"Magic is really very simple, all you've got to do is want something and then let yourself have it." ~Aggie Cromwell, Halloweentown Halloween is fast approaching! We’re here with magical ideas to help you have a frightfully sustainable Halloween. Decorations 1. Reuse last year’s decorations before buying more 2. Repurpose items into Halloween decorations - Old fishbowls can become painted jack-o-lanterns - Broken-down cardboard boxes can be cut and painted into tombstones - Upcycle a loading pallet into a spooky coffin - Paint clear jars with silhouettes of ghosts, witches, and other spooky characters, then place a candle in it 3. Go thrifting and pick up gently used decorations 4. Start a neighborhood Halloween décor swap. Exchange Halloween decorations you don’t want anymore with neighbors who have items you can use Costumes 5. Reuse the costumes you have 6. Reinvent a costume using parts of old costumes you already have 7. Check out your local thrift shop 8. Raid your closet and find pieces you can use together, along with a little crafting magic, to create a whole new costume 9. Search Pinterest for easy-to-recreate homemade costumes using items like cardboard boxes and fabrics you may already have Treats 10. Buy local confections that have minimal packaging. 11. Choose candies in cardboard boxes (Juniors, Dots, Milk Duds, etc) and avoid plastic packaging whenever possible 12. Do NOT hand-out homemade treats. Most people will just throw them out, for safety concerns 13. Make sure to have non-food treats (pencils, playdoh, temporary tattoos, etc) for those with food allergies Pumpkins 14. Buy from local farms whenever possible 15. Use all of the pumpkin - roast the seeds for a healthy snack 6. Compost your pumpkin when you’re done with it 17. If you aren’t planning on carving a pumpkin, get a reusable light-up jack-o-lantern that can be used for many years to come 18. If you use sugar pumpkins as décor (they also go by sweet or pie pumpkins), you can cook them and create pumpkin puree Parties 19. Avoid reusable plates, cups, and cutlery, if possible 20. Use biodegradable products, if need be 21. Provide a permanent marker so people can label their drinks to avoid using multiple cups 22. Serve vegetarian or vegan food 23. Keep leftovers stored at the proper temperature to avoid food waste Have a safe and fun Halloween!