#1 – Gifts

• Buy locally-made items instead of online to reduce energy used to ship AND support neighbourhood vendors
• Give zero waste items as gifts, like reusable produce bags and refillable containers full of yummy treats
• Give something you have that the receiver has long admired – your generosity and thoughtfullness will be greatly appreciated
• Give the gift of food. We all need to eat and receiving gift boxes with all the fixing for a dinner or favourite cookie ingredients with a recipe card is always on the gift menu!

#2 – Holiday Cards

• Send ecards rather than paper cards through the mail – less energy used to produce and send them
• Call folks instead – give the people on your card list 5 minutes wishing them the best over the holidays to make a real and personal connection
• Cut up old cards to use as gift tags

#3 – Gift Wrap

• Decorate boxes or old coffee cannisters for the festive touch – good news is they can be used again and again
• For those in your household, use an existing piece of clothing to wrap their present (and introduce a new holiday game called FIND YOUR SHIRT!)
• Try the Japanese art of Furoshiki and use fabric (scarves are great or tea towels) to make amazing wrapped creations: Watch YouTube How-To Video

#4 – Giving Back

• Contact local organizations who help those less fortunate (like Safe 'n Sound) to see what is needed this year – it's a great way to donate those extra hats, coats, gloves & mittens hiding in your closet
• Instead of buying a gift, why not make a donation instead to their favourite charity – HINT: Ask them which one first, you may be surprised!
• Go global with your holiday spirit by buying a chicken or goat for a family in a far-off country – it's easy to do online: See How

#5 – Decorations

• Go vintage by making garlands of popcorn and cranberries – after the holidays, decorate an outdoor tree for the birds and animals to enjoy
• Make "orange" ornaments by slicing oranges, place on a metal rack over an oven-proof tray in the oven for 2-3 hours (250 degrees and turn them once) and when cooled add a string to hang – after the holidays, move them outside for "who knows who"
• Organize a wreath exchange or makeover with your friends, using ones you already own 

#6 – Entertaining

• Plan your event to use as few single-use items as possible – use real glasses, plates and cloth napkins
• Purchase soda in cards/carboard boxes (no plastic) – aluminium cans are the most recycled (and recyclable) items on the planet!
• Use beeswax wraps, glass jars and re-usable storage containers to store leftovers (or what we like to call "tomorrow's dinner")

#7 – Yummy Food

• Buy naked veggies and fruit you can cut up and store in glass containers in the fridge as an alternative to always grabbing that cookie
• Shop at Bulk Barn with your reusable containers for delicious nuts and candies (go ahead, treat yourself)
• Let go of your idea of that perfect holiday meal – make something you love to cook and your guest like to eat so everything gets gobbled up
• Shop at the Farmer's Market downtown and bring containers to fill (ask the vendors first)
• Don't forget to compost what you can to help create great soil for next year's garden and flower beds!