Halloween is Around the Corner

I just returned from dropping my daughter off at pre-school, enjoying the crisp autumn air and watching the leaves gently cascading to the ground. You would think with the dropping temperatures (BTW- we still haven't turned our air OR heat on since early September) I would have noticed by now it is fall and Halloween is right around the corner.

Halloween does not have to be a disposable, throw-away holiday and can even be green event with a little planning:

• Do not buy a new costume. Often store-bought costumes are made of vinyl and other undesirable materials that also consume valuable resources to produce and distribute.


• Borrow a costume from a friend. For kids (or adults for that matter)- do a costume exchange with friends and reuse costumes from last year.


• Buy a costume from E-bay or craigslist. My daughter's first costume was a ladybug, used off of e-bay. I don't think it was ever worn by the original owner.


• Buy a costume from a consignment shop or sale. This year, my two-year old is going to be a sunflower- a costume I bought at a consignment sale for $4. Locally, try the Kid-to-Kid store on State Bridge (and avoid the Party City across the street).


• Make your own costume from things laying around the house. This especially works well with older children. My 5 year old decided she wanted to be Polka-dot Red Riding Hood (not sure where she got the concept, but hey, I love the creativity!). We're using a red polka-dotted scarf we had and a red polka-dotted skirt that a friend gave us that her daughter used for a Minnie Mouse outfit. Throw in a basket and a wolf (we are still working on that one...I'm trying to convince my husband that he should be the wolf and I could be the grandmother, but that's another story).

Other ways to green your Halloween:

• When carving pumpkins, grill the left over carving pieces (wrap in foil w/ a little olive oil & salt--yum!). Also, you can grill or roast the seeds. After Halloween, compost your pumpkin.


• Instead of passing out the standard sugar-laden candy, try something different. How about a drink of hot apple cider (with all the running around the kids are doing, they probably need something to drink), a temporary tattoo, stickers, etc.. This year, we'll most likely do apple cider and organic lollipops from Trader Joes. Oh, and we'll be recycling received, yet uneaten, candy from the many birthday parties and other events over the past month or so.


• Consider reverse trick-or-treating. Kids will likely still get treats from neighbors, yet will also have the opportunity to give something back, which is a special treat for all!
• When Halloween is over, pack up all your costumes, trick-or-treat bags, decorations, etc. and save for next year vs. re-purchasing everything.
  

For more ideas, check out the web site Green Halloween.

Happy Fall friends!
~Robin~

Sustainable Peachtree Corners: Positively promoting green, sustainable living for those who live, work and play in the Peachtree Corners community.

Photo credit: Green Halloween website