Blog: Reclaim Your Holidays

Welcome to the green blog for Patch! I’ve got lots of ideas to share with you on how to live simply and live well and take care of the earth in the process.

Since it’s December, take a look at this fabulous program for creating more meaningful and environmentally friendly holidays. Feeling stressed by trying to keep up with the demands of the holidays? Reclaim Your Holidays is an Iowa-grown initiative on how to calm the holiday frenzy. It offers Iowans resources in areas such as clearing clutter, green gift ideas, buying locally, controlling holiday finances and reducing stress.

One of my favorite ideas is giving a gift of experience. A memory of a special evening out at the , or ballroom dance lessons at the W in Waverly with Steve and Hilda Ostby, or ice skating at the new downtown outdoor rink at the river followed by a steaming mug at will stay with you a lot longer than the latest gadget or toy. It will be easier on the earth, not add to the clutter in your home, and most importantly give you a chance to spend time with your loved ones.

Check out more green ideas at reclaimyourholidays.org