[Grovenet] Reduce, reuse, recycle gift wrap

Fri Dec 19 08:39:15 PST 2008

Hi Jane -
This is an OLD OLD Aluminum tree.   I think when things were made to last.
 I agree that the instant trees sold now would not survive.
My old  tree is as bright as the surroundings!
:)
Barb

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 6:57 AM, <phoenixacm at aol.com> wrote:

> Hi, Barb,
>
>
>
> Most of the stats that I have read show that artificial trees don't last
> very long.  I think five years or less is the average.  And then, of course,
> they can't be recycled.  Sounds like you have beaten the odds, and with
> flair!  (Or is that flare?  Just how bright is that tree?)
>
>
>
>
> Jane B-P
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b Smith <smithsmith at gmail.com>
> To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
> Sent: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 9:07 pm
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Reduce, reuse, recycle gift wrap
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> OK -
> This may seem a little odd - but we have had an silver colored aluminum
> tree
> for years- (bought at a garage sale in Florida for $1) and one year I
> wrapped all the gifts in silver foil.  No ribbons, no tape, and just wrote
> the recipients name with an el -marko pen.
>
> So now it is tradition.
>
>  We recycle the foil. We set the red recycle tub in the living room and wad
> up the foil and use our best aim.
>
>  When the color wheel is spinning off that tree and those gifts...
> ahh...Now
> that is
> Christmas!
>
>
> Barb
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 1:29 PM, John Schrag <jschrag at fgnewstimes.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Hey Grovenetters
> >
> > I like this idea and have saved Jane's email for a possible story for
> next
> > years holiday guide. If you have other ways to green-up the holidays,
> post
> > them here or send them directly to me (jschrag at fgnewstimes.com)
> >
> > Our family has been re-using wrapping paper long before Earth Day was
> > founded. It com
> es from being raised by parents who lived through the
> > (first?) Depression.   I can't tell you how many times my kids have been
> > able to remember what previous presents were wrapped in a particular
> > well-worn sheet of paper.
> >
> > My son also makes origami figures from scraps of wrapping paper and uses
> > them as bows.
> >
> >
> > John Schrag
> > Editor & Publisher
> > News-Times
> >
> > 503-357-3181
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
> > Behalf Of Katie Allnutt
> > Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 1:08 PM
> > To: Forest Grove local interests list
> > Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Reduce, reuse, recycle gift wrap
> >
> > Thanks Jane,
> >   I think it helps to learn what techniques other people use so we
> > can try them too.
> > I do similar things (like no bows) but my recycled paper usually only
> > makes it around twice.
> >   I don't shop for Christmas cards because I am on so many lists of
> > places that send me cards as a thank you for my donation. I can't
> > throw them out but I suppose I could cut them up for tags.
> >
> > Katie
> >
> >
> > On Dec 18, 2008, at 12:02 PM, Phoenixacm at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > So, I am in the middle of a multi-year program to green up my
> > > Christmas.
> > > Thought I would give you a status report.
> > >
> > > 1-Reduce:
> > > -The Burch-Pesses household no longer buys bows.   There are other
> > > ways to
> > > make packages look pretty and most of the presents we buy get
> > > mailed out so they
> >20> would arrive with smashed bows anyway.
> > > -The Burch-Pesses household no longer buys ribbon, except for the
> > > "crinkle"
> > > ribbon.   It's only about a quarter of an inch wide (which reduces
> > > the amount
> > > of ribbon going in the landfill) and we no longer circle the
> > > package twice with
> > > the ribbon, only once.
> > >
> > > 2-Reuse:
> > > -At the end of the holiday season I go through the Christmas cards
> > > we have
> > > received and cut them up to make gift tags (the to: from: cards
> > > that go on the
> > > wrapped present). So the Burch-Pesses household no longer buys gift
> > > tags.   I
> > > actually find this to be a fun and somewhat creative project.   I
> > > cut tags in
> > > all sizes and shapes and use a hole punch to punch a hole in them
> > > so that the
> > > single band of crinkle ribbon on the gifts ties the pretty gift tag
> > > on the
> > > package (so if the recipient wants to s/he can reuse the gift wrap).
> > > -Any gift bags, tissue paper, bows, or gift wrap on presents we
> > > receive is
> > > saved to be reused. I find it easy to do.   It only fills one of
> > > the many
> > > Christmas boxes we have.   Pieces of gift wrap usually get smaller
> > > and smaller until
> > > they are no longer usable.   Tissue paper is reused until it is too
> > > ratty and
> > > then is usually used as padding in the boxes of presents we mail out.
> > >
> > > 3-Recycle:
> > > This, unfortunately, is the weak spot. =2
> 0 Cards and wrap that have
> > > foil (gold
> > > or silver looking stuff) on them are not recycle-able.   Tissue
> > > paper is not
> > > recycle-able.   (Of course, ribbon and bows are not recycle-able.)
> > > -The Burch-Pesses household does not buy Christmas cards that do
> > > not have
> > > recycled content.   This is the hardest thing we do - tracking down
> > > Christmas
> > > cards with recycled content.   We find them, but it's a
> > > challenge.   We found
> > > them at Freddies last year.   I went to Hallmark and Target last
> > > night and
> > > couldn't find any cards or wrap that had recycled content.
> > > Strangely enough, I
> > > found some truly ugly cards at Target that look like they are made
> > > from kraft
> > > paper (the kind grocery bags are made of) and they didn't even have
> > > recycled
> > > content!
> > > -Our Christmas newsletter is printed on paper with 100% recycled
> > > content.
> > >
> > > Yes, I know that sending ecards would produce less waste and burn
> > > less fossil
> > > fuel than mailing cards.   We may get to that eventually, but right
> > > now it's
> > > way too much fun sending and receiving cards.
> > >
> > > Wishing you a green Christmas!
> > >
> > > Jane B-P
> > >
> > >
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