How to make an Evergreen Wreath (Kids of the Wild)

Christmas is just around the corner and for those trying to lead a more green and sustainable life this can be a difficult time.  The constant pressure from adverts to BUY, BUY, BUY can all too easily force you into the mindset that the only way to have the perfect Christmas is to buy masses of new stuff - presents, cards, wrapping paper, decorations, food and drinks, clothes, new sofas, new technology .... And only when you do this will you have the picture perfect time as seen in all the big budget TV adverts, magazines articles, billboards and so on which are inescapable at this time of year.

It is difficult not to get sucked in.  Who doesn't want a fabulous meal or to see the delight on children's faces as they rip open their presents on Christmas Day?  Perhaps you want to be the decorated home everyone talks about with your magazine perfect brand new every year decorations?  Or maybe you can see beyond the glitter and the tinsel for what Christmas is really all about - plastic, excess packaging, waste, food miles, lining the pockets of big business, exploitation of workers, family debt etc.

Now don't get me wrong.  I am not saying we all turn into Scrooge and bah humbug our way through the festive season.  But I do believe we can all have just as much fun without all the excess.  So I asked on a couple of Facebook groups (Make Do and Mend and Zero Waste Heroes!) and among my fellow bloggers and friends what they do at Christmas to keep keep it green whilst still having fun and I got MASSES of responses.  So much so I have going to have to put them in to 2 blog posts - one for present ideas (Green Christmas Present Ideas - The Ultimate List) and one for everything else!

Green Christmas Ideas

 

Decorations

• Do not buy new every year but re-use what you have
• Make your own new decorations - Pinterest and YouTube have loads of ideas.  How about making some festive log slices like these:

Log Slice decorations by Polly Bramwell

• Use greenery from the garden and compost it afterwards
• Collect, dry and decorate pine cones
• Make you own paper chains
• Turn old cards into festive garlands
• Make your own Christmas tree - how about one like this? 

Twig and pine cone Christmas tree by Roma Poulter

Food

• Do not be tempted to overbuy - the shops will be open again if you run short!
• Make your own eg cakes, sweets, mince pies, sausage rolls, stuffing etc etc - the list is endless but don't feel you have to make everything - making just one or two things yourself will reduce packaging waste.
• Buy local and in season produce.  Farmer's markets and farm shops are great for this.
• If you happy to spend more at Christmas then why not buy the same amount of food but go organic. 
• Do not waste excess food - make stock from the carcass and veg peelings and look up meals from left over turkey etc.  Alternatively freeze excesses if you have them for later.

Family Time

• Invest in a family game you can all play together of Christmas Day and beyond. These are some of our current favourite games.
• Get crafting with this kids - I love this festive reindeer from Nature Crafts for Kids
• Get out for a family walk together
• Make Christmas Day the day you don't force anyone to eat those sprouts they really don't like.  My over-riding memory of Christmas dinner was being forces to eat turkey that I really didn't like!
• Make Christmas your own and not what other people and the adverts tell you it should be - dare to be different!

For more inspiration on how you can make your Christmas green and fun these blog posts are jammed full of sustainable Christmas ideas:

• 21 ways to make Christmas sustainable (A Green and Rosie Life)
• 7 tips to reduce Christmas waste (A Green and Rosie Life)
• 7 Green Present Ideas  (A Green and Rosie Life)
• Make your own chocolate Advent calendar (Time to Craft)
• Christmas Crackers – Zero Waste Style (Homegrown and Foraged)
• My Non commercial Christmas Project (Facebook Page)
• DIY festive ornaments from natural materials (Sustainability Tribe)
• How to celebrate an eco-friendly Christmas (Sustainability Tribe)
• 10 Tips for a Zero Waste Christmas (Gyspy Soul)
• Eco-friendly Christmas wrapping tips (Monsoon of Random)
• Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String (Pink Paperdoll)
• Waste Free Christmas (Ever Change Productions)
• A diy or zero holiday season (The Zero Journey)
• A recycled Christmas Tree (Comfort Spring)
• Waste Free gifts for co-workers (Ever Change Productions)
• Top Tips for a buy nothing new Christmas (My Make Do and Mend Life) 
• Paper or ecards? (Little Green Duckie) 
• Making Advent Matter (Kids of the Wild) 
• How to make an Evergreen Wreath (Kids of the Wild)
• Christmas Tree Care (Kids of the Wild)
• Plants That Make Great Christmas Gifts (Organic 4 Green Living)
• Recipe For A Healthy Christmas (Organic 4 Green Living)
• My Plastic-free (well reduced, anyway) Christmas (Zero Waste Week)
  

Have I inspired you to go green this Christmas?  Which ideas will you adopt this year or have you got more you want to share.  Please do add a comment so we can spread the message:

Have a very happy GREEN Christmas!