Dreaming of a green Christmas?

HARLEM VALLEY — Now that global climate warming talks in Copenhagen have ended, some area residents are making an effort to observe a “green� Christmas.

What is a “greenâ€� Christmas? When first asked most people were perplexed.  But after thinking again, they realized that many of their own traditional holiday habits were environmentally friendly. Green tactics include saving and reusing gift tags, boxes, bags, wrapping paper and ribbons from year to year, buying locally, recycling, making presents and just spending less

Dr. Kristie Schmidt, wearing a stylish plaid pleated mini-skirt from the Sharon Bargain Barn, plans to do all of her Christmas shopping at Millerton’s antique stores, avoiding purchases at big box retailers. She reasoned that when you buy vintage or antique presents, you have unique and recycled gifts. Jonathan Bee, owner of Hunter Bee, bought a vintage collapsible silk top hat at the Millerton Antiques Center and donned it for Christmas caroling.

For lots of people, just shopping locally is green. Every year, Barry Chase of Pine Plains goes to Terni’s in Millerton to buy Pendleton sweaters. Gilmor Glass and the Harney Tea tasting room were crowded with shoppers buying locally produced gifts.  Items that are made from biodegradable and natural materials also qualify as green. Millerton Mayor John Scutieri discovered that consumers were very interested in the colorful, hand woven, 100-percent coconut fiber doormats hanging near the entrance of Riley’s Furniture Store, where he works.

Saving on energy is another green theme. Jennifer and Jason Chasen walked back to their home in Millerton after an afternoon of shopping in the village with their purchases and cups of steaming coffee from Irving Farms.  

“This is so much better than driving to a mall in Kingston,â€� Jennifer Chasen said.  

Substituting LED Christmas lights for traditional holiday bulbs use 80 to 95 percent less electricity, and LEDs last for up to 100,000 hours. Peter Greenough of Millerton found solar-powered LED exterior holiday lights, which automatically come on at night and recharge during the day, using no electricity.

“You just have to brush the snow off the solar panel during the day and the lights glow all night,� Greenough said.

Another energy-saving idea is sending digital Internet goodwishes instead of paper cards, saving on paper, postage and transportation.

Regifting was another suggestion.

“Someone always gives me candles.  I wrap them up and give them to someone else,â€� said one experienced regifter who wished to remain anonymous. Donating items to local thrift shops, which recycle and resell, is charitable regifting.

Carol Sadlon had a list of green ideas, including clipping greens, boxwood and berries from the yard for zero cost, fragrant and fresh holiday decorations that she composts after Christmas.

For many young parents, working on holiday craft projects with their children at the kitchen table is family and earth friendly.  Casey McCabe, town of North East town justice-elect, and her two young boys covered pinecones with peanut butter to hang outside for the birds. “Very messy, but a lot of fun.â€�

And what are the greenest Christmas trees? Hunter Bee has a window of artificial trees, purchased at yard sales, saved from the landfill and reused every year. Trees cut at nearby Christmas tree plantations save on transportation costs over trees shipped from Vermont or Canada. Longtime weekender John Moller of Lakeville buys his tree every year at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in  Connecticut, where students grow, prune, cut and sell very fresh trees and wreathes. Proceeds support FFA activities and local food pantries. After the students tie the tree to the top of his car, Moller drives it to Manhattan.  

“I save at least $50 compared to New York prices, and support the agriculture programs at the high school. This is green in every way,â€� Moller said.  

Towns and villages throughout the region will be publishing pickup schedules at the end of the holiday season, so all Christmas trees can be chipped and made into mulch.

 â€œAt Christmas time everyone just does more,â€� said Millerton architect Libby McClintock. “Your habits during the year are magnified at Christmas.â€�  

Nicki Russell, the owner of Nick Bee, which refills printer cartridges and sells green products, thought otherwise. She said, “You’re either green or you aren’t. Nothing changes at Christmas.�

And the most green gift of all? Cindy Riley said she knows of the perfect gift. “Give cash.  It’s the greenest.â€�

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