Still got your Christmas tree but don't want to deal with getting rid of it? Have it picked up, recycled into mulch or fed to local farm animals, and have a tree planted in its honor. Schedule your pickup today and Wellesley High School grads from Holiday Haulaways will do the rest.
Jack Kenney, 2020 WHS grad, started Holiday Haulaways 4 years ago and is combining his passion for the environment with what he has learned studying business and environment at the University of Vermont to create a business that has a purposeful impact. Specifically, he knows that he doesn't want to run a business that “reaps the benefits of profit from the tears of the environment,” he said. Thus, his team was thrilled to find another use for the trees at local farms to offer special treats for goats, sheeps, baby lambs, chickens and even donkeys. “The trees offer a nice mixup from the hay and grain they eat and act as a natural dewormer for the animals to help them stay healthy,” Kenney said. But the team of local Wellesley residents didn’t want to stop there. This spring, trees will be planted for every Christmas tree they pick up this year. Sparked by memories of planting trees given to them in Wellesley elementary schools which are now reasonably mature trees, the team hopes the tree planting initiative sparks conversations about replanting, reforestation, carbon sequestration, and efforts to combat climate change. The small saplings’ that Holiday Haulaways will offer customers are perfect for families who want to share a moment planting a tree together. Schedule your pickup today. Make Your List and Check it Twice Written by: Eliza Letteney ‘Tis the season. Homes are trimmed with candles and boughs. While Chanukah is behind us, many are looking for Christmas and Kwanzaa gifts, hostess presents and “thank you” treats for teachers and others who have made the year brighter for our families. This year, instead of letting the shopping rush make you feel like a frenzied consumer, discover ways to shrink your ecological footprint and calmly prepare for remaining festivities. Here are a few tips for locating and wrapping gifts in a stress-free and sustainable way.
As seasonal shopping began in downtown Wellesley, a store associate at Beauty and Main noted an increasing number of people asking for natural products that are environmentally lower impact, adding that companies are also responding to the demand for products made without chemicals that are “paraben-free, dye-free, and scent-free.” Cashiers at Paper Source and Wellesley Books, both of which offer gifts made from natural or recycled materials, noted similar trends. And broader trends affirm what is happening here. The global consulting firm Accenture’s 2021 giving survey found that 58% want to support local and independent retailers. Additionally, 60% of respondents reported making more sustainable and ethical purchases, and 9 out of 10 of those said they planned to continue doing so this season. A survey by the research firm WeThrift found that nearly 40% of shoppers were likely to focus on eco-friendly products during this holiday season and over 60% claimed that they would likely use reused or recycled materials to box and wrap presents. If you’re interested in doing the same, reused paper, magazines, and newspapers are creative choices tied with some festive reused ribbon, raffia or yarn, and with a small pine branch or holly sprig tucked beneath the bow. Sustainable Wellesley shares easy steps to create beautiful - reusable- cloth gift wrapping here. Glass jars and other reusable containers can be festive with a bright gift tag and colorful twine. These sweet options yield a charming presentation without creating waste. No matter how you choose to celebrate, good luck and enjoy the holidays! |
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