CHRISTMAS ARTICLE SPECIAL
Plan for a Greener, More
Relaxing Holiday Season
By: Naomi Phillips – undergraduate political science
student at the University of Victoria
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Christmas comes once a year but the way we celebrate
the holiday season has a lasting impact on our well being, our communities and
the environment. By making a few changes
to your holiday routine, you can reduce both the waste and stress associated
with the holiday season.
Shop locally, make
gifts yourself or re-gift something special.
Shopping close to home helps support local businesses while making gifts
yourself cuts back on packaging and the green house gas emissions from
shipping. Visiting a seasonal craft fair with friends and family is a fun way
to support the local economy and pick up one of kind gifts. If you’re not sure
about making gifts, the internet abounds with instructions for do-it-yourself
projects for varying skill levels. Hosting a craft night is another option for
making either gifts or decorations. This is a fun way to catch up and learn
from friends. For some, re-gifting is a social faux pas but if you think
another person would appreciate the item more, why not pass it on?
Reduce the
number of people you shop for.
If you find buying gifts
for a lot of people stressful and hard on your bank account call a family
meeting to discuss gift giving. My
family found that budgeting to give gifts meant each person received several
small, not very useful items. Now we set a price limit and draw names so everyone
only has to buy one gift. As a result, we have more time to spend visiting
without the worry of shopping for gifts.
Get a locally
raised free range turkey, plan you menu around seasonal produce and reduce food
waste. Buying a locally raised turkey helps promote
food security by supporting local producers. Eating fruits and vegetables in
season is another way to support local food production and reduce reliance on
fossil fuels required for shipping. To reduce food waste, try and prepare only
enough food for your guests. If you enjoy having leftovers, make an effort to
use up the food you already have on hand prior to hosting so you have room to
store your leftovers and nothing goes to waste.
Donate to your
local food bank and make plans to donate again in the coming year. Food banks rely on the food and cash donations they receive during
the Christmas season well into the following year. This year, the Surrey Food
Bank ran out of food donations in June, earlier than they ever had before.
Other food banks in the province faced the same challenge. Food Banks BC can
help you find a local food bank either to access services or make a donation.
List of foods by season
Christmas stock already gone
at Surrey Food Bank . August 8, 2012. http://www.thenownewspaper.com/Christmas+stock+already+gone+Surrey+Food+Bank/7060592/story.html
Food Banks BC
