ReNewport

Shopping

Support local private businesses instead of shopping at the more commercial retailers. You are more likely to find green friendly products at these stores as well.

Bring your own shopping bags or only accept one shopping bag from a retailer and tote all of your items from each store in one bag.

Fun Fact - Did you know….Americans throw away about 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. That's an additional 5 million tons of garbage!

Holiday Entertaining

Purchase food from farmers markets or organic grocers and consider meal preparation before you head to the market so you do not over buy food which could turn into waste.

Always use cloth tablecloths and napkins as well as china and sturdy flatware which can all be washed and reused.

Wrapping/Cards

Send family & friends holiday cards via email.

If you receive cards you can reuse them for the following year by simply cutting the card into two parts, recycling the inside/back portion with the greeting and writing and turn the beautiful front portion of the card into a postcard…you’ll even save on postage since you’ll only have to buy postcard size stamps!!

Fun Fact - Did you know...the 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year n the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high? If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.

Cut back on your holiday gift wrapping. Try to reuse bags and gift paper from previous gifts!

Fun Fact - Did you know...if every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet?

Christmas Trees

Buy a live, replantable tree which would make a lovely addition to any backyard after the holiday season.

Support local tree farmers. Here is a great link for Rhode Island Tree Farmers, make sure to support the one in your city or town!  

Participate in local treecycling typically sponsored by your city or town. You can log on to Earth911 to see if your city or town participates! Or you could also think about composting your tree if you have a compost bin in your backyard!

Lighting/Decorating

Turn off your holiday lights off when you are not home and before you go to bed for the evening. Purchase a timer if you’re on the forgetful side!

Use energy efficient bulbs such as LED Lights which use 80% less energy than a typical bulb. They also last about ten years! These lights can easily be found at your local Home Depot Store so there is no excuse not to use them!

Fun Fact  - “For the first time, two of the nation's most famous Christmas trees -- Washington 's National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse and the tree in New York 's Rockefeller Center -- will be illuminated with LED energy-saving lights. “-states a recent article in the Washington Post

Use rechargeable batteries for your holiday ornaments that light up and make sounds!

Get in touch with the natural décor around you! Poke around your own yard for nuts, pinecones and berries to create a lovely holiday garland!

Tread a bit more lightly on the earth during the holidays with these green gift ideas:

Stumped on socking stuffers? Check out herbal skin care products from Farmaesthetics. Started on an organic farm in Portsmouth, all Farmaesthetics products are 100% natural & made with certified organic herbs, flowers & grains . With items like “Hot Toddy for the Body”, “Sweet Milk Facial Exfoliant”, and “Deep Lavendar Rub” it’s sure to please anyone on your gift list. They even have an organic baby line and a skin care kit “For the Gent”.

One stop that you have to make while Holiday shopping is Chartreuse located at 411 Lower Thames Street in Newport. Everything in the store is either fair trade, made of  recycled product, or organic – how’s that for making it easy for you to shop green! They have purses made from recycled soda tabs and grocery bags, Bamboo tees and scarves, and my favorite - fair trade jewelry. Open 10:30am to 5pm weekdays and 10:30 - 6pm on weekends. Call the store at (401) 846-0086 or e-mail ChartreuseRI@aol.com for more information.

Even though this next gift is not produced locally, I just had to include it. I think that most people  can attest to having read ‘The Lorax’ about 247 times to their kids. This holiday season – there is a new book that teaches children about the issue of global warming, while incorporating the man of the hour – Santa. Printed on 100% recycled paper, ‘When Santa Turned Green’, written by Vickie Perla, is beautifully illustrated, and is the type of story that teaches kids an important lesson about caring for the earth—without sounding like a lesson at all.

ReSails Original Duffel is made of 100% recycled sail cloth. They make limited runs of these bags and every one is totally unique. No two are the same. All of ReSails products are designed and manufactured in a sail loft in Newport . All of the products are made with the actual techniques used by sailmakers - zig-zag stitching, stenciling, trimming stripes, nautical hardware and marine-grade webbing. This ensures that they are durable, rugged, waterproof and come with a lifetime warrantee. The Original ReSails Duffel makes a great gift for the sailor (or want to be sailor) on your list. Newport IS the sailing capital of the world after all.

