Make Natural, Earth Friendly, Crafts. In addition to using games to keep children occupied consider having an earth friendly craft for kids to do. One example might be for children to decorate a tin. You can have seedlings, potting soil and paint on hand. They can decorate the can, choose their plant and take it home. It’s a zero waste craft and a nice goodie to take home from the party. Felted Easter eggs are also a fun craft for kids that they can take home with them - check back for Wednesday's post for how-tos.

#8.  Recycle.  Be sure to recycle anything that cannot be reused. For example, if you purchase soda or juice for the party you can recycle the containers. Or you can use them to create compost scoops, bird feeders, or planters.

Easter is a great time to be environmentally conscious. When you throw a zero waste party you’re not only doing something nice for the planet you’re also getting others involved in the cause. You’re setting a good example for your own family and others. If everyone does their small part it makes a huge difference - plus it can be a lot of fun!

Video - Green Halloween Ideas

This quick video gives you some great ideas for an eco-friendly Halloween. From home-made candy bags, to spooky homemade decorations, to what to do with your leftover Jack-o-Lanterns, this video offers helpful tips for having a safe, fun, and green Halloween!

Eco-Halloween
Make your Halloween a green one. From decorations to costumes, how you can help the environment and your pocketbook.

8 Tips for An Eco-Friendly Halloween Party

Decided what you're going to be this year? I love coming up with my own costume ideas, and rarely buy anything for them other than a few accessories. This year I'm going to a Halloween ball as a corpse bride - I just have to make the veil and I'm ready to go!

For many adults and children alike Halloween is the best holiday of the year.  With all the candy and costumes and parties, it’s an immensely fun time.  Now you can enhance the fun by eliminating waste and any associated guilt by throwing a zero-waste eco-friendly Halloween party!  Here are some tips:

Halloween Costumes (Photo credit: Transguyjay)

#1.  Start with the invitations.  Electronic invitations or evites are invitations without paper.  They’re sent via email.  That means no trees are cut down in the name of your party.

#2.  Give it a home-made theme.  Encourage attendees to make their costumes themselves from things they have lying around the house. You could even hold a contest for the most eco-friendly costume.

#3.  Use recycled or reusable party ware.  Plates, napkins, glasses and all party decorations can be made from recycled materials or use your own plates, cloth napkins and cups.  You an also buy compostable party ware, like plates and cups made from corn.

#4.  Decorate with natural items like soy candles, jack-o-lanterns and cotton webbing instead of synthetic (the cotton kind, and your jack-o-lanterns, can be composted). 

Jack-o-lantern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

#5.  Compost leftovers.  Composting is a great way to make use of leftovers and you can use the finished compost to help indoor and outdoor plants thrive.

#6.  Play games.  Games are part of a fun party and guess what?  Bobbing for apples has zero waste if you use the leftover water to water your plants.  Charades and scavenger hunts also have zero waste.

#7.  Recycle anything that cannot be reused.  For example, if you purchase soda or juice for the party you can recycle the containers.  Or you can use them to create compost scoops, bird feeders, piñatas, or bat houses to keep with the Halloween theme.

#8.  Finally, consider only serving natural foods without wrappers. Home-made caramel corn, candy apples and apple pies are all delicious treats.  There’s no waste and not a chance that there will be any leftovers!

Halloween is a great time of the year - one of my favorite holidays.  The air is crisp, children are laughing and everyone gets one night to play make-believe.  Enjoy your Halloween and throw an eco-friendly party this year!

Last Minute Healthy Holiday Gifts

This quick video (it's from 2010, but good gift ideas never go out of style!) gives some holiday gift ideas for the healthy people in your life (which is hopefully most of them) :-)  If you're a last-minute shopper, you can find most of these at local stores, and Amazon still has 2-day shipping so you can get your stuff in time for Christmas! From exercise gifts and gadgets to cooking from scratch, these gifts will help encourage your loved ones to get and stay healthy.

See links below video for some great gifts to check out:

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide 2010
www.diet.com Give the gift of health that will last all year long to your friends and family this year. Check out Diet.com Video Producer Sarah Dussault's favorite gifts to give for anyone on your list. All gifts are under $85 and most are less than ...


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