The first day of fall is approaching, which means a slew of holidays are on the horizon. When you start thinking about decorating, consider going eco-friendly with your celebrations, such as the dinner party.
Start with using electronic invitations. It saves on paper, and can be just as fabulous.
If you’re hosting a dinner party, consider cooking your meal using local ingredients. If you can, go a step further and walk to the market or ride your bike if it’s not too cold outside yet. You can even purchase organic or local wine.
Setting a table? Look for placemats or napkins made from natural or recycled materials. Need some new plates or a fancy vase to spice up your table? Look at secondhand stores. This puts an item that could have ended up in the landfill on your table.
You can also create an eco-friendly centerpiece by gathering fallen branches or pine cones from your yard, painting them with non-toxic paint and placing them in a decorative vase or bowl. Candles are a good eco-friendly decorating option, as long as they are made from soy or beeswax.
When shopping for decorative items, look for “fair trade.” These products ensure the people who made them are getting paid a fair wage. Additionally, by purchasing fair trade items, you’re helping create and maintain jobs around the world.
When giving gifts to your guests, send them off with a locally-sourced present such as apple butter from the local farm or a packet of seeds from a local gardener. It’s a useful and eco-friendly option.
Of course after the dinner party, you still have an opportunity to do some good for the environment by recycling items and composting leftover food scraps. If you’ve got “green” cleaning supplies, make use of those too.
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Written and published by Thompson Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
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