Green holiday greetings to our Jasper community! Did you know magazines sell more if they have numbers on the cover? For example "19 Ways to Stay Young" will outsell "Stay Younger" on the cover of In Style magazine every time. Knowing that's true, I'm hoping many more of you will click on the link below for 50 things you and your family can do right away to turn a discussion about sustainability from theory to reality.

For 50 "Go Green!" actions you can take TODAY, check out http://family.go.com/hot-topics/pkg-go-green/article-gg-502536-go-green--50-actions-you-can-take-today-t/. The list includes things like: carrying a reusable mug/jug everywhere (instead of a plastic water bottle or Styrofoam coffee cup); rideshare; and checking your tire pressure (I admit I hadn't thought of that one - you get better gas mileage if your tires are properly inflated).

Now, for more holiday-specific suggestions:

· Make your own gift wrapping and eco-friendly embellishments.  Creative use of newspaper and brown paper sacks for the wrap and rubber stamps, dried flowers, and fragrant live boughs of juniper, cedar and eucalyptus for decoration completes the look. (Find at florists and in floral departments of grocery stores.) To easily make your own reusable, fabric gift bags, check out this link: http://family.go.com/holidays/pkg-christmas/article-949418-reusable-gift-bags-t/.

·  Eat lots of luscious seasonal produce. Late fall/early winter produce includes: pumpkins, winter squash, apples, pears, chestnuts, pomegranate, cranberries, celery root, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and yams. Seasonal produce is more nutritious and flavorful because it's fresher. It also helps us balance out the more indulgent foods we eat during the holidays.  Lastly, the more veggies we eat, the better our immune systems will run during cold and flu season.
 

·  String LED holiday lights. LED stands for "light emitting diodes," which are extremely energy efficient and use only about 10 percent of the energy of a regular light bulb. You'll save money on your electric bill and feel good about this green alternative. Find them at hardware stores and online. (Search LED holiday lights.)

·  Shop second-hand for certain things during the holidays, whether or not you're feeling the money-pinch. Shopping for gently used Christmas decorations and kids' and teens' cold-weather gear or holiday wear at consignment stores is just smart. It's also a great way to avoid adding to the cycle of new "stuff" coming through your household, which is hard on our planet and your wallet. Shopping on Monday (and early in the day) is best when hitting the resale stores. That's when there are new items available people have brought in over the weekend.

Suggestions adapted from modernmom.com.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. Don't forget to e-mail your own ideas and suggestions for sustainability to: environmental@jasperptsa.org.

Sonja Corbin