Eco-Easter Celebrations

Some bunny will love a green Easter basket. Easter brings thoughts of spring and rebirth; so there's no reason to celebrate it without the Earth's best interest at heart. For many families, Easter wouldn't be the same festive day without the basket, so here's how to transform this traditional hit, into a gift that truly is worth celebrating.

Baskets

Instead of buying a new plastic or woven basket made in a country far away, how about using your imagination? Choose a reusable item that can hold the goodies and you've got a unique, no-cost container. Alternative baskets include a purse, backpack, scarf tied to a hobo stick, a decorated paper bag or shoebox, and a fabric bag of any kind. You can also make our simple fabric basket.

Grass

If you're the traditional type and like the look of grass in your basket, instead of buying the plastic stuff, why not try using strips of fabric, real grass (wheat grass or grass from your yard), shredded recycled paper, a green scarf or green napkin.

Candies

As for filling the basket, you're probably aware that Easter is the second biggest holiday for candy sales next to Halloween. Sweet treats are fine, but how about choosing high quality over quantity? And just one over handfuls? Fortunately, this year, there are many great Easter treats that are better for kids and the Earth. Consider organic vegan bunnies and eggs from Allison's Gourmet or organic jelly beans from Nuts Online.

Baking your own cookies? Pick up organic food colors from the Natural Candy Store, which also carries loads of other sweet Easter treats like Easter eggs filled with organic candy.

Fun Activities

Once the candy is taken care of, you'll most likely want other items to fill the basket. Considering the economy, you might come up with activities you can do with your child that cost nothing, write them on slips of paper and add those to the basket. If you ask your children in advance what special activities they might enjoy, you'll have enough suggestions for months of fun, such as:

Eco-Goodies

If you do want to purchase some special items for the basket, instead of heading to the dollar store, consider whether spending $10 on plastic toys that will break quickly is better than spending the same amount on one quality item that your child might enjoy playing with long after the holiday has passed. If you're with us that the latter is worth investigating, here are a few ideas:

Seed packets and a garden implement or two.
Felted egg kit from A Child's Dream Come True.
Fair trade egg shaker from Down to Earth Toys.
Wooden play eggs from A Toy Garden.
Papier-mâché nesting eggs from Magic Cabin.
Organic cotton finger puppets from I Play Baby Wear.
Seeded paper or cards that can be planted from Botanical Paper Works.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter, and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net.

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