HOME | SITE MAP

Earth Water Air Minds Bodies


The Real Mamas’ Very Own Green Holiday Goals: Our Vows to Save Resources and Inspire Others This Holiday Season



This time of year we all have lots to do and lots of gifts to prepare, but making one more list of gifts for Mother Earth is an easy commitment that will not only benefit the earth, but your loved ones as well.

Each of us at Real Mama, Inc. has committed to five green holiday goals. Our goals range from environmentally friendly and alternative gift ideas to resource saving efforts and charitable giving. Join us this holiday season and give the gift of “green”!

Kari’s Five Green Holiday Goals:

1. I will give one, small eco-friendly gift to my immediate family members. For example, I'm putting compact fluorescent light bulbs in each of their stockings.

2. I’m reusing the fronts of last year's Christmas cards (rarely do people use the space to write on the inside front cover of the card) as Christmas postcards (also saves postage!) or gift tags (punch a hole in the corner and thread through bow/ribbon/or gift bag handle).

3. I will bring my cloth bags along with me for grocery shopping AND to department stores.

4. I will offer my expertise as a gift (i.e., bake cookies or dessert for someone's dinner party, organize a closet or dresser drawers, or provide a half-day of gardening).

5. I will give kids on my gift list items that are offered for sale by environmental nonprofit organizations (i.e., adopt an animal or a subscription to Ranger Rick magazine by National Wildlife Federation).

Camille’s Five Green Holiday Goals

1. My husband and I vow to purchase products of positive change as gifts. We have been looking for toys and items that are either recycled, organic, support fair trade practices or are manufactured with sustainable products or by sustainable practices.

2. I plan on making my own granola and packaging it up in reusable containers for my neighbors, kids’ teachers, and co-workers.

3. I will refuse to buy wrapping paper. Instead I will use baskets, fancy boxes and unusual containers that I have saved throughout the year. I will make use of every paper bag that ends up in my house. Newspapers and butcher paper (that I already have) will be used creatively with ribbon (that I purchase).

4. I won’t go crazy with the Christmas lights. Just a few on our tree will keep us in the holiday mood. (I have seen some LED lights that are for sale everywhere and use less energy).

5. I will bring organic wine to holiday parties.

Kirstin’s Five Green Holiday Goals:

1. I will take my children holiday shopping with me. As hard as it may be to bring a 4 year old and 20 month old out to the stores, we will include the kids and remind ourselves what the holidays are all about, and we will be given an opportunity to teach our kids about the type of gifts we like to give (those that encourage being outdoors and are made of natural materials).

2. I will use nature to decorate our home for the holidays with fresh pine tree branches collected on walks and a wreath of holly collected from the tree in our yard.

3. I will wrap gifts in brown paper bags reused from trips to the supermarket with nice red velvet ribbon and decorations from nature like pine cones, shells, or branches. And, I will give the gift of time by taking kids on our list somewhere (e.g., the movies, zoo, or beach) instead of buying them something.

4. I will cook as much as possible for family and friends, using organic and all natural ingredients and minimally processed food.

5. I will participate in toy and food drives, and after the holidays, I will go through the gifts we received as well as other toys in the house to sort through what we really “need” and give the rest to charity.

Corey’s Five Green Holiday Goals:

1. When traveling away from home for the holidays, I will turn the heat in our home down at least ten degrees—thereby saving money and energy and cutting carbon emissions.

2. I will give my children multiple gifts that encourage environmental stewardship (e.g., guide books; flower press; Audubon membership.)

3. I will not purchase any ribbon for gifts, but will instead reuse ribbon saved from gifts received last year. And, I will not purchase any wrapping paper, but instead wrap gifts in brown, recyclable craft paper decorated with my children’s handprints (using red and green or silver and gold non-toxic paint).

4. I will attempt to purchase gifts that are minimally packaged, or when purchasing from websites attempt to place bulk orders so that the products are shipped together in one box.

5. As gifts for friends, I will make ornaments, using clear glass ball ornaments purchased at a craft store and filling the inside of the ornament will decorations from nature such as seeds, berries, twigs and mosses, dried flowers, and seashells.


Welcome to Real Mama, Inc