Helpful Tricks to Treat your Halloween Guests

Using these simple tips, you can create a fabulous party for your children’s Halloween party that is fun, unique, and environmentally friendly.

• Serve food, drinks, and treats that are organic and/or locally made. Homemade cookies and cupcakes are a great alte
ative to mass-produced candy.
• It isn’t Halloween without some candy, so consider alte
atives to mass produced candy by shopping for treats at Whole Food’s which has organic gummy bears and lollipops.
• Organize with your friends, family, and neighbors to borrow decorations and costumes. If you need to buy new things, make sure to save them for reuse or offer to loan them out to other party throwers to limit their consumption.
• Trade old costumes with friends or go on Craigslist and see what is available. Another option is to hold a costume exchange at your child’s school or among a group of friends. Your old, unused costume could turn out to be the perfect find for a lucky trick-or-treater.
• As with any party, try to serve all refreshments and food on reusable tableware. You will be amazed how much less trash you will have to take out at the end of the party! If you are set on disposable, use biodegradable and/or compostable options.
• Make sure to have a recycling container close by throughout the party. It will not only encourage others to follow your lead but will also make it much easier on you during clean up.
• Sending out paperless invitations will help you to save time, money, and resources.
• Try to buy as many items as possible locally in order to support local businesses.
• Highlight your party with a pumpkin grown from your own garden! If you don’t have the greenest thumb in town, ask friends about their garden or find a locally grown pumpkin patch to support.
• Save and bake the seeds from your pumpkin carving for a delicious snack. Throw the other organic pumpkin waste into a compost heap to fertilize next year’s pumpkin patch.
• Instead of cheap plastic toys, give out homemade crafts, mini pumpkins, fruit, or organic treats for party favors. Incorporate these items into your décor, games and activities throughout the party.
• Create beautiful fall harvest displays with organic items to give your party a rustic autumn theme.
• Last but not least, make sure to communicate your efforts with all those involved, especially the children, to ensure that sustainable efforts like yours will be duplicated in the future.