It's
Easy to Be Green
Try a St. Patrick's Day Party that's Good for the Environment
Of
course, we all know that green is the color of St. Patrick's
Day, green beer, getting pinched if you don't wear green,
shamrocks & leprechauns, but have you heard of a "green" party?
It is an eco-friendly "be kind to the earth" party.
Throwing
a party often causes a bit more waste than usual. Paper plates
and cups, disposable decorations, extra electricity and water,
not to mention the extra gasoline used to get there! It all
adds up, and can sometimes have a large impact on the environment.
Here
are some tips for hosting a "Green" St. Patrick's Day Party.
Of course you can also apply these tips to any type of party.
Invitations
Save
paper by sending invitations via email or use an online service
like evite.com You can use invitations made of recycled paper
(try Spark Design Studio in South Bend or The Crockery in
Granger) or make your own invitations out of throwaway items
like junk mail, old craft projects, scraps, etc. Another fun
invitation is to slip the invitation into a seed packet and
mail the packet.
Getting
There
Think
about asking guests to carpool to the party or providing a
pick up & drop off service for your guests (especially if
green beer is on the menu).
Centerpieces
& Décor
Be
resourceful and use centerpieces and décor that can be used
after the party is over. Look around your house for green
colored items and group them as centerpieces. Instead of cut
flowers, use potted plants or herbs (which can also be used
as party favors). Use bowls filled with artichokes, green
apples, pears and other green fruits and vegetables. Cut shamrocks
and other St. Patrick's designs from scrap green craft paper
or felt and attach them to your décor.
Try
to use real plates and silverware if possible. If you don't
have enough, you can borrow from friends and family to create
an eclectic look.
Use
washable colorful fabric scraps from a fabric store to make
fun, re-useable napkins. Always check fabric stores after
a holiday to find themed fabrics at a discount. Use a cloth
tablecloth or buy inexpensive sheets in your color scheme
to use as table cloths.
