Do Just One Thing

Carpeting is one of the top items sent to landfills every year. If you have wall-to-wall carpet that you want to replace because it looks old and faded, consider hiring someone to re-dye it instead. First, yes, you can dye carpet. A trained technician can make your old carpet look brand new. You can have the carpet dyed to match the original color, or you can change the color altogether. The process is less expensive than installing new carpet, and the products used are environmentally friendly. The dying process is colorfast, so nothing will wear off on feet, socks, paws or through vacuuming.

When giving gifts during the holiday season, it's nice to give gifts that give back and help make a difference for those in need or communities that need support. Fair trade products are items that provide a living wage to artisans or farmers and provide a steady source of income to help build the community in which they live. One organization, Fair Trade USA, has a certification program that helps consumers identify these products. You can find everything from organic coffee to jewelry to clothing and items for the home. The group's annual holiday gift guide is online at fairtradeusa.org.

For your home Christmas tree, a live, balled tree is the greenest option, since it can be planted in the yard after the festivities are over. But many of us may not have the room to actually plant a tree, so what do you do instead? Rent one! Visit your local landscaping center and inquire about renting a balled evergreen to use at home. Since the cooler months are usually the slowest, many landscaping centers have created rental programs where they deliver, set up and take back the tree after Christmas. If you do want to plant a balled tree, just leave it outside in the winter and wait until spring, when the ground has thawed, to plant it.