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Dear Joy to the Planet Reader, I hope this finds you well, wherever you are on the planet! Did you get a chance to watch a 'green' theme movie last week? I hope you enjoyed it if so.
How to Enjoy Halloween AND help the planet... First let me say that Halloween, I think, has
the potential to be one of the greener celebrations on the calendar.
The reason for that is it happens at a time of year - fall, or harvest time
in many parts of the world - that is naturally
easier for us to be in touch with. When the seasons change, many things happen that make us notice. Whether that be the change of the leaves, a cooling of the temperature, or just the way the sunlight shines more warmly or brightly at that certain angle...nature has a way of tapping us on the shoulder in the fall, for me anyway. Having said that, Halloween is an event that causes a lot of garbage, whether that be costumes, candy wrappers or decorations of all sorts. So today's issue of Joy to the Planet is a primer on how to make Halloween more enjoyable...and help the planet at the same time. Enjoy! 1. Try going to a thrift store and 'scrounge' for an original costume... Did you ever have a 'tickle' trunk as a
child? Where inside, there were all sorts of unknown accessories, clothes,
hats and things that you could dig through and play dress up? Thrift
stores (and consignment stores as well as Salvation Army shops) are like
this on a larger scale, and especially at Halloween, server as veritable
treasure troves for costumes for the big and small kid alike. Instead of giving in and grabbing whatever plastic mask is handy at the grocery store...try getting your creative juices going and put together something really special. I couldn't believe my eyes the year an actual 'shower' came to the door...shower curtain, shower head, fake water, the works. Apparently it cost him all of $11! You'll have a great time doing it, and because it's that much cheaper at a thrift store, you'll be able to put a little cash aside for something that will last you more than one evening a year. Oh and yes, of course...by recycling old parts and clothes, you are preventing one more new/plastic costume from being wasted and ending up in the garbage after just one use. The planet will thank you! 2. Try a reusable pumpkin... Are you someone who doesn't use their Halloween pumpkin for anything other than decoration? You know, you don't toast the seeds for snacking or use the pumpkin for pie after the big trick or treat night?
Just think for a moment about how many pumpkins get used at Halloween as decoration only and then get tossed. It's literally hundreds of thousands each year. By using a reusable pumpkin instead, you get to enjoy a favorite jack-o-lantern year after year and forgo the fuss of dealing with a fresh pumpkin seeing as you don't eat it anyway. 3. Try helping a cat, a bat, or family of bats... Here's an interesting Halloween fact: last
year, over $100 million was spent by Americans on Halloween...kinda amazing
isn't it? Breaking it down, the statistics show that the average
family spent between $30-50 on candy alone.
How might that same amount of money be spent on something more enjoyable than more candy, and help the planet at the same time? What if you donated the same amount of money to a cat shelter, bat conservatory or SPCA, and hand out 'bat' Halloween cards instead? Out of all the candy that kids collect, wouldn't it be neat to hand something different out, and make an impression as that "batty house" in the neighborhood? <g> Knowing you've helped out a cat or family of bats is a truly terrific feeling, and all the better if you make it a new Halloween tradition. Making a cat or bat card is easy too, just use recycled paper to print out some free drawings of bats from www.dgl.microsoft.com, print a scary BOO! on the back and you're all set.
4. Try a green theme costume... This tip comes courtesy of Mike, my husband, who takes the credit for converting me into a green in the first place. (thanks Mike! <g>) To piggyback on tip number one above, when
you're deciding on what 'to be' for Halloween, or maybe you're helping young
folk decide...consider giving the costumes a 'green' theme. You'll be
an original, and spark conversation about the planet at the same time, very
cool. As far as ideas are concerned, how about dressing up as >> the sun, using orange clothing from head to toe from the thrift store, and a cardboard halo attached to a headband, also orange... >> a tree, use green, orange, red and yellow fabric of different textures to cut out tons of leaves, and turn arms and legs into tree branches and trunk... In other words, use your imagination! Anything that's an animal or vegetable even, can be fun. And especially if you have a family, this can be the source of an enjoyable weekend or two, all while helping the planet and getting in the spirit of Halloween. 5. Try a 'Help Yourself' Sign... As some of you know, I'm actually a fairly shy person, especially in groups, so this Halloween tip is one I use fairly regularly. (It helps create an air of 'mystery' around us in our neighborhood too. <g>) Instead of opening your door 10, 20, 30 times in the course of the evening, set up a display on your doorstep with candy in a basket and a hand drawn sign saying 'Take one each, and ONLY one....or we will send our giant spider to seek revenge!' Hehe. Definitely use scary letters for this one. And get into the swing of things if you like by making a ghost from an old sheet, fancy up your display. And before you ask...the sign works wonders actually, you'd be surprised. Every time I've done this (and sometimes it was simply cuz I was away on Halloween) there's been candy left in the basket the next morning. Of course, aside from scaring the kiddies, this is a great green tip too because you save a load of heat by keeping the door shut. The planet...and your heating bill...will thank you.
And that's it for this week! Whether you use recycled stuff to make a really memorable costume, or get in the spirit of things by helping out a real bat colony, or something in between, I hope you find a way to enjoy your Halloween AND help the planet at the same time. I know at our place, we'll be using as many of the above tips as possible, including turning out all the lights to make the house look scary! <g> If you have any questions about this issue of Joy to the Planet, or other questions about how to make your life more planet-friendly in an enjoyable way, drop me a line at andrea@joytotheplanet.com It will be a pleasure to help. Until next time, when we explore another way to enjoy life, and help the planet...
Andrea
andrea@joytotheplanet.com P.S. You're welcome to pass this or any other issue of Joy to the Planet along. I don't mind at all. Thanks! |
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JoytothePlanet.com ©2003
Andrea Lee.
All rights reserved. Questions? Write to help@joytotheplanet.com |
Today's topic is another fun one, with lots
of practical advice and easy-to-try tips on the topic of
I
know, it sounds rather quaint, doesn't it? <g> Well, you're certainly
not alone. Very few people I know realize a pumpkin makes for pretty
good eating! But no harm. Particularly for you, there's
something really easy you can do for the planet at Halloween: that's buy a
reusable pumpkin (ceramic works best), with a face carved permanently into
it and an easy spot to put a candle inside. 
As
far as who to donate to, check your phone book for a local cat
shelter or SPCA office. They'll be
thrilled to hear from you. Or, one of the better known green not-for-profit
organizations in the US is 
My
best to you,