THE ECO-CHIC TABLE These tabletop items from Amenity Modern Organic Living could make fine holiday gifts for your green-motivated friends or relatives; or, they could make your own Christmas or Hanukkah table pretty in an eco-conscious way.
The serving tray, candleholders and napkin rings from the company’s Arroyo Collection are made by hand using Forest Stewardship Council-certified walnut from responsibly managed sources.
The Trail table runner measures 90" long by 16" wide. Produced by Los Angeles-area artisans, the fabric is a blend of hemp and organic cotton. The pattern is created with nontoxic water-based inks. Trail table runners and place mats are available in cream and cocoa, cream and silver, and cream and moss colorways (pictured). For ordering details, go to
amenityhome.com, or call (888) 410-1629.
WORDS OF WISDOMNo matter the weather, it’s always possible to have a green Christmas. Anna Getty tells us how to bring some eco-conscious spirit to the holiday season in her book
I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes That Use Less and Mean More (Chronicle Books, LLC).
Her goal is that people enjoy holiday traditions yet leave few carbon footprints behind. For example, Getty recommends looking around the house for items that can be reused to craft a host of gifts and decorations. Among her many ideas, she suggests making pillows out of old sweaters, card holders from wine corks, and wreaths decorated with family pictures, old Christmas cards and more. Several items can be created by children, including ornaments made of salt dough.
The book is filled with colorful photographs and peppered with holiday recipes, like Sweet Potato Christmas Enchiladas and Mini Apple Strudels, which are made with local and organic ingredients. Getty also provides green tips from experts, such as using energy-saving LED Christmas lights. —Mary Modney