Getty - Im dreaming of a green Christmas: gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more

GIFTS, DECORATIONS, AND RECIPES THAT
USE LESS AND MEAN MORE

by ANNA GETTY
photographs by RON HAMAD

Copyright 2009 by Anna Getty.
Photographs copyright 2009 by Ron Hamad.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Getty, Anna.

Im dreaming of a green Christmas : gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more / by Anna Getty.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN: 978-0-8118-6767-2

1. Christmas decorations. 2. Handicraft. 3. Cookery. 4. Sustainable living. I. Title.

TT900.C4G354 2009

745.59412-dc22

2008035028

Designed by Anne Donnard

The photographs in this book were made possible by the generous contribution of sustainable waves from Kelly Green Design + Home in Los Angeles.

The publisher, author, and artists who produced Im Dreaming of a Green Christmas disclaim all liability from any harm, loss, or injury that may result from the use, proper or improper, of the information contained in this book. We advise that common sense dictate any use of the suggested crafts and do not claim that the information contained herein is accurate or safe for your specific situation.

Bambu is a registered trademark of bambu, LLC. BioBags is a registered trademark of BioBag International. Charbay is a registered trademark of Karakasevic Milorad. Craigs List is a registered trademark of Craigslist, Inc. Crate & Barrel is a registered trademark of Euromarket Designs, Inc. eBay is a registered trademark of eBay Inc. EcoPencils is a registered trademark of A.W. Faber-Castell. Enviro-Logs is a registered trademark of Ross A. McRoy. Evite is a registered trademark of Evite LLC. Green & Blacks is a registered trademark of Green & Blacks Chocolate Ltd. iTunes is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Java-Logs is a registered trademark of Hearthmark, LLC. Patagonia is a registered trademark of Patagonia, Inc. Philipponnat is a registered trademark of Champagne P. Philipponnat & Cie Corp. Preserve is a registered trademark of Recycline, Inc. Scotch tape is a registered trademark of 3M Co. Square One is a registered trademark of Allison Kent Evanow. TerraPass is a registered trademark of Terrapass, Inc. Tsar Nicoulai is a registered trademark of Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, LLC. UPS is a registered trademark of United States Postal Service. Veev is a registered trademark of Veev, LLC. Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries. Vodka 14 is a registered trademark of Altitude Spirits, Inc. Whole Foods and Whole Foods Market 365 are registered trademarks of Whole Foods Market. X-acto is a registered trademark of Elmers Products, Inc. Yogi Tea is a registered trademark of Golden Temple of Oregon.

Chronicle Books LLC
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http://www.chroniclebooks.com

this book is dedicated to a
healthy and thriving planet

AH, THE HOLIDAYS. A time of family, tradition, and of course, shopping. In America we clearly love the shopping part, racking up half our annual purchases between Thanksgiving and early January. When I heard my friend and trusted eco-confidante Anna Getty was authoring a book on greening up this notoriously superficial season, I knew we were about to be given invaluable insight into what the holidays really mean. Amid a sea of consumption, we need Annas thoughtful perspectives on celebrating a green Christmas.

As the founder of Ecofabulous.com, a web site devoted to sustainable, sexy style and the green guru for various magazines, television shows, and radio spots, I make it my mission in life to show people how fabulous living green can be. It is truly exciting to discover that everything associated with the holidays can have a more sustainable, but equally fulfilling, alternative. I love how this book gives us practical, tangible ways to increase the pleasure of the holidays while decreasing our environmental impact. Rethinking our purchases and our actions this season is simply eco-wise.

Over the last seven years, my family has been decorating a fun reclaimed plastic tree with the same ornaments, which are imbued with more sentimental value each year they hang from our glimmering faux branches. On family trips well sometimes bring something sustainable back to remember our sojourn. Eventually it gets strung on our tree. Were a mixed-religion family and appreciate the joyful custom of dressing something up together. For families who view that real tree in the house as simply a must, I always recommend buying a potted one that can be planted after the holidays. There are even organizations that will drop off, pick up, and plant a tree for younow thats a holiday gift (see Resources).

Ive spent holidays past with Anna and her eclectic but very close family. I admire how she embraces ritual and tradition in her celebrations, which always are mindful of the environment. For instance, one Easter she hid free-range eggs (that were colored with nontoxic dyes) and surprised our daughters with organic chocolate bunnies and FSC-certified wooden toys. The kids noticed only how generous the Easter bunny had been that year, but I certainly appreciated how mindful our celebration was.

Anna and I are constant collaborators. Currently were working on her eco retreat in Italy, which will be a stellar example of gorgeous sustainability. Were both on the board of Healthy Child, Healthy World, an organization that educates the public about toxins, and we mutually support our other environmental charity commitments, such as Global Green, Mikhail Gorbachevs not-for-profit organization focused on sustainable and equitable building solutions. The boundless love Anna exhibits toward her daughter, her passionate devotion to the earth, and her inherent sense of all things chic make her well suited to shed light on how easy and elegant it is to make the earth one of our holiday priorities. This book not only provides tips and instructions for creating green Christmas traditions, but also encourages us to reassess where we place importance during the holidaysor any celebration, for that matter. From the cards to the wrapping paper to the gifts to the food to the decorations, everything about the holidays can be reinvigorated and celebrated in a more sustainable way. Take gifts; its not very thoughtful to give someone a petroleum-based candle thats going to emit toxins into the air, or pajamas that have been treated with chemical fire retardants. Soy-based candles, organic-cotton PJs, or handmade gifts say that you truly care about the recipient. And by choosing to serve your loved ones organic fare, you can make your family festivities take on an even more meaningful tone.

Anna is one of the most creative, committed, and kind women I have ever known. In this book, she offers us a fresh new way to look at the holidays. Her outlook takes the focus off thoughtless consumption and shines a light on family, time-honored traditions, and the environment. She doesnt ask us to ban purchases, but rather encourages us to buy consciously and think about what Christmas really means to us. This is a guide to help all of us discover old and new ways to celebrate abundance. Namaste.

ZEM JOAQUIN

Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Ecofabulous