Party Green

An eco-party doesn’t have to mean politics, weird food and ugly plates. Quite the contrary, a green party can be a blast — if you make it one. The key to pulling off an eco-party is planning, and a little imagination. Here are a few tips for saving the party — and the planet.

Guests and Invitations

Save paper by inviting your friends over the phone or by e-mail instead of mailing invitations.

And try to get everyone to carpool. Not only will it save gas, but it’s a great way to get your guests together before the party starts.

Lighting

Solar-powered lighting can serve as illumination and décor. Solar lights come in many shapes and sizes, from colorful discs and floating water lilies to strung lights.

Décor

Instead of cut flowers, try decorating with green plants. They’ll beautify and purify at the same time—and you can keep them to plant around the yard or house, or you can give them away as party favors.

Organic Menu

Why go organic? Certified organic means that the food is healthful, natural and produced to protect the environment. Organic fruits and veggies are grown by farmers who rely on renewable resources and follow practices that conserve soil and water, keeping the land fertile for future generations. Organic meat, poultry and dairy products come from animals fed on natural feed containing no hormones or chemical preservatives. Feed your friends organic food and you’re not just keeping them healthy — you’re supporting the green industry.

Table Settings

How you serve your food and drinks is just as important as what you serve. For your plates, the best way to save the environment is to reuse washable plates. But if you’d rather use throwaway goods, make sure they’re 100% recycled or made of renewable materials like bamboo. If you want to get really creative, try using giant non-poisonous leaves as dishes.

And for your glassware, you can always get 100% recycled cups — or you can take a completely unique route. Several companies make recycled glasses out of old bottles, transforming them into goblets and tumblers. They’re not only environmentally friendly — they’re stylish enough to hand out as party favors. To add a personal touch, you can always have them engraved for your guests.

Cocktails

Going green doesn’t stop with the food. Many alcohols now come in an organic version — including gin, vodka, wine and beer — and there are a number of other ways to add eco-friendly touches. Try any of these options:

• Use licorice sticks with the ends cut off instead of straws
• Flavor ice water with fruit for natural sweetening
• Use coasters made of bamboo or hemp

You might also make an organic house drink. Here’s how to make an organic martini:

Ingredients
4 ounces of basil infused organic vodka*
11/4 ounces of olive juice
Splash of vermouth
3 pitted Spanish green queen olives, skewered
1 organic basil leaf

Instructions
Shake the liquid ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with the olive skewer and basil leaf. To infuse the vodka, place 10 basil leaves in a 750 ml bottle of organic vodka (Rain vodka, distilled in Kentucky with organic corn, is a good choice) for two hours. Be careful not to over infuse. You want a mild flavor and fragrance, not basil cologne.

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