"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.

Mahatma Ghandi

Tip of the Month

Plan a Green Halloween! 

Tip One:  Rather than purchasing a Halloween costume that will more than likely only be worn once, get creative.  Look through your closet or attic for old clothing that can be made into a costume.  Maybe that old plaid flannel shirt and those holey jeans will make a good scarecrow costume for your trick or treater or as a porch decoration.  Do you have any 1980’s clothing still sitting around - how about planning a retro theme? 

Tip Two:  Don’t waste your pumpkin when making a jack-o-lantern.  Use the meat of the pumpkin to make pies or muffins.  Bake the seeds for a healthy snack.  When the jack-o-lantern has seen its last days, compost it rather than throwing it in the garbage. 

Tip Three:  Don’t go overboard with the candy.  All too often, kids go home with their treat bags overflowing with candy that more often than not, gets thrown away, creating even more waste!  Purchase Fair Trade, Organic candy; it’s better for the farmers, the trick or treaters, and the planet.

Tip Four:  Forgo the Halloween cards; instead, send e-cards, thus reducing the number of trees cut down, the amount of fossil fuel wasted in the production and shipment of the cards, as well as reducing the waste in the landfills.  Also consider this for Thanksgiving and other major holidays.