By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Staff Writer

It's the holiday season, and as we've done in past years, this column will try to present a few ways you can celebrate while treading a little more lightly on the planet.

A potted tree, which later gets planted in the yard, is a consideration to supplant needle-dropping or artificial Christmas trees.

At our small home, we had a Norfolk Island pine in a pot, where it was brought indoors seasonally for two years before it needed to be planted. We've thought about decorating it out in the yard with hand-made, weatherproof ornaments.

One of the most obvious effects of gift-giving is excessive packaging. See if you can make your own gifts, but if not, at least avoid those that are overpackaged, such as toys packed inside clear bags, cardboard boxes or a hard clear plastic case, which all then get placed inside a plastic bag at the store.

The city of Halifax, Canada, has a fine list of ideas on its Web site, www.halifax.ca/wrms/xmastips.html. It is focused on wasting less at Christmas.

When you launch into holiday gift-wrapping, consider minimalist options or at least ones that involve some recycling. Wrapping paper can be old maps, the Sunday comics or brown paper grocery bags the kids can decorate using markers, stickers or stamps cut from kitchen sponges. Remember, too, that a lot of the wrapping can be reused next year.

The Center for a New American Dream (www.newdream.org) has lots of suggestions for lower-impact holidays. One tip is that something personal often has a longer-lasting effect than something bought new.

"Did you know that 82 percent of Americans would rather receive a photo album of times shared than a store-bought gift?" notes the New American Dream Web site, citing a recent poll.

We've seen suggestions for gift baskets of environmentally friendly products, which help spread the message of conservation. Perhaps some organic cotton napkins, free-trade coffee or compact fluorescent light bulbs?

A handmade gift certificate for a home-cooked meal or a hike-and-picnic activity could be a prize for the right friend. Or, how about a gift certificate that offers cuttings from a special plant in your yard? Many folks would prefer home-baked cookies to a new tie or T-shirt.

And, of course, you can always make donations to environmental organizations in the gift-recipient's name.

If you have a question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, drop a note to Jan TenBruggencate at P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766, e-mail jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or call (808) 245-3074.