Gift certificates are the perfect way to make your holiday green and stress free. Here are some examples of great gift certificates available in Newport County this holiday season.

 Give the gift of health this year with a gift certificate to A Market Natural Foods, located at Bellevue Garden Shopping Plaza in Newport. A Market Natural Foods is a second generation, independently owned and operated, grocery established in 1970 to promote the concept of healthy living. Your friend or family member will enjoy wholesome and organic foods, as well as homeopathics, herbal and vitamin supplements. Another healthy gift certificate choice would be The Green Grocer, located on East Main Road in Portsmouth. The Green Grocer also specializes in organic, natural and local farm fresh products, as well as allergen free foods. The knowledgeable staff of both establishments will put your loved ones on the path to good health.

A gift certificate to the Restaurant Group of the Newport Harbor Corporation will satisfy even the most difficult person on your shopping list with award-winning restaurants that include Castle Hill Inn & Resort, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, Waterman Grille, The Boat House Restaurant and The Smokehouse Café. Not only do these restaurants prepare creative cuisine using fresh, local ingredients, the company is powered by 100% green-e certified renewable energy.

Give the gift of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription for 2008. CSA is a remarkable program that benefits both consumers and local farmers. Consumers subscribe in advance to either a full or half share depending on their needs, which entitles them to a weekly bushel of fresh produce throughout the growing season (June-October). Aside from getting the freshest product directly from the source, consumers may learn about vegetables or herbs they have never tried. Since the farms are in the community, there is no need to worry about the impact of fuel consumption found with imported produce.

Manic Organic Farm in Portsmouth and Simmons Farm in Middletown are two great choices. Last year’s rates were less than $30 a week for a full share (3-5 people) and less than $16 a week for a half share (1-2 people).

So you planned nourishment for their bodies, now replenish their soul with a gift certificate to a spa. SpaTerre, the signature spa at the Hotel Viking on Bellevue is a Newport refuge that exists solely to promote health and well-being for mind, body and soul. While the techniques follow the traditions of Balinese spa experiences and Thai body rituals, the ingredients, such as Atlantic seaweed, medicinal herbs and sea salt are inspired locally.

For the music lover in your life, consider purchasing an iTunes gift certificate available online and at retail chains such as CVS and Barnes & Noble. The recipient will be able to choose the music and there are no nasty jewel cases that can’t be recycled.

For quick stocking stuffer idea that may inspire new adventures, purchase a 15 ride RIPTA pass for $20 at the Newport Visitor Information Center, Shaw’s or Shop & Shop. Recipients can leave their car at home and head to Newport or Providence for a day of exploration.

If there's one thing I don't like, it has to be stress, especially during the holidays.  It's so easy to shop stress free, buy locally and most of all, your presents are unique gift items that they don't sell at the mall.  Did you know I'm mall free this year?  Just like last year.  Instead of buying a Newport Lighthouse ornament, how about giving back to the original Rose Island Lighthouse, also known as "The Little Lighthouse that Could".   No Tax dollars support the lighthouse; it is maintained and operated by the public's donations.   Make a donation in someone’s name and receive: A tax deduction for the full amount of your purchase, a certificate suitable for framing, landowner's name cast in a bronze plaque on the Preservation Wall (optional), bumper sticker stating, "I own waterfront property in Newport, Rose Island", pack of postcards to send to friends and family. More information here.

My personal favorite place in Rhode Island is the Norman Bird Sanctuary.  My perfect day would start out with a hike on one of their natural trails.  How about a membership gift to walk the 7 miles of trails for your family or friends?  You never know what you might discover.  www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
 

Do you want a pet?  How about a new pet from the Potter League of Rhode Island.  If you can't have the responsibility of adopting a pet, how about giving the gift of your time?  Young and old can volunteer.  If you're under the age of 15, you must have an adult with you to fill out the application.  Once the application is approved, you can start your orientation and get busy, either walking a dog or bonding with a needy cat.  What a great "feel good" for both creatures. You can also make a cash donation to the Potter League in someone’s name. More information at www.potterleague.org.