Monday 29 December 2014

Tips for a Waste Free Christmas

Happy New Year !

Well it is nearly 2015 and as we are enjoying a beautiful crisp winter day I went on a long walk and thought about my New Year's Resolutions.




At this time of year the amount of waste everywhere depresses me. In an attempt to reduce my home's contribution to the waste mountain I've been doing a few things I'd like to share with you.

1. During the year I buy lovely vintage table cloths and napkins from Charity Shops and wash and iron these so I have plenty for Christmas and I never have to buy paper napkins or cloths.

2. I grow my own tree.You can buy tiny Norway Spruces from Duchy Nurseries in Lostwithiel for about 50p.Buy 5 and plant them on your allotment or in a large container then you'll always have a tree for Christmas.

As you know that your tree hasn't been sprayed with any nasty chemicals you can use a sprig to make a lovely Christmas flavoured Vodka! Simply add a fresh sprig of Norway spruce to a small bottle of Vodka and leave for at least 2 weeks.



3.Use fabrics to wrap presents! Collect nice pieces of cotton fabric during the year and at Christmas wash and iron then before wrapping around your gifts and tying with ribbons.
The fabric can be re-sued indefinitely.



4.Make decorations! A lovely tutorial for origami stars which you can make from printed papers. Great fun for older children.
http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/5-pointed-origami-star.html

5. Some odours at Christmas time are very welcome but some are not! Please don't reach for a chemical 'air freshner' to cover up smells. This article explains just how harmful chemical sprays such as Febreze can be. Instead use natural essential oils mixed and dabbed onto a cotton ribbon or cord which you leave on a radiator or top of Aga.

http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/febreze.html