Festive fare
‘Tis the season for family gatherings, but instead of spending hours in the kitchen, opt for light, summer fare using a variety of organic, seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you do go the roast chicken or turkey route, make sure it’s free range or organic; and round off your celebrations with local, organic wine.
Avoid trawling busy shopping centres by supporting your local organic market, or even better, get a box of organic produce delivered directly to your door. You can find a market or box delivery scheme in your area on the eco-directory at www.urbansprout.co.za
Remember to take your own bags when you do your Christmas shopping so you don’t end up with piles of plastic packets.
It may be braai season, but that’s no reason to haul out dodgy paper plates. Rather give your celebrations a sense of occasion and set a beautiful table. And remember to recycleyour tin cans and glass bottles once the celebrations are over.
Deck the halls…
Decorate a potted indigenous tree such as Widdringtonia (Cedar Tree) from your local garden centre, and plant it in the garden after Christmas. If you must have a traditional Christmas tree, recycle it after the season. Go to www.pick-it-up.co.za (Jhb), www.durban.gov.za (Dbn) or www.fairestcape.org.za (Cape Town) to find garden refuse and standard recycling services in your area..
Avoid wasting paper (and inevitable late-night present wrapping) by putting up individual Christmas stockings, and opt for locally made or recycled greeting cards and gift tags. For larger gifts, simply decorate with a ribbon or bow — and save your used wrapping paper, bows, boxes and gift bags to reuse next Christmas.
Ditch the fairy lights and plastic decorations — they chew electricity and create unnecessary waste. Rather give your celebrations a local feel-good flavour (and support job creation) by decorating with handmade bead and wire decorations. Buy them from your local street vendor or an African curio shop. .
Green gifting
It’s tempting to overspend on all sorts of sparkly gifts and the latest electronic gadgets, but be a discerning shopper and you’ll save your pocket — and the planet.
Buy durable gifts that won’t need to be replaced quickly, make sure your electronic gifts have rechargeable batteries, and avoid buying over-packaged presents.
Make up your own organic chocolate, wine or pamper hampers. You can find great gift ideas at www.urbansprout.co.za, or buy luxury organic bath and body products or vouchers at www.faithful-to-nature.co.za
Give creative, experiential gifts like theatre tickets, massage or pedicure vouchers; or make your own gift vouchers or IOUs for dinner, a social cooking course or a wine-tasting evening.
Buy gift vouchers — you’ll cut down on packaging, and make sure that everyone gets what they really want. Woolies has a range of gift cards that is made from corn, a renewable resource, and you can load any amount from R10 upwards.
Cut costs (and endless shopping hours) by making a deal with your friends and family that each of you will only buy or make one gift for one specific person in your circle. Draw names to decide who you’ll be gifting to.
Don’t be ashamed to re-gift. If you get something you don’t want, give it to someone who can use it or donate it to charity.
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