Going Green this Halloween

When most people think of Halloween, orange pumpkins and black cats come to mind, but this year...think green. With a little planning and thoughtfulness, you can make your holiday festive and earth friendly. Here are some ideas to get your started.

Recycled Costumes

As tempting as it is to give in to your child's request for that $40 costume at the pop-up Halloween store this time of year, think about the impact to the landfill when you're child only wears the outfit once and then tosses it. Instead, get creative and reuse items that you have, or hit a local thrift store to pick up unique used items. It can be a treasure chest of options. Check out these consignment shops in Laguna Beach:

• Second Chance, 355 Broadway Street Laguna Beach, CA 92651, (949) 464-0070
• Turnabout Thrift Shop, 526 Glenneyre Street, 949-494-5977

Another fun way to create a recycled costume is to get a group of kids together and swap costumes from previous years. Or, if they've outgrown the costumes, hit up the friends' older siblings.

Home-grown Pumpkins

Rather than spending an arm-and-a-leg at the local supermarket to buy a pumpkin that has been shipped in from who knows where, try growing your own pumpkins. It's fun and easy and kids love watching the progress of tiny seeds growing into massive soon-to-be Jack o'Lanterns. Yes, you will need a patch of soil to grow your pumpkins, They do take up space. If your backyard (or front yard!) isn't big enough, consider checking into a community garden, such as the South Laguna Community Garden in Laguna Beach. Oftentimes you can share a community plot with others, if you don't have the time to take care of it yourself.

If gardening is not your thing, then at least check out a local farm...rather than a mall parking lot pumpkin patch. Kids will love seeing where and how pumpkins are actually grown. At Tanaka Farms in Irvine, kids can pick their pumpkin from the patch, enjoy a hay ride and wander through a corn maze.

Organic Treats

If you'd rather stay home and hand out candy, consider offering the little ghosts and goblins a healthy alternative instead of high-fructose laded treats. Here are some tasty, yet healthy alternatives:

• Veggie Snack Packs (such as carrots and Ranch dressing)
• Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
• Pretzels
• Organic Lollipops
• Fair-trade Chocolate bars
• Locally grown apples or oranges
• Non-Candy Treats: Erasers, temporary tattoos, stickers

For a wide range of organic options, check out Whole Foods in Laguna Beach or Trader Joesin Crystal Cove.

Green Transportation

A great thing about Halloween is that it's the perfect time to ditch the car and head out on foot. It's good exercise and reduces your carbon footprint. If you plan on heading to a neighborhood other than your own, consider carpooling or taking the local bus.

Halloween is the perfect time to teach kids that holidays can be fun without being wasteful and that with a little effort, we can all be kinder to the earth while keeping our traditions.