Normal Green: More Green Holiday Tips

The holidays are all about treasured family traditions and the festive celebrations that make the season bright.  For those looking to make special connections with family and Mother Earth this season, Tonic News offers up a few tips that will help spread good cheer and eco-friendly merry making.

Celebrate at home. Don't feel bad if you aren't going anywhere this season. The holidays are one of heaviest times of year for highway travel, so this year, keep it in-house. Doing so will reduce global warming and improve air quality by lowering auto emissions and also save on gas. If you must travel, before leaving for your trip, remember to conserve at home. Turn off the lights, computers and appliances that will not be in use and make sure to tightly turn off all faucets to prevent waste of water. Also consider off-setting your carbon by visiting carbonfund.org.

Choose local, organic and sustainably grown ingredients for the holiday table. Support your local farmers and food producers. Local and organic fruit, vegetables, meat and grains grown without chemicals not only taste better but they are better for the environment. Check out www.eatwellguide.org to find organic food in your area.

Choose an organic or biodynamic wine that uses real cork. Real cork (not plastic stoppers or twist caps) is renewable and the trees aren't felled for the cork. Cork oak trees have bark harvested every nine years and tree bark is what cork is made out of. The oak tree itself is not harmed in any way so that it can grow its bark back. Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Oregon's leader in biodynamic and organic wines offers a Reserve Pinot Noir ($24) as a perfect pairing for holiday feasts. Oregon may not be local to you, but there are wine-, beer-, and spirit-makers in just about every state. Pour local this holiday. For more information on the wine, visit www.coopermountainwine.com.

Donate leftover turkey fat for bio-fuel. This tip requires a little more planning on your part, but companies like Biodiesel Industries in Texas accept turkey fat donations to create biodiesel fuel for cars.  Turkey fat may not be good for the body, but it sure is good for the environment. Visit www.biodiesel.org for donating information.

Don't wrap your presents with paper. Take the Tonic News No Gift Wrap challenge, but if you must wrap, choose recycled paper products and make sure they are not metallic (that can't be recycled). For more gift wrapping alternatives, visit www.eartheasy.com.

Have any green holiday tips to share? We'd love to hear them in the comments below. Have a Green Christmas, Hanukkah or Festivus!