Between costumes, candy holders, treat wrappers and
plastic decorations, Halloween can quickly become a landfill’s worst nightmare.
Multiply that by the number of kids you have and you have quite a bit of wasted
junk on your conscience. Fortunately, just about anything you do can be done in
a more ecologically responsible way, and it’s easy! Check out my tips to green
your Halloween — and save some serious cash (paper green!) in the process.
Costumes
GreenHalloween.org has started National Costume Swap
Day, which is October 13, 2012. Their great idea is that your kids trade
costumes with friends instead of buying new ones. Other ideas to go green and
save green: recycle among your own family members; use an old karate or ballet
outfit; break out the princess dress-up clothes. Google “Halloween costumes you
can make at home for cheap” and start surfing. And don’t forget to check thrift
stores and garage sales all year.
Trick or Treating
Grab that rechargeable or LED shake flashlight and
head out the door. Wait! Don’t forget the decorated cloth bag you can reuse
next year. An even cheaper route (and it’s still space- and eco-friendly) is to
go retro and use a pillowcase or go modern and use a cloth shopping bag. Pick
up trash as you follow your trick-or-treaters and keep it in a separate bag or
in the bottom of the stroller if you’re taking littles along, too.
Treats
Just so we’re clear, I’m not of the camp that lumps
eco-friendly with sugar-free. And even if you’re handing out healthy Halloween
treats, chances are you’re still sending individually wrapped stuff into the
world (oh, the trash all over my neighborhood!). Instead of doing that,
consider handing out something that can be either useful or recycled. Ideas
include pencils, erasers, quarters, crayons, juice boxes (recyclable
cardboard), cool bandages, bookmarks or seed packets (edible flowers, herbs,
etc.).
Decorations
Instead of buying decorations made in China that eat
up batteries, consider strategically placing some hay bales in your yard or on
your deck or front porch. Chrysanthemums, gourds, colorful corn, ghosts made of
sheets stuffed with batting and scarecrows stuffed with hay (use some old
clothes) are cheap and green choices. Nontoxic window paints are fun for kids
to use on windows and doors. There are all kinds of Halloween crafts you can
make out of materials you have around the house that can be saved for next year
or recycled later. Crafts like bottle cap pumpkin magnets, tin can bat treat
holders and an egg carton animal nose mask can also be a great activity at your
Halloween party (see below). Check out http://familycrafts.about.com/od/halloween/tp/Recycled-Halloween-Crafts-For-Kids.htm
for instructions and more craft ideas.
Pumpkins
Speaking of decorations, pumpkins are the best
decoration out there, and you can even grow your own if you have the space.
Just toss a bunch of seeds in a large garden area and you’ll have freebies for
next year. Otherwise, take an educational trip to a local pumpkin patch (www.PumpkinPatchesAndMore.org) so you
support local farmers. Make sure you toast some pumpkin seeds (cinnamon sugar
seeds rock!) and make a pie with the rest.
Parties
After you send out an Evite to the parents, start
planning your green Halloween party. Instead of setting out individually
wrapped treats, put carrots, orange slices and pretzels in bowls. Make sugar
cookies in advance in cool Halloween shapes (bats, pumpkins, ghosts) and have
the kids frost and decorate them with orange and black frosting. Throw some
newspaper on the table, break out the nontoxic paints and decorate some
pumpkins.
This picture is for my friend Smoosh, who I have known forever, as in BEFORE I GOT MARRIED. We worked together at a public relations firm and were both secretaries who ended up having a much better time as stay-at-home-moms sharing a breast pump and other gross secrets. She said her son looked over her shoulder when she was reading The Kerrie Show (like a good friend should!) and wanted to know what my kids were for Halloween.
Laptop issues prevented me from posting in a timely manner, so here you go on Thanksgiving: the picture of my kids at the church Trunk or Treat. It was COLD here in the Midwest, so they are a bit covered up! Here's your cheat sheet:
Joel was a leopard with taped-on spots because his mom is too lazy and cheap to sew or buy a costume.
Michael was a wizard (recycled costume and hand me down from a friend).
Callie was a "skating queen" (hey, whatever floats your boat and I don't have to come up with a creative idea for).
Eva was a ghost, using a trash bag and a Sharpie, costume by Michael. A neighbor asked if she was wearing a trash bag (incredulous!) and I said she was going as White Trash this year.
Sam was a cow. Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP for a costume that has been used by ALL FIVE kids in my family? Take THAT, Green Movement!
No, I was not passed out drunk on the couch while they got dressed. Would that I could drink alcohol and enjoy it and not get a headache. I just like to let them use their imagination and get creative and find their own stuff to wear!
