On Halloween

On Halloween

22 Oct 2007

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

We really enjoy the community aspect of trick-or-treating but we don't want to give out candy to the little ones, or toxic plastic Chinese toys. Two hundred kids come to our house every Halloween. How do we keep it green, safe, and economical?

Jodi McMillian
Charleston, W.Va.

Dearest Jodi,

Two hundred children? How did you keep it economical last year? Let's see, if you were to buy a bag of mini Snickers with 70 in the bag, and that cost $20, and you need let's say 300 Snickers to scantily cover your bases, that's $100 for Halloween candy. Gadzooks.

Trick or treat.

Photo: iStockphoto

Not all little Chinese plastic gizmos are proven toxic yet, you know. The San Jose Mercury News has a list of actually recalled items, and the feds keep a handy database, but we might as well use this opportunity to stop buying plastic Chinese stuff. So how do we have Halloween with no Chinese imports, no candy, and no food (razors!)?

You need something cheap that is easily available in bulk, and that is acceptable to children. What do kids want, if not silly toys and tasty candy? Pens and pencils, and tiny boxes of crayons, are a traditional, sort of academically focused item. You could also buy several boxes of fat markers and strew them about in baskets; if you combined all these drawing utensils, children of varying ages will be able to choose one they like. Small musical instruments like kazoos, mouth harps, and whistles could be fun, if they aren't made of toxic Chinese plastic. Stickers, temporary tattoos, and trading cards are small and cheap. You could look up a variety of knock-knock jokes at the library, pick 10, and print each one on 30 business card-sized papers. There, that's my big idea -- knock-knock jokes.

Ask Umbra continues below

ADVERTISING POLICY

Choose amongst these ideas and a few more. Then, the key to your success in surviving the gauntlet as a candy-free house: you need to find a few children, of various ages, and make a little focus group. Or ask them individually. Of all the items you have on your list, do the children find any of them palatable? Are any exciting enough, or will all of them leave trick-or-treaters feeling deflated? What other noncandy items do the children recommend adding to your list? Maybe you even could take some children shopping with you.

And don't forget last year's suggestion, of gathering all your exciting but no longer used costume jewelry, books, toys, and music recordings, and adding those to the porch offerings.

Scarily,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (15 comments)

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Money makes the world go around

When I was a kid trick-or-treating (before it was outlawed due to the apple/razor-blade urban legend) I would have been pissed to have been given a sticker or a card with a @#$ knock-knock joke on it. Those are, however, great choices if one's goal is to scrape eggs off one's siding.

The best suggestion I've heard for the trick-or-treating question is simple: cold hard cash. At the time a quarter was suggested, but today 50-cent peices or even dollar coins (though a dismaying percentage of even adults won't recognize those as US money) might be appropriate (or just two quarters).

If I were pressed to provide candy, I'd get the mini Chick-o-Sticks. They don't readily melt, and unlike most chocolate candy, don't [appear to] contain animals.

by anthony11 at 10:17 AM on 22 Oct 2007

Trick or Treating treats

I know that candy is not the greatest thing for children, but it's only one day a year! How about giving them Endangered Species brand organic dark chocolates? They sell bags just for Halloween: http://www.chocolatebar.com/shop/c-5-bite-sized-chocolate ...

Cathy M.

by cmuha at 10:22 AM on 22 Oct 2007

Chalk rocks!

My mom gives out non-toxic sidewalk chalk, which the kids love. You can even make your own out of eggshells and flour, if you want. Bottles of bubbles also are a big hit, but I'm not sure they're particularly enviro friendly.

by topsymax13 at 10:28 AM on 22 Oct 2007

Halloween treats

For perhaps 30 years, I have refused to give out the standard candy bars. I find mini packs of raisins, peanuts, gum, pretzels, and so on. Also, this year, I ordered a treats from ---http://store.gxonlinestore.org/trickortreatkit.html

They have yet to arrive, but they are being shipped this week: 42 pieces of fair trade candy, Halloween postcards, and some decorations. Hurry if you want to order! Or see what your local co-op or health food store has.

Margie Campaigne www.ProjectHOUSE.vpweb.com

by margie46 at 10:35 AM on 22 Oct 2007

Great Green Halloween tips

There's a great collection of them here, on the Sierra Club's Green Life blog, including Halloween costumes, candles, and eco-candy.

by TiogaJenny at 10:56 AM on 22 Oct 2007

More green tips

We recently posted a green Halloween article at Green Promise. It can be a challenge to stay eco and in the neighborhood's good graces, but it's definitely worth the effort!

by greenpromise at 11:53 AM on 22 Oct 2007

A few other ideas...

