Want to put some green in your child's Halloween this year? All the candy and plastic getting you down? Here are three simple tips to making this year's Halloween a Greener Holiday.
1. Greener Costumes.
Okay, you don't sew. Neither do I. But I really don't like those plastic, polyester costumes at the store either. Depending on how old your child is, a great place to look for costumes is Good Will or any second hand store. Not only do some stores actually have old costumes and dress up clothes, you can find some great home made costumes too.
If your child is a little older and wants to participate in the creation (like my eldest - 8), they can take different pieces to create something new: a punk rocker, zombie bride, hobo, clown, you name it! Don't forget Free Cycle online, a great resource for just about anything, including costumes.
And please don't get traditional costume make up. Make up is so poorly regulated and can have so many toxic chemicals, even heavy metals, in them. If you are looking for toxic free make up the best source is The Environmental Working Group, and their cosmetics database; an excellent organization, always looking out for your health and safety.
2. Green Halloween Party!
This is a great year for a Green Halloween party. Not only is Halloween on the weekend (perfect time for a party), but you can actually bake or buy great treats that you can't hand out to trick or treaters. I love caramel apples, but that's not something you can get into a Halloween bag. At your Halloween party you can slice organic apples and pour melted caramel over them for a great treat. And apple cider - yum! So many great treats.
And get rid of all the plastic! You can easily buy recycled brown paper bags (or cute cloth bags) and include special treats. I personally love decorating with streamers because they are made from paper that I can recycle or compost! Paper decorations are always a better choice. Best of all, save your decorations for next year. Reusing is the best option.
The best source for planning a green halloween party is www.GreenHalloween.org.
3. Greener Candy?
Greener Candy? Is it possible? Where do you get it? Well, it all depends. You can be thinking of healthier candy, i.e. those without high fructose corn syrup, organic candy, like the Organic Trick or Treat Candy Mix at the NaturalCandyStore.com, or you can be thinking of fair trade chocolates. In any case you can find all that good stuff at The Natural Candy Store online. You can always shop at your local store, because many more places will have organic and fair trade items now in days. However, the selection may be lacking. Online is best if you are short on time and want the biggest selection.
You can also look online for local candy stores and call ahead to find out what they offer. It's always greener to shop locally.
Finally, don't forget to have fun! Having a Greener Halloween just takes a little planning. But once you start, it gets easier and easier as it becomes a habit. In the future you will be full of so many great ideas you will be writing your own blog! Remember to share your old costumes too. See, now I've got you thinking!
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