Salvage your pumpkin seeds for roasting and compost your other scraps. Plus, try some of these carving ideas.
By Michelle Kaufmann
Looking to create a healthy, safe and earth-friendly Halloween? You can do more than just bob for locally grown apples with these easy, eco-friendly tips:
The Perfect Pumpkin
If you didn't grown your own in the garden, pick up a Halloween pumpkin from your local farmers' market or U-Pick farm stand. After giving your jack-o-latern that signature sneer, be sure to compost those pieces you carve out in the process. Or salvage what you can for pumpkin bread or roasted pumpkin seeds. When night falls, light him up with energy-efficient LED candles instead of paraffin wax candles, which come from oil, a non-renewable resource, or try a beeswax alternative. Once Fright Night passes, either compost your carved pumpkin or donate it to your local zoo — pumpkins are a seasonal treat for zoo animals like elephants!
Try these clever pumpkin carving tips from DIY >>
Creative Costumes
Unless you’re a bit of an eccentric, you’ll probably only wear your Halloween costume once, maybe twice if you’re really stumped for ideas next year. Why spend the money to buy a brand new one? Instead, put your creative side to work and make your own costume from old clothes and a few embellishments or buy something fun from a vintage store and go retro. If you’re hoping to achieve the extra "wow" factor, you can always just rent a fancier costume for the night.
Tricked-Out Treats
Instead of unhealthy candies chock full of artificial sweeteners, hand out healthy, organic and/or fair-trade treats. Organic ZBars — Clif Bars for kids — are available in a “Spooky S’more” flavor. For a more traditional sack-stuffer, consider Endangered Species Chocolate Halloween Treats, which come in small chocolate squares and are 100 percent ethically traded. What makes these chocolates even more delicious is that 10 percent of their net profits go to help support endangered species and habitats.
The Eco-Goodie Bag
Store shelves are full of disposable trick-or-treat bags this time of year, but why buy one when you and your kids can make a reusable bags covered with unique Halloween flare? Sure, there’s always the trusty pillowcase option, but we know you can do better than that! Take an un-dyed, canvas bag and decorate it with fabric pens, black and orange ribbon, patches, or whatever other fun Halloween-themed décor you think of. Attach a small pocket inside the bag so your little ghouls can stash (not litter!) wrappers for the candy they just couldn’t wait to eat.
Provided by Michelle Kaufmann - http://www.michellekaufmann.com
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