[ShareTompkins] SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS SUGGESTIONS

[Shira Golding]

> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:07:23 -0500
> From: Elan Shapiro <elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us>
> To: sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org,
> 	sustainability at lists.ithaca.edu
> Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Holiday frenzy? Sustainable tips from
> 	an	early ST event
> Message-ID: <p06240828c7511c6acdd0@[10.0.1.45]>
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>
> going through an old folder
>
> SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS SUGGESTIONS
>
> Don't let gifts dominate how holidays are framed
> and experienced. There's so much more to the
> holidays!
>
> FAMILY/CELEBRATIONS: Make connections with each
> other, not gifts, the focus. What are most
> meaningful, sustainable, memorable ways to
> connect with each other?  Nature strolls, making
> food together, making gifts together, bringing
> food gifts to wildlife, unhurried time for
> relaxed conversations, honoring the seasonal
> changes, appreciation circles, games, reviewing
> photos and mementos from the last year,
> meaningfully relating to our larger family, which
> has so much less privilege than we do...
>
> SPIRIT/MEANING: Take time to reflect on the real
> meaning of this time of year, and whichever of
> the holidays moves you... share the meaning and
> the joys behind different rituals, traditions and
> holidays?.. share favorite inspirational ideas,
> rituals, songs? Go to uplifting performances
> (many are free!),sing-alongs,and services.
>
> SHOPPING/SPENDING  Make it a challenge game to
> substantially reduce the amount of shopping and
> spending each year. Be sure to graciously notify,
> well in advance, friends and relatives who this
> may impact so it's a sensitive collaborative
> process, with no hurt feelings necessary.
>
> TRAVEL: Make it a challenge game to connect and
> enjoy more, and travel less, esp. on planes and
> alone in a car
>
> SELF-CARE: Commit to making this time a renewing,
> rebalancing time, even though it's great to
> immerse in family and community
> connectedness?.Imagine doing the holidays in
> joyful moderation and elegant simplicity, at
> least some of the time?Walk together after big
> meals....Listen to your feelings, find out what
> you really need, then ask for what you need or
> give it to yourself. ?.....Don't fool yourself
> into thinking you're the only person who feels
> isolated and lonely when that happens. This is a
> very common holiday experience that you share
> with many, many others; so don't get too lost in
> self-pity. Reach out or reach in!
>
> DECORATIONS:
> Trees: Get a tree from as close a tree farm as
> possible- support a local farmer?.Buy a live tree
> with an appropriate location in mind for spring
> planting?.Decorate a tree near your home ..Make a
> tree from dead poles or branches covered with
> vines and/or greens.... have a ornament making
> party
> Menorahs: Make or bake your own
> Lighting: LED string lights are extremely energy
> saving and now widely available.
>
> GIFTS:
> o	Think of each other's  p r e s e n c e
> as the main gift we are giving each other by
> taking time to be together in unhurried ways on
> the holidays. Commit to being less busy this time
> around, as a gift to your loved ones and your
> world. This holiday season, GIVE PRESENCE .
> o	Give gifts from materials you re-use or
> recycle- turn old calendars into gift boxes,
> t-shirts into distinctive fashion items, old
> pants into handbags, color magazine pages into
> rolled beads, aluminum can tabs into earrings,
> old paper soaked, beaten and dried into fancy
> stationery, etc.
> o	Give homemade gifts. Consider if its
> something the person will really value and enjoy
> or use. Include things you have grown or gathered
> from nature.
> o	Give gifts that support local businesses
> (farmers, artists, craftspeople, etc.)
> o	Give energy gifts (a massage, a special
> meal, mow your lawn, make your bed?.) Give the
> gift with an attractive "voucher" or certificate,
> or a number of smaller energy gifts in a coupon
> book. Give a gift of shared experiences- a
> special performance, outing or dinner.
> o	Give a gift that contributes to a cause
> that the person cares deeply about.
> o	Go to the Alternative Gift Fair (too late
> this year).  Give to a local cause of your choice
> that will also have meaning for the peron you're
> gifting.
> o	Do without purchased gift giving (or any
> gift giving) altogether (perhaps with just one
> subset of your relationships). Ideally, make it a
> conscious shared process well in advance to avoid
> misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
> o	Reduce the number of gifts given. Do
> "lottery" gift giving, where you randomly chose
> one person in your family or social group who
> will get a gift from you, making sure everyone
> gets one gift. Set up gift exchanges in your
> group by lottery. Agree as a group on a number
> limit (and/or a spending limit) of gifts to be
> given.
> o	Give gifts without wrapping, or with
> reusable fabric wrapping, or with recycled or
> homemade wrapping.
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Elan Shapiro
> Sustainable Living Associates
> Frog's Way B&B
> 211 Rachel Carson Way
> Ithaca, NY 14850
> 607-275-0249    607-592-8402 Cell
>
> "Be the change we want to see in the world"
> 	          Mohandas Gandhi

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