When you dye your eggs, skip the dye kits and instead do it using natural ingredients. For instructions, click here. (Recycla’s family does not dye eggs at all — they’ve always hated the waste of perfectly good eggs — so she cannot vouch for the accuracy of these directions.)
Instead, the Easter Bunny puts some candy in Recycla’s daughters’ baskets and then adds a few other little gifts.- a new book
- Fandexes — one on the Wonders of the World for the older girl and one on artists for the younger girl
- Ugly Doll keychains — cachet on the elementary school playground comes from having cool accessories attached to one’s backpack
- colored pencils, stickers, and a few other small craft supplies
In the past, the Easter Bunny has also brought fun socks, flower seeds, water bottles, and other assorted non-disposable items. The Easter Bunny usually shops at Etsy, eco stores, and other local businesses. Note that none of this stuff is cheap plastic crapola that will end up in landfills within a few weeks. The Easter Bunny who visits Recycla’s house is a VERY eco bunny who hops lightly on Planet Earth.
And then there’s the good stuff — the candy.
Recycla is going to very honest now and confess that the Easter Bunny does not put organic chocolate and jelly beans in the girls’ baskets. Yes, there will be a few Fair Trade organic chocolate items, but mostly the Easter Bunny will bring conventional candy because there are certain items that Recycla’s daughters expect in their Easter baskets and skipping the Jelly Bellies would mean tears on Easter morning. That said, Recycla has noticed that her local organic grocery store carries more Easter candy than in the past and the offerings look pretty darn yummy.
Finally, how many of you buy those plastic eggs to fill with treats every year? Whether or not you use them is your personal choice; however, if they do appear in your children’s baskets, don’t throw them away when Easter is over! Instead, store them with your nice-quality Easter baskets until next year when you’ll reuse them. And, when the time comes that the Easter Bunny stops visiting your house, you can always pass the eggs on to someone who can use them.
Those are Recycla’s tips for making this your most eco Easter ever. What other ideas do you have?
We not only save the baskets, the plastic eggs, and the plastic grass from year to year — we also have a couple stuffed animals that show up in the baskets every year (little tiny bunny and duck, stuff like that). The girls haven’t really cared too much about keeping track of them after easter, so back in the box they go until next year!
*Gasp!* No dyed eggs at Recycla’s house?!? Bubububut…it’s the only time of year I can easily grab hard boiled eggs for breakfast! And make potato salad without thinking too far ahead! Or egg salad sandwiches! And oh lordy the deviled eggs…
Okay, I admit it. We probably dye enough for both of our families. I’m a bit of a hard boiled egg nut. : )
(My hubby and I still have our Easter baskets we had as kids. Our Moms made them. I’m working on one for the Boy, but for now he just gets one of my standard baskets. He’s too young to notice.)
Amen! And when you’ve outgrown the need for those plastic eggs for your annual egg hunt, donate them to a local school/church/daycare/organization/family so the Easter love can keep on;)
We give bubbles, kites, sidewalk chalk and squirt guns–spring/summer toys.
I’m sending the Grands books, and a small bag of assorted jellies/candy eggs. I love HB eggs, but without little ones around this year, will probably not color them (big sigh)~
I love the idea of re-usable baskets that become family heirlooms!
We reuse the baskets and the eggs, and shredded paper is easily the best. Please remind people: no pet rabbits at Easter! They’re wonderful pets, but they grow up. Make sure the bunny is the right pet for you.
The Bunny brings music to our house—this year, younger son is getting a Native American flute CD. Last year, older 10 year old son loved a Caboodle game, which fits in a fanny pack and is great car entertainment.
Not so much on the candy–just a little this year. The Grandmas have been competing with the Bunny. Not so good…so the Bunny compensates with new toothbrushes and kicks in some jelly bellies and a little chocolate.
Love the article and topic. I just wanted to add that kids can plant their own living grass inside the basket (in addition to using clippings). Here’s how:
http://www.celebrategreen.net/blog/easter/how-to-grow-living-grass-for-an-easter-basket
Wheatgrass, is great because you can juice it after the holiday is over! Kids might enjoy it combined with some carrot juice. My daughter calls this Bunny Drink
I’m going to harvest some moss to lay at the bottom of the basket. Also, if you don’t want to do the plastic eggs, consider felting some! Granted, this tutorial uses the plastic eggs to get the shape, but at least you’ll end up with a lasting natural product, and then you can donate the plastic eggs.
http://tinytwistcreative.com/2012/03/rainbow-felted-easter-eggs/
I always get my son some sort of spring toy that he needs, like this year he’ll get a football because our last one deflated. He’s also getting a jump rope because he’s never had one. He’s also gotten garden supplies, a kite, a crocheted bunny, balls, etc.
Here’s a link for 5 natural easter basket gift ideas:
http://littlewoolmaus.com/2011/04/last-minute-ideas-for-a-natural-easter-basket/
Happy Easter!