EcoLiving Ideas

By Amelia Apfel on Mar 8, 2010

0 reviews |

| Login to Comment |

Sure, St. Patrick's day is all about being green, but there's more to this - or any - celebration than the exact shade of your streamers and beer. When you're planning the party, keep in mind that there are many ways to stay on nature's good side.

Avoid plastic decorations, and use recycled paper or green Christmas lights to fancy up a room. If you're crafty, try your hand at a papier-mache pot of gold or bowl for a centerpiece. If you use old newspaper and a flour-based glue recipe, the pieces you create will be entirely biodegradable. To take it a step further, pick up some organic paints, which lack solvents and volatile organic compounds that can cause serious health issues.

If you're serving food, make sure to use compostable plates and silverware. If you like to host, and do so often, it might be worth getting some cheap plates and serving utensils from a nearby thrift store, which you can reuse whenever you have people over. Try a veggie-based recipe, like shepherd's pie or colcannon. Both are simple, traditional dishes with a small carbon footprint. Irish soda bread is another standby.

Beer has a heavy carbon footprint, and the best way to go green is to look at your region's local offerings. Microbreweries produce small batches of carefully crafted beer, and many of them are focused on lowering their environmental impact. If you have the choice, go for the winning combo of local and organic. Wolaver's organic brews are made using a biodiesel-fueled boiler, and are widely available in most areas. What you put on your body can be just as important as what you put in it. Try this organic tee on for size - or as a party favor, if you're feeling generous. For face paint, try mixing one part face cream to two parts cornstarch or baby powder. Add green food coloring, and layer it on without worrying about chemicals or lead.

If you plan to go out on the town, take public transportation. It's safer, you don't have to worry about a designated driver, and you can relax knowing that your car isn't belching out chemicals while you wait in traffic for the parade to pass. If you end up taking a cab, split the ride with friends. Some cities, like Seattle and Burlington, have fleets of hybrid taxis, so you can end your day the way you started it -- in eco-friendly style

See All EcoLiving Ideas | Login to Comment