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Wouldn’t it be refreshing to stop to take a breath before the holiday rush begins to put the “holy” back in holiday? For me, that means recognizing and giving thanks for the gift of life. It means contemplating the awesome confluence of natural and spiritual forces that enable planet earth to support life; the dizzyingly diverse family of life on earth to which we belong; the miracle of you, me, here, now, awake! Grounded in awe and gratitude the concept of gifts and the action of gift-giving and receiving becomes ritual enactment of the unfathomable gift of existence itself. “Think green” and “Think global” when planning what to give and how to give it. Here are a few ideas:
Start a family tree-planting tradition. Plant a tree together once a year. This has to be planned together ahead of time. You need to decide where a tree is needed, what it’s needed for and what kind of tree will best meet that need. For help and information on tree planting and planning, contact: The National Arbor Day Foundation • www.arborday.org Tree People – 1(818) 753-4600 • www.treepeople.org If you choose to buy a cut tree, be sure to take it to a mulching or chipping center for composting after the holidays so all the valuable nutrients from the tree go back to the earth. RECYCLED PAPER SAVES TREES UNICEF – United Nations Childrens’ Fund – all their cards are printed on recycled paper. www.supportunicef.org – click on donations, gifts and cards. (323) 655-5064 – ask them to send you a catalog. Make your own wrapping paper – Newspaper or recycled brown wrapping paper with painted or crayoned designs on them . Tie with natural jute twine or grasses you’ve collected and dried with a spring of pine, rosemary, holly, pinecone or red toyon, pyracantha or holly berries tied in. Wrap your gift in a lovely piece of cloth or scarf which can be used again and again. Save or reuse anything that can be and put all paper waste into the recycling bin.
Give friends and family the gift of life. Make a donation to a local homeless shelter or relief organization in a loved one’s name. Alternative Gifts International at (800) 842-2243 or www.altgifts.org has a catalog describing 25 to 35 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping those who need it around the world. Your donation in the name of your loved one goes to the organizations of your choice. Your loved one receives a lovely card announcing your gift in their name and describing the organization the people their gift benefited. I’ve received many thank you calls from friends who’ve received these cards. They’re thrilled to know that someone was helped in their name and also thrilled to know about this service provided by Alternative Gifts International. Heifer Project International runs a similar program. They specialize in providing farm animals to people in need around the world. They have a cute slogan. “Shop ‘til World Hunger Drops!” You can find them at 1015 Louisiana Street, Little Rock AR 72202, or (800) 422-0474 or visit www.heifer.org. Or, buy someone an annual membership to a national park or zoo in his or her area or a national environmental organization. There are many, but just a few are: Sierra Club Natural Resources Defense Council The Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) Or a subscription to a magazine focused on something they’re interested in - or should be interested in. For the environment: E magazine Earth Island Journal Natural Home Magazine GIVING YOURSELF • a certificate redeemable for a half-hour foot, neck or shoulder massage, or, if you have the time and the stamina, a whole hour’s whole body massage given by you, • a promissory note for a visit to local point of interest, like the zoo or the planetarium or even the library. And, if you go everywhere by car, taking public transit can be part of the special-ness of the experience. (and it doesn’t add to air pollution) • bread, cake, cookies, jam, herb vinegar, soap or anything yummy and/or useful made by hand by you with all organic ingredients. If you decide to go more traditional in your purchasing, choose durable long-lasting gifts: solar-powered items, water conserving devices, energy saving gifts, home composting bins, canvas shopping bags, ceramic mugs, insulated travel mugs or reusable lunch bags. THE ORGANIC OPTION One catalog I’m aware of with great natural and organic products is Harmony from GAIAM. Call 1(800) 869-3446. www.gaiam.com For organic food, your local health food store is your best bet — or if you want to buy a long-lasting gift for your whole family, buy a membership to a local CSA. One I know of the in southern California area is the Tierra Niguel Foundation. They can be contacted at (760) 742-1199, www.tierraniguel.org For an annual membership fee, you will be provided with premium quality fresh organic produce on a weekly basis. For those not located in southern California, www.umass.edu/umext/csa
For most of us, holiday meals traditionally have some type of meat, usually turkey or ham, as the main course. But meat that’s been grown specifically for human consumption takes a very high toll on the environment. In his book, Diet for a New America, Mr. John Robbins documents both the severe environmental destruction and pollution and the chronic health consequences to us of eating animals grown for human consumption. Just a few facts from this book follow: Deforestation is occurring to make room for meat production. . . Forests are one of the few places where topsoil erosion is not taking place. But after being cleared for use in livestock production, ex-forestland begins to lose soil rapidly. (pg. 361) Those who consume meat daily face an almost 4 times greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who eat little or no meat. (pg. 264) Foods of animal origin (are) the major source of . . . pesticide residues in the diet. (pg 315) Are you ready to try a meat-free holiday meal for the good of the earth and for good health? If so, tofurky & Unturkey are available in all health food stores nationwide. And, all the rest of the meal is already meat-free! Tofurky is available in Rayley's, Albertson's and a few other chains in California. But for the most part it is at Natural Foods stores. More information on what stores have tofurky can be found at www.tofurky.com For organic food, your local health food store is your best best – or – if you want to buy a long-lasting gift for your whole family, buy a membership to a local CSA. One I know of the in southern California area is the Tierra Niguel Foundation. They can be contacted at (760) 742-1199, www.tierraniguel.org. For an annual membership fee, you will be provided with premium quality fresh organic produce on a weekly basis. For those not located in southern California, www.umass.edu/umext/csa Choose durable long-lasting gifts: solar-powered items, water conserving devices, energy saving gifts, home composting ins, canvas shopping bans, ceramic mugs, insulated travel mugs or reusable lunch bags.
Save money on your electric bill by decorating your holiday tree with strands of popcorn or berries as an alternative to lights. Conserve more energy by only lighting small areas outside your home and focus on daytime visuals for the rest of the space Have Happy HOLY-DAYS! Julia S. Russell |
Holiday Ecology