Easter weekend (April 10-13, 2009) is fast approaching. The religious event’s modern tranditions include the Easter bunny and the Easter egg hunts. These commercialized aspects of the once ancient Egyptian and Persian New Year customs turned Christian tradition are celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians alike. The universal Easter egg hunt often includes hours spent prepping the eggs followed by carefully hiding them.

Instead of decorating the eggs using the less-environmentally friendly dyes found in decorating kits,  such as acrylic paints (which contain mould preventing preservatives such as formaldehyde and/or ammonia), this Easter try a more eco-friendly alternative. Apply natural dyes from spices, fruits and vegetables to your eggs to get a variety of colours!

Good natural dying recipes can be found at here.

I recommend the following:

Red: red onion peel

Orange: yellow onion peel

Yellow: ground turmeric powder, carrot tops

Blue: red cabbage

Purple: grape juice, red wine

Pink: beet root

While on the topic of eggs, try using free range (free-run or cage-free) eggs, or even better, instead of eggs, try this alternative eco-friendly option made of cornstarch and baking soda, and get the whole family involved in a bit of hands-on creativity.

To collect your works of art, try reusing any straw baskets you have around the house, or make your very own basket out of old cereal boxes and fill it with environmentally friendly products such as hay, grass or reused paper from your home-office shredder. For help making your own basket, check out this link.

What are you waiting for?  Get dyeing!

 Posted by Myschka