Dinner at 7. Recycling at 10.
OK, you traded in the gas-guzzling car, switched to organic cotton, and stopped letting the faucet run when brushing your teeth. You're trying hard to be a good green doobie, but it's no big deal taking one night off eco-patrol for a fun birthday bash, right? Right?
"Here's the thing," says Christie Matheson, lifestyle writer and author of the informative and amusing book, "Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style." "When we entertain is when we waste the most."
But how big a deal is one night's worth of nonbiodegradable plastic cups, discarded wrapping paper, and tossed leftovers? It doesn't sound so bad until Matheson points out that between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans toss an extra million tons of garbage each week. Yikes.
But feeling guilty on special occasions is not what Matheson or her book is about. The cheerful blonde, who grew up in Westford and currently splits her time between homes in Boston and San Francisco, says it's not hard to throw a more environmentally conscious party. Moreover, she adds, it's often a more pleasant experience for guests.
"Which would you rather?" she asks. "An elegant dinner party with tasty organic foods and hors d'oeuvres, or an overstuffed buffet with [junk] from the grocery store?" And would you prefer dining by candlelight or under the glare of energy-draining bulbs? (That's beeswax candles, by the way, not petroleum-derived paraffin.)
With all the weddings, graduation parties, and backyard cookouts coming up, Matheson is full of easy-to-be-green ideas for throwing a bang-up bash.
The invitations
"For a lot of parties, Evites are the most eco-friendly," says Matheson. "But for some things, the chic traditionalist in me says you've got to have paper." Besides, Aunt Edna may not have an e-mail address.
Of course, Matheson recommends recycled paper, but not just "grainy-looking brown" cards. "Crane makes cotton papers out of remnants from the textile industry," she explains. Paper Source stores also have lovely recycled products.
And simple is always better. When selecting the invitations for her own wedding this month, Matheson asked the stationer, "Do I really need 6 million fold-over cards and envelopes inside envelopes?" Well, no, she didn't. (But while on the topic of paper, the eco-etiquette maven is a firm believer in written thank-you notes versus e-mails, extra paper notwithstanding.)
Food and drink
Always use as many locally grown and organic ingredients as you can, says Matheson, or frequent restaurants and local caterers that offer green fare. Shunning synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and hormones, organic foods are not only better for the environment, but healthier for you, she explains, adding, "Green women don't get fat!" She also recommends buying organic wines. They're available at a variety of prices and are sold at BRIX Wine Shops and Best Cellars stores, among others.
Eco-easy table settings
Skip plastic plates, cups, and utensils in favor of the real deal. Don't have enough matching china and silverware? Mixing different patterns makes for more charming and creative settings, Matheson says. Or borrow. And if you need to buy tableware, Matheson recommends trying the artsy, recycled glass at Fiddlehead on Newbury Street." Their beautiful champagne flutes make a great hostess gift."
Another Matheson tip: Rent plates and glasses for large numbers of guests. It doesn't cost much more than buying disposable, and you don't have to wash the dishes prior to returning them. Reusable plastic plates are perfect for backyard barbecues, she continues, but use real utensils. "Plastic knives are absolutely useless anyway!"
Decorate green
Want to string little lights outdoors? Just buy LED strands, available at Target or Costco, says the eco-expert. They cost a bit more, "but last 50,000 hours and use 90 percent less energy than mini-incandescents."
For centerpieces, she says, little pots of organic herbs alternated with votive candles are lovely indoors or out, as are loosely arranged organic cut flowers, available locally at Ilex Designs in the South End or Whole Foods stores.
And when it's all over, resist the urge to throw everything in the trash. Recycle, run the dishwasher when full (uses less water than hand washing), and give the leftovers away.
One last piece of advice: Don't advertise that it's a green gathering or lecture guests. "Just throw a beautiful party and show how eco-chic is actually a desirable way of living."
LOCAL RESOURCES
FOR RECYCLED INVITATIONS
Crane & Co. Paper Makers
The Shops at the Prudential Center, Boston, 617-247-2822
crane.com
Paper Source
paper-source.com
FOR ORGANIC FOODS AND CATERING
wholefoodsmarket.com
FOR ORGANIC WINES
BRIX Wine Shop
1280 Washington St., Boston,
617-542-2749
BRIX on Broad
105 Broad St., Boston,
617-542-2749
brixwineshop.com
Best Cellars
1327 Beacon St., Brookline,
617-232-4100. bestcellars.com
FOR RECYCLED TABLEWARE
Fiddlehead
292 Newbury St., Boston,
617-247-1120. fiddlehead.us
FOR ORGANIC CUT FLOWERS
Ilex Designs
73 Berkeley St., Boston,
617-778-0590
ilexflowers.com 