Kindred Gifts' Blog

Want to have an environmentally friendly Easter this year? Follow our tips to green up your Easter and have a guilt-free holiday!

- Buy fairtrade or organic chocolates so that you know the treats weren't made from ingredients that exploited workers or contain chemicals and toxins. Buy ethical store-made options or make your own eggs and treats using good quality, organic and fairtrade cooking chocolate.

- Want to have fun creating pretty dyed egg creations without the toxicity? Firstly, make sure you buy organic or at least free range eggs so you know the chickens that laid them were kept in cruelty free conditions. Next, use natural dyes from vegetables instead of the usual chemical laden synthetic dyes. Not only will the colours will look great, but you can also teach the kids (or yourself!) a mini science experiment as you discover what colours come from which ingredients. Suggested vegetables to use for the dyes include carrots peels (yellow colour); spinach (green); beetroot (pink); purple grape juice (soft purple); and red onion skins (red).

- Instead of a traditional Easter egg hunt which results in lots of little pieces of foiled paper floating through the yard and house, how about creating a treasure hunt style of game whereby a series of clues leads the children to one eco friendly gift option at the end? Not only will they likely consume less chocolate (always a good thing!) but they'll also have fun solving the clues and learning as they go.

- Instead of buying a traditional Easter card, why not have the kids make one themselves - it will be all the more special and eco friendly to boot. Other greener options include sending an E-card (electronic version, easily accessible online on multiple sites for free these days) or at least purchase a store bought card that is printed on recycled stock and using soy based inks (look for eco friendly logos on the back of the card).

- Hosting a dinner party or lunch time Easter feast? Create a sustainable table and you'll be well on your way to a more environmentally friendly holiday. Start by buying local, organic and free range produce and meat from farmers' markets, organic butchers or organic food stores. If you can, serve a vegetarian dinner or at least have some of the dishes meat free. Carry reusable shopping bags with you so that you forgo the need to use plastic bags; and set the table with organic napkins and table runners or tablecloths, eco friendly napkin holders and simple table decorations like soy candles, flowers picked straight from the garden, or naturally dyed hard boiled Easter eggs sitting in a cute holder.

- Give an Easter gift that is not only eco friendly, handmade, fairtrade or charitable, but also long lasting. While most people like the idea of chocolate at Easter, many will find themselves inundated with the sweet treats and really appreciate a special gift that they can use long after Easter has passed. Some fantastic Easter gift options include an organic lunch bag (like this 'Chirp' version from Fluf); some funky yet practical fridge magnets (like these Kate Grenier Designs 'Chocolate' magnets made from recycled bottle tops); a fantastic outdoor game for kids like the Fun In The Sack 'Egg & Spoon Race'; or a beautiful Noah's Ark inspired print (like this 'Ark' version from Bold & Noble).