<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; ">Message: 6<br>Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:07:23 -0500<br>From: Elan Shapiro <<a href="mailto:elansla@ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us">elansla@ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us</a>><br>To:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:sustainabletompkins@lists.mutualaid.org">sustainabletompkins@lists.mutualaid.org</a>,<br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><a href="mailto:sustainability@lists.ithaca.edu">sustainability@lists.ithaca.edu</a><br>Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Holiday frenzy? Sustainable tips from<br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>an<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>early ST event<br>Message-ID: <p06240828c7511c6acdd0@[10.0.1.45]><br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ; format="flowed"<br><br>going through an old folder<br><br>SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS SUGGESTIONS<br><br>Don't let gifts dominate how holidays are framed<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>and experienced. There's so much more to the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>holidays!<br><br>FAMILY/CELEBRATIONS: Make connections with each<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>other, not gifts, the focus. What are most<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>meaningful, sustainable, memorable ways to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>connect with each other? Nature strolls, making<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>food together, making gifts together, bringing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>food gifts to wildlife, unhurried time for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>relaxed conversations, honoring the seasonal<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>changes, appreciation circles, games, reviewing<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>photos and mementos from the last year,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>meaningfully relating to our larger family, which<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>has so much less privilege than we do...<br><br>SPIRIT/MEANING: Take time to reflect on the real<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>meaning of this time of year, and whichever of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>the holidays moves you... share the meaning and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>the joys behind different rituals, traditions and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>holidays?.. share favorite inspirational ideas,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>rituals, songs? Go to uplifting performances<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>(many are free!),sing-alongs,and services.<br><br>SHOPPING/SPENDING Make it a challenge game to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>substantially reduce the amount of shopping and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>spending each year. Be sure to graciously notify,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>well in advance, friends and relatives who this<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>may impact so it's a sensitive collaborative<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>process, with no hurt feelings necessary.<br><br>TRAVEL: Make it a challenge game to connect and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>enjoy more, and travel less, esp. on planes and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>alone in a car<br><br>SELF-CARE: Commit to making this time a renewing,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>rebalancing time, even though it's great to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>immerse in family and community<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>connectedness?.Imagine doing the holidays in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>joyful moderation and elegant simplicity, at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>least some of the time?Walk together after big<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>meals....Listen to your feelings, find out what<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>you really need, then ask for what you need or<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>give it to yourself. ?.....Don't fool yourself<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>into thinking you're the only person who feels<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>isolated and lonely when that happens. This is a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>very common holiday experience that you share<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>with many, many others; so don't get too lost in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>self-pity. Reach out or reach in!<br><br>DECORATIONS:<br>Trees: Get a tree from as close a tree farm as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>possible- support a local farmer?.Buy a live tree<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>with an appropriate location in mind for spring<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>planting?.Decorate a tree near your home ..Make a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>tree from dead poles or branches covered with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>vines and/or greens.... have a ornament making<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>party<br>Menorahs: Make or bake your own<br>Lighting: LED string lights are extremely energy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>saving and now widely available.<br><br>GIFTS:<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Think of each other's p r e s e n c e<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>as the main gift we are giving each other by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>taking time to be together in unhurried ways on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>the holidays. Commit to being less busy this time<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>around, as a gift to your loved ones and your<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>world. This holiday season, GIVE PRESENCE .<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give gifts from materials you re-use or<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>recycle- turn old calendars into gift boxes,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>t-shirts into distinctive fashion items, old<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>pants into handbags, color magazine pages into<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>rolled beads, aluminum can tabs into earrings,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>old paper soaked, beaten and dried into fancy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>stationery, etc.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give homemade gifts. Consider if its<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>something the person will really value and enjoy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>or use. Include things you have grown or gathered<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>from nature.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give gifts that support local businesses<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>(farmers, artists, craftspeople, etc.)<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give energy gifts (a massage, a special<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>meal, mow your lawn, make your bed?.) Give the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>gift with an attractive "voucher" or certificate,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>or a number of smaller energy gifts in a coupon<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>book. Give a gift of shared experiences- a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>special performance, outing or dinner.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give a gift that contributes to a cause<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>that the person cares deeply about.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Go to the Alternative Gift Fair (too late<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>this year). Give to a local cause of your choice<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>that will also have meaning for the peron you're<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>gifting.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Do without purchased gift giving (or any<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>gift giving) altogether (perhaps with just one<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>subset of your relationships). Ideally, make it a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>conscious shared process well in advance to avoid<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>misunderstandings and hurt feelings.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Reduce the number of gifts given. Do<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>"lottery" gift giving, where you randomly chose<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>one person in your family or social group who<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>will get a gift from you, making sure everyone<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>gets one gift. Set up gift exchanges in your<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>group by lottery. Agree as a group on a number<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>limit (and/or a spending limit) of gifts to be<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>given.<br>o<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Give gifts without wrapping, or with<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>reusable fabric wrapping, or with recycled or<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>homemade wrapping.<br><br><br><br><br>--<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Elan Shapiro<br>Sustainable Living Associates<br>Frog's Way B&B<br>211 Rachel Carson Way<br>Ithaca, NY 14850<br>607-275-0249 607-592-8402 Cell<br><br>"Be the change we want to see in the world"<br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> Mohandas Gandhi<br></span></blockquote></div><br></body></html>