Your Virginia State Parks blogger shares simple ways to have a green(er) Christmas!

There are so many ways to be less consumer and more conservationist this Christmas season. As a Virginia Master Naturalist I would like to share a few ideas that just make sense to me. Without going overboard and making things so difficult that you will say “Forget it! I want a white Christmas, not a green one!”

Waste Not Want Not

Looking back a few years when grandparents and great grandparents were gift giving during and after the Great Depression, they had a few tricks up their sleeves that we should really consider. Remember the old saying “Waste not want not?” Well that saying should be paramount to preserving our environment today! Let’s look at a few ways they wasted not, and a few ways we can waste not.

Wrapping Paper

Do you remember getting gifts wrapped in newspaper print, or the funny papers? Sure many of us can recycle our newspapers today at the curb…but I recommend you “Reuse your news!”

Before “Paper or plastic?” was asked, we always reused our grocery bags for gift wrapping. This was not even questioned, it was a done deal, and we all did it. As kids we had a blast with markers and crayons decorating the bags as gift wrap. Now you have sparkly glue, stickers and many more options. How much more personal can a gift be than 86’g the gift bags made overseas and hand painting/coloring the wrapping?

Think of Nana

Do you think Nana will love a glittery plastic coated gift bag from stuff-mart or a brown sack wrapped gift with the kids hand prints painted all over it?

Instead of plastic or metallic bows why not use a pinecone? Let the kids gather these natural decorations from your yard! These make beautiful gift toppers.

Buy Less

Not all gifts need to be store bought; consider the thoughtfulness and personal touch that goes into a handmade item? You can give more and spend less! Here is a page with some gift ideas.

Services Make Great Gifts

The gift of you and your time is invaluable! Babysitting, dog walking, leaf pick up, laundry, car washing, breakfast in bed, family portraits, hand massage, serenade on a musical instrument for a special anniversary, a homemade gift certificate for a picnic to a state park, even time with Nana (baking cookies or playing a board game) etc.

Local Gifts and Recycled Gifts

Have you ever considered antiques as recycled gifts? Give beautiful Depression glass, something the receiver can actually use and enjoy throughout the year!

Regift if the gift is something you know you will never use, maybe someone else will? If it is a dust collector, and not being used, or the wrong size, maybe someone else may receive it and love it?

Think about buying local to boost our economy, and leave the made-in-China junk that is on constant recall for being full of lead, on the shelves. How much fuel to transport this “junk” to our big box stores? Most locally made items give back to your own community, and they are your neighbors, it is a win win.

Give the Gift of Experiences

This is where Virginia State Parks comes in; do you know there are 35 Virginia State Parks? You can paddle, bird watch, hike, and explore these parks year-round. Go to New River Trail State Park and go horseback riding, or rent a canoe at Belle Isle State Park. The possibilities are endless.

Think about taking the whole family for a First Day Hike at a Virginia State Park. This is a great way to celebrate the New Year, possibly after a bit of overindulgence on Christmas cookies, and show your family what you value!

Giving Back

Ask your state park for a family or community project to be involved with, perhaps this is after chipping the Christmas trees to use as mulch around the gardens at the Visitor Center? There are also annual Christmas Day Bird Counts and the local Ornithologists are always eager to have more eyes and ears in the field! This is like a treasure hunt, you can go on a hike and bring binoculars, a field guide and try to identify and list every bird you find. Even the smallest of children can find birds, and this introduces them to something very important outside, our feathered friends.

Food – Good Ol’ Food

Of course, there is always food! Spending time in the kitchen and baking something yummy is always a wonderful gift.  I can’t imagine anyone turning away a plate of homemade fudge!

What ways have you found to have a green Christmas? Please feel free to share some of your family traditions, new or old on our Facebook page, so we can get everyone into the green holiday spirit this year!