In the Kitchen
- A Better Beer
- Ban The Bottled Water
- Benefits Of Buying Local Produce
- Clip and Save While Doing Your Part
- Don't Pour Kitchen Grease Down The Drain
- ENERGY STAR Refrigerators and Dishwashers Will Save You Money
- Hidden Dangers In Your Cookware
- Homemade Baby Food Is A Great Way To Do Your Part
- How To Break The Paper Towel Habit
- How to Buy Organic Foods on a Budget!
- Is Organic Pet Food Worth The Cost?
- Organic Produce That's Worth The Money
- Party Time!
- Pick Your Own Produce & Save Big!
- The Great Wine Debate: Box or Bottle?
- The Never Ending Glass Recycling Story - Local
- The Never Ending Glass Recycling Story - National
- Turkey Time - What do all those labels really mean?
- What Those Produce Stickers Tell You
- What's Better Than An Apple? A Locally-Grown One!
In the Bathroom
All Through the House
- A Big Break for Making Better Choices!
- A Cleaner Candle
- An Easy Attic Fix To Save Money!
- CFLs: The Good and The Bad
- Cleaning With Vinegar
- Control Indoor Pests Naturally
- Diapers: What's the Eco-Friendly Choice?
- Does Your Clogged Dryer Vent Cost You $20 A Month?
- Don't Trash it! Freecycle It!
- Earth 911 can help you recycle!
- ENERGY STAR products save energy, water and money!
- ENERGY STAR- New Homes
- ENERGY STAR: TVs: What's the Greener Choice?
- Father's Day Green Gift Ideas
- Get To Know Those Plastic Recycling Numbers - Local
- Get To Know Those Plastic Recycling Numbers - National
- Get Your Carpet Cleaned WITHOUT All The Chemicals!
- Green Gifts for Mother's Day!
- Green Holiday Table Decorations
- Green Volunteering
- High Fashion, Low Cost
- Home Energy Audit Makes Dollars and Cents
- Home Goods For A Lot Less!
- How Big Is Your Eco-Footprint?
- How Plastic Is Made
- How To (Safely) Get Rid of Household Hazardous Waste
- In With The New and Recycle The Old
- Is The Air Inside Your Home Polluted?
- Is Your Make-Up Making You Sick?
- It's In The Shampoo
- Junk The Junk Mail
- Let the Holidays Shine with LED Lights!
- Limitless Fashion On Limited Budget!
- My House Leaks Like A Sieve
- New Life For Old Shoes
- Paperless Tax Return Filing
- Programmable Thermostat: A Quick Fix for High Utility Bills
- Put Your Old Cell Phone To Good Use
- Put Your Old Clothes & Cloths To Good Use!
- Recycle Batteries and Recharge Your Battery Purchases
- Recycle Your Way To A Lower Eco-Footprint
- Recycling A Can - Can Change The World!
- Recycling Paper Is A Success - Local
- Recycling Paper Is A Success - National
- Recycling Plastic
- Reduce Your Eco-Footprint
- Rent Your Way To An Eco Friendly Party!
- Reuse Items You Already Own To Lower Eco-Footprint
- Safer Soaps, Shampoos, & Scrubs
- Shipping Solutions
- Shop (for organic cotton) til you drop!
- Soap: Bar vs Liquid
- Sponges
- Start Simply - At Home
- The Better Choice For Kitty Litter
- The Dirt On Clothes Washers
- This is it
- Treating Pet Smells and Accidents....Naturally
- Try Baking Soda Instead of Costly Chemical Cleaners
- Unique & Green Valentine's Cards
- What Do You Do With Old or Unused Medicine?
- Why It's Important To Do Your Part
In the Garage
In the Garden
- A Natural Jolt For Your Garden
- Adopt A Stream
- Charlotte's Secret Gardens
- Composting: It's Not That Complicated
- Create A Community Garden Where You Live
- Eco Friendly Lawn Tools
- Fall Leaves
- Go Native In Your Charlotte Garden
- How To Set Up A Rain Barrel
- Keep Your Cool And Save!
- Kill Outdoor Pests and Weeds Without Using Toxic Chemicals
- Lightning and trees: A deadly combination
- Local Fresh Food Delivered to Your Door!
- Make Those Mosquitos Go Away - Without Toxic Chemicals!
- Plant A Shade Tree and Reduce Cooling Costs
- Plants That Tolerate Drought Conditions - Local
- Rain Barrels Are Good For The Garden And More!
- Save Our Creeks - Don't Over Fertilize
- Scoop The Poop
- Test Your Soil Before You Fertilize - Local
- Tree Banding - Local
- Use Your Sprinkler System Wisely And Save!
- What's Really In Your Sunscreen?
Green Holiday Table Decorations
Holidays and parties just go together. If you're planning a holiday meal you can still do your part to reduce, reuse and recycle. Lets start with the food. Try to shop for local meats and produce. It's better for the environment because the process requires less fuel and packaging to get to you. It also helps sustain farms and green areas in our communities. Plus your money will feed the local economy instead of going out of state. Organic produce is another earth friendly option because the fruits and vegetables are grown without chemicals. So they're better for your health and won’t pollute the planet. Check the text version of this story for help finding the nearest farmers market near you.
At the table, try not to use plastic or paper disposable dishes. If you’re expecting a big turnout and need extra place settings, go to a thrift store to create a mix and match set or you can rent dishes for really big crowds! Choose cloth napkins over paper. And get creative with the centerpiece, using things most of us can find in our backyards this time of year. Anything green will work: box woods, magnolia leaves, holly leaves and berries even this nandina makes a nice addition. Pine cones and twigs can also be used. And don't forget about any leftover trimmings from you Christmas tree. If you plan ahead and soak the green items in a water bath for a couple of days, they will last even longer.
Drinks should be served in aluminum cans instead of larger plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are not usually recycled into more plastic bottles. Instead, they are turned into lower grade plastics. Aluminum cans however, can be recycled into aluminum cans over and over again.
A your eco-friendly dinner doesn’t end once the meal is over. Think about starting an annual tradition with your guests when it comes to all those leftovers. Have everyone bring reusable containers to take home the extras.
It's easy to Do Your Part, even when your planning a holiday party. Consider it a gift to planet earth and our future.
