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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Who says a Christmas tree has to be pine or spruce - or even green for that matter? Use your imagination and create a Christmas tree that is unique.

Rather than buying an artificial tree or a fresh tree that will end up on the sidewalk come January 1, opt to take a walk in the backyard or nature for your own unique tree.

When it comes to decorating the Eco tree, making ornaments and garlands from gingerbread, Christmas cards, popcorn and cranberries is a great family craft project and is better for the environment than plastic tinsel and ornaments.

Use a native tree or found twigs that can  be decorated - a few branches gold burnished or splatted with white eco-friendly paint.

Start decorating  with natural elements to create an eco sustainable Christmas decoration that is not only fun, but inexpensive to create.

Decorate with bows, beeswax dipped pine cones (melt old candles or the old ends of childrens crayons), home-made baubles, ginger bread decorations, etc.

DECK WITH REAL HOLLY ...drawing on an age old adage of having a natural Christmas. Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas decorations that won't biodegrade, let nature and repurposed items from around the home decorate your tree.

Making ornaments and garlands from gingerbread, old Christmas cards and old fabric, popcorn and cranberries is a great family craft project and is better for the environment than plastic tinsel and ornaments.

Try dough, cinnamon sticks, bows, gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, pine cones, gumnuts, painted eggshells, shells, feathers, leaves and even dried indian corn.

Hang colorful recycled paper chains, popcorn and cranberry strings on your tree for a traditional touch, or lines of beads and buttons instead of tinsel.

Decorations can be made from organic, recycled and scrap materials. Choose a theme and a color scheme of 2 or 3 colors.

An old top can have a new life as a Christmas stocking or bows, as can old cushion covers - or any old scraps of material.

Make bows out of old material, ribbon, anything - do you have an old formal dress or shiny shirt that would make lovely bows? Even a petticoat, or old curtains? Otherwise check thrift shops.

Keep a sturdy shoe box for ribbons and bows - it is such a shame to throw such pretty garnishes away, especially when you can use them for any celebration.

After Christmas, store decorations and recycle the DIY Nature tree into chips and shavings to reuse in your yard.

One of the fantastic things about a handmade Christmas is the chance to repurpose bits and pieces lying around the home and to take a walk in nature and look for treasures. It doesn't mean you are being a 'Scrooge', you're simply being environmentally friendly by wasting less! And, that is something to Rejoice about.

There are many ways to enhance the celebratory vibe with the Eco Low / No Cost Christmas tree for your home and office - with a little imagination.

The best and the most lasting joys of Christmas can be neither bought nor sold.

An environmentally friendly Christmas need not be the traditional red and green. Let nature be the inspiration for your own unique, individual style.

If you have created a unique Christmas tree, share your ideas and send in some photos...ED

Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas decorations that won't bio-degrade, let nature decorate your home this Christmas. To view this and other ecobites' exclusive articles on DIY Eco Christmas decorations, CLICK HERE