Design a holiday table with foraged finds from the garden. Photos by Jenna Alexander. Gathering at the table during the holidays is about community and the love of family and friends. One of my favorite traditions of the season is when my mother, sister and I set the table together; this ritual has become a moment of joyful creativity in what can otherwise be hectic days. Our tabletop design is based on foraging for what is readily available in the yard, along with some seaso

Include locally grown flowers, fruit and greenery for a seasonal tablescape. Seasonal fruit and other produce add unique accents to a floral arrangement. Photos by Sara Schober. When planning your holiday meals around seasonal produce, an easy way to add colorful elements toyour table is to let nature’s bounty also be a centerpiece. Just like fruits and vegetables have specificharvest times throughout the year, so too do locally grown flowers. To get you started on creatinga

These crafts use supplies that are easy to find around the house and in the kitchen. Photos by Shannon Rose Greene. Seed Paper Gift Tags This project is perfect for eco-conscious gift-givers who want to add a personal touch. These seed paper gift tags are beautiful and plantable – once the tag has served its purpose, the recipient canplant it in the garden and watch the seeds grow. This recipe makes approximately 12-14 tags, depending on size. You’ll need: Blender Flat, recta

The art of wrapping goods and gifts using fabric has gained in popularity over the years Tea towels or other fabric create a custom look and become a usable present for the recipient. Photos by Julie Christman. For a fun and creative way to adorn a gift without using paper that just gets tossed away, try wrapping presents in tea towels à la the furoshiki method. Added bonus of using this no-waste technique? You’re giving a gift within a gift. In Japanese culture, furoshiki re

Salt dough ornaments are a fun and eco-friendly way to decorate for the holidays. Photo by Elise Crigar. The holidays don’t have to come with a mountain of trash bags. If you want to have a more eco-friendly season, choose reusable first, compostable second and recyclable last. That hierarchy keeps the focus on materials that flow back into everyday life instead of into the landfill.  Decorate plain paper with potato stencil stamps for a kid-friendly DIY. Photo by Shannon Ros

Homemade dyes from common food ingredients are easy to make and easy on the planet.