Popcorn is a healthy snack...why not hand out organic microwave popcorn or Newmann's Own All Natural microwave popcorn. I handed it out last year and all the kids in my neighborhood loved it :)

Another candy/toxic toy alternative is packets of instant oatmeal...an organic version is Earth's Best Organic Yummy Tummy Instant Oatmeal, Maple & Brown Sugar, 10-Count Boxes. You can buy a pack of 6 boxes on Amazon for around $22. That is 60 for about 36 cents each packet. Also you could hand out non or organic granola bars or non or organic packets of cheese crackers.

I like the temporary tatoo idea too...I think I'll do that along with whatever treat I hand out this year. :)

by MegCH at 12:22 PM on 22 Oct 2007

Halloween treats

For the past 4 or 5 years I've been going to Gordon Food Service (or Costco, Sam's Club, etc.) and buying large boxes of 50 individual packets of hot cocoa mix. One packet (serving) per child. The kids love them! Last year, I overheard a kid remark to his friend as they walked up to my porch, "All right! This is the lady that always hands out the hot cocoa mix!"

by ealasaid at 1:58 PM on 22 Oct 2007

Go Healthy for Our KIds and Our World

For many years I have handed out packs of gum or money. Now I have trouble with individually wrapped packages of anything. I go for money! It is a winner with kids - just fill a container with coins (yes, kids even like pennies) and let the kids grab as much as they can in one handfall. A narrow necked container makes it more of a challenge! An apple is not a bad choice either - although older kids might not appreciate it. Greeting the kids with a smile and even wearing a costume yourself is what neighborhood events are really all about. We need to de-emphasize the materialism and pump up the fun. Ellie Taylor, www.feedingthekids.com

by Ellie Taylor at 2:06 PM on 22 Oct 2007

trick or treating

When my boys became old enough to trick or treat, razor blades and poison was deriguer. I gave them home halloween parties in which a bunch of us like minded mothers put together a party to end all parties. Years later, when I was passing out goodies to children I found that the biggest oohs and ahs came from getting a pencil or wad of funny money or a bracelet that lit up. Buy a few not so cheap and intersperse them with the really cheap and you'll be surprised what the kids pick. There are lots of alternatives to candy that children enjoy over and over long after the candy is gone.

by Jumperl at 4:28 PM on 22 Oct 2007

Memories

My husband still remembers the family that always gave out baseball cards at Halloween. Like the hot cocoa mix lady, I think kids like the surprise of something out of the ordinary.

by wildernesse at 6:37 PM on 22 Oct 2007

halloween

how about trick or treating for unicef - you can give the orange and black boxes with spare change to put inside. Then the kids can continue to use the boxes as they go around trick or treating. The kids get to experience the joy of helping others and a great cause profits. It was one of my first experiences of helping others as a child and it made a lasting impression. You can get the boxes free from unicef and from various stores such as hallmark

by mcwhmd at 5:43 AM on 23 Oct 2007

green gifts for little ghosts

You could give out environmentally friendly mood pencils! They can be ordered (and imprinted if you want) from an eco-friendly promotional product company like Signature Marketing in Simsbury, CT. Here's their description:
http://signaturemarketing.com/ProductDetail/ProductDetail ...
"A mood pencil that changes color from the heat of your hands.
Round pencil that changes color from the heat of your hands. Also, they are made from environmentally synthetic wood alternative with a number 2 lead. They feature black ferrules and erasers. Most effective at room temperature.
Color: Blue, Burnt Orange, Coral, Lime Green, Purple
Minimum Production Time: 5 day(s) FREE! Set Up Charge
Minimum Quantity: 500 Price: $.39"
So 500 would total $195 and you'd have enough to last for 2 years worth of Halloweens, plus extras to give out at other times, use yourself, play with, etc. You could find a like-minded neighbor or friend to split the order and cost with you. You could leave them plain or imprint with something fun or eco-relevant!
I haven't ordered from this particular company, but they describe themselves as a small company with a "a focus on environmental promotion products" so that's kind of appealing. I'm sure there are other eco-friendly promotional product companies out there. happy halloween! :)

by hippiechild at 6:36 AM on 23 Oct 2007

bat tattoos for Halloween

I work for a non-profit based that conserves bats. We offer two cost-effective (and educational) products that make great hand-outs for Halloween.

Bat tattoos:
http://www.batcatalog.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct= ...

Bat Fact cards:
http://www.batcatalog.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct= ...

by batgirl at 8:20 AM on 23 Oct 2007

Honesty in Advertising

Just watch out that what you purchase really is environmentally friendly. Just because it is labeled as such does not mean it actually is. I have my doubts that plastic products of any kind, products that are battery powered, light up, or work based on chemical reactions are environmentally less damaging than simple candy. Just because it will last longer does not make it better for the environment. It may last even after it is not wanted to last any longer. I would even say that an edible treat makes more sense than any toy if you care about NOT supporting materialistic thinking (or its early development) and getting into the habit of finding pleasure in useless gadgets.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

by PolluteLessDotCom at 4:53 AM on 24 Oct 2007

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