Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Earth Christmas

Guide to Sustainable Merry-Making

There is symmetry between living in an ecoconscious manner and the spirit of Christmas. Striving for peace on Earth and good will to all can also be expressed in reducing the holiday’s impact on the planet.
  • Alternatives to a cut or artificial plastic Christmas tree abound. Purchase a potted tree to replant later; buy from a local Whole Foods grocer or farmers’ market, even seek out an organically grown tree; or make an artful tree from driftwood or a large houseplant.
  • Instead of hanging plastic icicles and placing Styrofoam ornaments on Christmas tree branches, go natural and unique. MindfulMomma.com suggests checking nearby woods or gardens for pine cones, evergreen boughs, bark, holly berries and fresh mistletoe; those living close to coastlines can pick up seashells with holes in them. TipJunkie.com guidelines include making paper ornaments and holiday yarn pieces.
  • Save energy in tree lighting. Today’s LEDs look good, use up to 75 percent less power and typically last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, reports the U.S. Department of Energy. Turn them off when not at home and overnight.
  • Consolidate shopping trips to reduce fuel emissions and buy gifts that support the community. Buy from independent, locally owned stores or galleries that showcase local artists, instead of from national retailers whose products are shipped from faraway places. Consider choosing gifts in the sustainable realm like solar-powered chargers for e-devices. Share gift certificates for holistic services or art classes. Use reusable tote bags when shopping.
  • Give of yourself. Play outside as a family. Gift a collect-on-delivery IOU for skills or assistance based on personal talents. The most meaningful gift of all may be writing an admiring letter from the heart.
  • According to MotherEarthLiving.com, Americans generate 25 percent more waste during the holidays, much of it wrapping paper and cards. Don’t overdo it with tape when wrapping presents and then instruct everyone to carefully unwrap them so the paper can be stored and reused next year. Instead of buying and snail-mailing holiday cards, send emails with photo attachments of the family.
Eco Tip
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

Upcoming Events Near You
Follow Us On Facebook