Reduce, reuse, recycle your way to greener holiday

The Nature Conservancy wants to tell you how to enjoy a greener holiday.

The conservancy protects ecologically important lands and waters around the world.

The buzz words are reduce, reuse, recycle, and here are some tips on how to do it.

• Try not to purchase more than you need for your big holiday meals. And eat those leftovers, don't throw them in the trash.

• Start a compost bin if you haven't already.

• Try to get everyone out walking. Walking more and driving less fights climate change and obesity.

• "Experiences" make great last-minute gifts. That means tickets to an event or a favorite museum. You can also offer to help a friend paint a room or repair a front porch.

• Another choice is to give a membership in the Nature Conservancy. And tell them you'll take them to the Nachusa Grasslands -- maybe in the spring.

• Buy something sustainable and organic like fair trade, bird-friendly coffee, organic flowers or something locally grown or raised.

• If you're traveling, consider buying carbon offsets to help minimize the negative environmental effects of driving or flying.

• If you still have gifts to wrap, try to buy some made from recycled paper or make wrapping from something around your house. And be sure to recycle any wrapping you can. Another idea is to put gifts in containers that can be reused.

For more information visit www.nature.org.