Easter is coming! As per usual, I’m behind in getting started but save the info for next year if you’re already 10 steps ahead of me. 
Basket
One thing everyone can do to green up Easter is to NOT buy those throw away Easter baskets. There are many greener options available these days. For one, invest in a nice basket that will last many years. I have used the same straw Easter baskets for each of my boys for about 5 years now.
You can also buy galvanized tin paint pails at your hardware store and have your children help you paint them or you can decopage them, if you are crafty.
Another idea I found was to use an actual outdoor hanging plant basket, which might be suitable for older children or the adult in your life that likes the Easter Bunny to visit.
Grass
I still bought the Easter grass last year and was hoping to find an alternative this year. If you start a few weeks early, Creative Kids at Home offers a great instructional on growing your own real grass for your Easter baskets.
This is a great opportunity to let your kids help out with the greening up of Easter. Now more than ever, global warming is an important topic that kids want to know and do something about. So I think for this year, we will hold a “construction paper rip”event. We have tons of construction paper (who doesn’t?)….so I’ll let each child pick their colors and rip into tiny pieces. The explanation is for our house an easy one, since we’ve always told our kids that the Easter Bunny (and Santa) use the wrapping paper and supplies at each house. So they will be helping to supply the Easter Bunny with a more environmentally sound option. Perfect!
Candy
Baskets do not need to be filled to the brim with candy. Things like stickers, small games, books, balls, etc. all make wonderful additions to your child’s Easter basket. If you have any icing bags laying around, you can fill it with any orange item, add some grass to the ends and you have a homemade carrot to add to your basket.
For organic, natural and free trade chocolates and candy, here is what I found;
Jelly Belly is now offering naturally colored and flavored jelly beans.
Natural Candy Store offers natural, organic and dye free hard candies and more.
Check out Global Exchanges Fair Trade store. They have tons of Easter candy, chocolate and items for your child’s Easter basket!
Liz Lovely’s Organic Fair Trade Bakery - Kid’s Easter Treats
Sweet Earth Chocolates - Organic/Fair Trade Easter Bunnies and eggs
Vegan Divine - Organic Easter Egg Hunt packs
From Kate’s Caring Gifts, Chocolate Easter Egg Pack
World’s Finest is one chocolate company that over 40,000 schools and youth groups use for their fundraisers. At Democracy Now, you can send a free fax asking them for fair trade chocolate.
Eggs
Here’s a cool option for dying easter eggs;
This is done actually by wrapping eggs in onion skins! Learn how here at Instructables.com
If you want to dye eggs naturally, here are a few ideas for coloring eggs naturally. Or check out Martha Stewart’s step by step instructions on how to dye eggs using natural ingredients. Serious natural egg dyers will want to check out Mama Lisa’s Blog entry, How to Dye Eggs Naturally. Its an amazing egg-speriment! She takes you through her step by step eggventure in dying with photo results.
