Be KIND this Christmas

We all know Aotearoa misses out on a white Christmas but here at KIND we want it to be a greener one.  In the month before the big day, household waste increases by 25%. That is tens of thousands of extra tons of trash making its way to our landfills.  We love to celebrate but we like ideas that are easier on the environment even more. So, we want to inspire our community to create their own greener Christmas. 

Green gifts

When we make gifts ourselves, we pack a whole lot of meaning into each present.  Homemade bliss balls (see our delicious recipe), a hand-potted plant or flowers and produce from the garden.

Another way of giving greener is to gift an experience.  Not everyone needs more things but they will value your time. Giving a coupon for free babysitting to your sister-in-law with four kids is worth more than gold. The same goes for mowing lawns and weeding the garden. Who do you know who could use a hand this year? Give them the gift of a day off from their hectic life, but just be sure to follow through.  And best of all, there’s no waste!

Eat organic and local

Great memories often revolve around the dinner table.  Make them greener too by choosing organic, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible so you can make a serious impact on the environment. Also, by making conscious choices about how much you cook, you can cut down on waste. Composting and avoiding disposable plates and utensils are other ways to keep waste on the down low.

Save energy over summer

Like many Kiwis, the KIND crew hit the road over summer.  Whether you are unwinding at the beach or kicking back at the bach, you can still cut back on your carbon.  Turn off the hot water cylinder and unplug your appliances before you leave town (just not the fridge). It’s an easy way to save energy.

Celebrate every sustainable step

Most of all, celebrate the positive change you are helping to create! Sustainable choices aren’t always the easiest ones to make. Don’t get discouraged if this isn’t going to be a carbon neutral Christmas.  Sure, progress can be slow but each step that is more sustainable counts.

Vegan Bliss Balls 

INGREDIENTS

 desiccated coconut 1 cup
 nut butter (e.g. hazelnut, almond, cashew nut or even
peanut) 4 tablespoons
 cacao powder or good quality dark cocoa powder (e.g Dutch
cocoa) 2 tablespoons
 medjool dates 4, pitted (or 6-7 normal dried dates soaked in
boiling water for 5 minutes)
 rolled oats ½ cup
 salt pinch of
 tahini 2 teaspoons
 maple syrup 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
METHOD

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blitz until well combined and the mixture holds together well when pressed between your fingers. If the mixture is too dry – add a bit more nut butter; if the mixture is too wet, add a couple more tablespoons of rolled oats. Roll tablespoons
of mixture into balls. Store in an airtight container in the pantry (up to 1 week) or fridge (up to 2
weeks). Alternatively freeze for up to two months.

If you’re still stuck for Christmas ideas, then why not gift your loved one with a KIND voucher? Pop in any time and grab a gift voucher, (and maybe, while you are there, you could treat yourself to a piece of our wildly popular, dark chocolate vegan brownie)