Courtesy of Chronicle Books 2009
DCL
Anna Getty, actress, fashionista, Kundalini Yoga teacher, mother, and, yes, a "Getty" is also a through and through greenie. More than the daily green rituals like recycling, minimizing waste, and choosing reusable over paper or plastic, Anna infuses her environmental consciousness into all that she does... including how she celebrates Christmas.
Her first book "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas; Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that use less and mean more" (Chronicle Books 2009) gives a sneak peek into her life (including several personal photos of her family's holiday celebrations), plus lots of easy green holiday ideas that you too can turn into family traditions today. We talked with Anna about what inspired this book and what she (and you) can do to make your green holiday dreams comes true.
Planet Green: What are your favorite holiday family traditions?
Anna Getty: My favorite tradition is taking a walk in nature with family in the cold and then coming inside and making hot cocoa (organic) and then sitting around listening to Christmas music and talking or maybe watching an old movie like The Christmas Carol. I also used to love to sit with my mom and make ornaments together.
PG: What holiday family traditions are you starting?
AG: I love baking and decorating cookies with my daughter. I also love making pretty block printed wrapping paper from recycled brown paper and paint block printed with sponges and potatoes and cabbage.
PG: What inspired you to create a green Christmas?
AG: Waste output goes up by 30 percent between Thanksgiving and the New Year in the US. I wanted to create a book that would help people minimize their waste, and be more resourceful while giving people a guide to having a holiday filled with tradition.
PG: How does using less help you enjoy everything more?
AG: When I need to be resourceful I get more creative and when I am more creative I have more fun. The holidays have lost their meaning in all the rushing around and endless buying. This year especially, with the recession I think we all have to use less and focus on connecting with each other more and also connecting with planet more. Connecting with friends and family can be lots of fun.
PG: What are your 5 favorite quick tips to green Christmas?
AG: 1. Send e-cards instead of paper holiday cards 2. If you purchase a cut tree log onto earth911.org to find out where you can have it mulched 3. Forgo store bought wrapping paper and create your own with old newspaper (the comic section is fun), sheet music, maps, magazines and catalogues. Save all your ribbon and paper from this Christmas to wrap next year's gifts. 4. Switch to LED lights. They save 85-90% energy and can last up to 200,000 hours. 5. Shop locally and seasonally for holiday food.
PG: How do you get your daughter involved with greening Christmas?
AG: I just get her to jump into the crafts with me. I let her have full reign of the glue, paint and glitter and away her creativity goes.
How are you going to green your Christmas?
