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What better way to welcome a child into the world than by throwing a green baby shower and preserving the planet for your new little angel? Green baby showers are all the rage right now. Jasmin wrote about Sheryl Crow's July 2007 baby shower, in honor of her baby son Wyatt. Party planner Traci Phillips designed an eco-friendly shindig anyone can replicate with tips like visiting your local farmers' market for fresh organic foods and organic vino. Phillips speared organic blueberries with a diaper pin to create a garnish for the organic blueberry cocktails-concocted with organic blueberry juice and organic vodka. Just like any other green get together, there are a number of ways that you can make it a little easier on the planet.
Be flexible and seasonal with the menu. If portabellas are $5.00 per pound and not in season, switch to another vegetable. Hit the farmers' market and pick up a few super fresh ingredients. The less distance your foods travel to get to you, the better it tastes. Try recipes like Kelly Rossiter’s Pistachio and Chive Goat Cheese on Puff Pastry Wafers. Also try Chef Akasha's Richmond's Caramelized Onion, Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart.
Decorate with eco-conscious decor. Instead of buying one time use decorations think about going green. Party store decorations are often paper and plastic and usually only last the night of your party. Look outside in your yard for nature inspired decorations. Filling vases with hints of the season like pinecones, lemons or leaves is a great way to add a bit of green to the dinner table. Petroleum free soy candles can help you create a mellow mood. Choose easy ways to dress up tablescapes without cut flowers. Cut flowers are a main contributor to party waste. For the industry as a whole 79 percent of cut flowers come from Ecuador or Columbia and are grown with 12 different pesticides. It's no secret that these pesticides are getting workers sick and polluting our ground water.
Save paper waste on invitations and wrapping paper. Choose reusable gift bags, recycled paper, or wrapping made from recycled and tree-free materials. Go one step further and ask on your recycled invitations that all gifts be wrapped in newspaper or fabric.
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