From Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by 25%, so here are tips to make this the most wonderful—not wasteful—time of the year. Use reusable bags when grocery shopping Give a gift of charity/donation rather than a material item Give a gift of an experience (show tickets, massage....) Shop local businesses to avoid the extra energy, packaging, and shipping cost that goes into ordering online from a large retailer. Consider an E-Christmas card Use LED/Solar/energy efficient lights to decorate outdoors Don't leave Christmas tree lights on all day - use a timer Use sustainable/recyclable gift wrap - butcher paper and twine! Recycle ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper or use treasures from nature to decorate your holiday packages Reuse shipping boxes Buy rechargeable batteries for gifts that require batteries Avoid using disposable plates/utensils at holiday gatherings Show party guests where your recycle bin is for beverage cans, etc... Donate your leftovers to a homeless shelter Burn clean beeswax or soy candles And after it’s all over, be sure to put your tree out for pick up for coastal restoration reuse!

Guest speakers Kathleen Biggins and Harriette Brainard held the crowd’s attention and shared information about climate change at the recent C-Change Conservations Primer at the Pavilion of Two Sisters in City Park on Tuesday, October 16. The conservation and education program was co-hosted by New Orleans Town Gardeners, Garden Study Club, and the Junior League of New Orleans Sustainer Garden Club. GCA members from the Princeton Garden Club and Millbrooke Garden Club developed the program, which is presented across the country to interested groups.One objective of the C-Change Primer is to present scientific information in an atmosphere that promotes conversation. A coffee before the lecture and a presentation style that invited discussion among those present met that goal and gave attendees a chance to explore the concepts presented with fellow GCA members.Over 20 NOTG members attended. Special thanks to Conservation Committee members Carro Gardner, Caroline Milling and Elizabeth Roberts for providing treats for the reception.The presenters offered suggestions for personal actions individuals can take to make a difference:Plant treesRestore wetlands and meadowsConduct an energy audit of your homeUse LED lighting and Energy Smart appliancesConsider solar and geothermal energy sourcesReduce household wasteEat locally (this one should be easy for us in New Orleans!)

Reduce the use of “single use” plastics in your daily life. Each of us has the capacity to “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in our daily lives, but the task can seem overwhelming. A simple way to get started is to consider the number of “single use” plastics in your daily life. These are items—often packaging—that are designed for one time use and then go straight in the trash can, landfill, and eventually, our air and waterways. Trying to do everything at once can be a recipe for failure when best intentions are too overwhelming to implement. Start with simple changes and train yourself to think differently about the packaging you purchase—because when you buy an item, you are paying for its packaging, too. Here are a few tips from the most recent issue of GCA’s ConWatch that can help you to reduce the single use plastics in your daily life: Use fabric shopping bags and washable mesh bags for your vegetables at the supermarket and farmer’s market. Be creative in switching from plastic containers to other materials: use glass mason jars for buying foods in the bulk aisle of grocery stores and for storing them in your pantry and refrigerator. Try new alternates to plastic film wrap like Bee’s Wrap™ or similar products. Go back to corn husk brooms with wooden handles instead of plastic. Buy the largest container possible of cleansing gels and decant to smaller, reusable containers. Better yet, go back to bars of soap in paper wrapping! Buy eggs in cardboard cartons, not plastic. Bring your own reusable mug, water bottle, container, or flatware for take-out food and drinks instead of using disposables.