With the Christmas season right around the corner some of us are already considering our holiday plans. The stores are filled with Christmas decorations, plans are being made for family and friends to get together to celebrate and shoppers are making those lists and checking them twice. This may very well be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the most wasteful. So while some of us may be dreaming of a white Christmas here are some steps towards having a real Green Christmas.

Buy a potted or balled Christmas tree (roots still attached) so you can replant it in the backyard or donate it to a school or park. Many plant shops in Trinidad and Tobago sell live Christmas trees and you can get advice from them on how best to plant and take care of the trees. You can also consult with the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture for further advice. For the tech savvy among us LivingChristmasTrees.org has lots of advice for do-it-yourselfers. Remember to try to choose a tree that's grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and if you're not sure whether they are or not ask the local merchants how they care for their plants.

Choose LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead of incandescent bulbs to decorate your tree and home. They're more expensive, but last much longer and use 80% to 90% less power than conventional mini bulbs. LEDs, which cast a bright white light, also stay cool to the touch so they won't singe the tree-or your child's fingers. These LED lights have become a lot more popular and can be found at most hardware stores or decoration shops.

Does mom really need that bottle of perfume? Does dad really need another tie? Let's face it during the holiday season it's really the thought that counts. Skip the store-bought presents and give a home-cooked meal, a free night of babysitting or a month of cleaning instead. You can even donate to a charity in their name.

Nobody will notice that you wrapped your gifts in newsprint if you add a pretty bow on top. There are so many things you can use to jazz up your presents that you can find around the house. Remember the three R's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! You can use old Christmas lights, tape measures, shoelaces-really anything from the junk drawer that's long enough to tie around a box-for a vintage look. Instead of plastic bubble wrap to cushion the contents, try dry pasta or polyester fill from old pillows.

Again you can use many things around the house as ornaments that you probably would have thrown out or given away anyway. Why not use your daughter's doll accessories? Or perhaps some colored bobbins or pretty buttons. Add the LED lights and your tree will shine.

Another way to conserve electricity: burn candles. But toss the old ones-they could have lead wicks, which are toxic when burned. Choose soy, vegetable wax or beeswax-all renewable and biodegradable materials-over paraffin wax candles, which are petroleum based. These more environmentally friendly options can be found at many stores.

So now that you have everything that you need for a Green Christmas, don't forget once the presents have been opened and the merriment has been made to recycle your waste and have a Merry Christmas!