Tag Archives: eco-friendly

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
By

Oh, Eco-Christmas Tree

Photo courtesy of
‘The So-soes: Chrismas Tree’
courtesy of ‘ATKR’

Is it possible to make a tree more eco-friendly? Yes! A local organic farmer is growing Christmas trees without herbicides or pesticides, or artificial color sprays (wow, I never knew that color wasn’t real).

You can pick one up for $30 to $125, about what you’d find at the corner lot. For the greenest option, check out a live tree you can replant after the holidays (they’ll dig it or you can). Or choose a Colorado blue spruce, Douglas fir, Con-color fir, white pine, Canaan fir, or Charlie Brown tree that just needs love. Wreaths and roping are available, too. Want to give a tree to a teacher, limited-income family or community worker? You can get a discount.

Find yours at the Adams Morgan farmers market on Saturdays until Dec. 19, come to the farm, or arrange to pick it up in Takoma Park (twice weekly until Christmas). To order, call 301-587-2248 or email esiegel2@igc.org.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
By

Green Holiday Tips

Photo courtesy of
‘Lights Macro’
courtesy of ‘TPorter2006’

Want to have a glorious and green holiday? Check out these holiday tips that Adrienne Spahr, founder and principal consultant of DC’s own Green Living Consulting, gave at last night’s Green Drinks DC.

Reuse or recycle wrapping paper — more than 8,000 tons of it, equal to 50,000 trees, festoon packages each year. Or wrap presents in creative, reusable materials. Send e-cards, or send cards made from recycled paper. If all cards were made from recycled paper, it would save the equivalent of 248,000 trees.

Buy a locally grown Christmas tree and recycle it. Carry reusable shopping bags. Buy LED holiday lights, to save watts and electricity dollars. If you get new electronics, recycle your old ones or sell them. Buy rechargeable batteries and chargers, and recycle old batteries.

And after the holidays, “regift” that tacky sweater or shrimp deveiner to Goodwill, eBay, Craigslist or Freecycle.