Originally celebrated as a spiritual Celtic festival, Halloween has grown and transformed over the decades into a commercial industry filled with candy and costumes. Halloween grosses almost $6 billion in sales annually and retailers around the world stock up in candy all throughout Oct. just to prepare for the big day.
With numbers like that it’s easy to imagine the environmental effect this holiday has on our planet. Don’t get spooked yet though, there are plenty of ways to have a successfully green Halloween without having to buy anything from your local Halloween store.
Make decorating simple with a visit to the farmers market. The farmers market offers plenty of natural options to decorate with from pumpkins, gourds and cornhusks to straw bales. Use your pumpkins to make ghoulish or silly jack-o-lanterns to spice up your natural décor. You can also illuminate your jack-o-lanterns carved face with a candle or LED light.
LED lights are great for any occasion because they last up to 133 times longer than incandescent lighting and cost 80 percent less to use. Also, LED lights come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and festive themes perfect for the holidays (to shop visit holidayLEDs.com).
Don’t stop there; reuse household items to make your home extra spooktacular in time for Halloween. Use recycled paper and old cardboard boxes to create gravestones for the yard. Grab an old pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt to stuff with old newspapers and top it off with a carved pumpkin head to create the ideal scarecrow. For one-of-a-kind streamers, use paper, markers and string to create fall leaves to hang up around the house.
You’re never too old to dress up for Halloween but you might be a little old to be browsing the costume shops with the kiddies so this year why not save money by making your own costume? Chances are you have enough old costumes and discarded clothing from previous years and themed parties to dress a zombie army. If not, hit up thrift stores and the Salvation Army. Use that vivid imagination of yours to mix, match, cut, sew and rip your way to the most original costume around.
If you plan to trick-or-treat bring a reusable bag to carry the sugary lute. If you plan to stay in, make it a party.
Farmers Market goodies for Halloween treats and decor (Serena Swanger)
