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Earth Friendly Holiday Event promotes recycling

The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society’s popular Earth Friendly Holiday Event is coming up this weekend.
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Isabella Smith Forzzani (left) and sisters Lara and Eloise Hobi with the owl ornaments they made at last year’s Earth Friendly Holiday Event coming up this weekend.

The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society’s popular Earth Friendly Holiday Event is coming up this weekend.

“The Earth Friendly event definitely is one of our most fun filled ways of sharing sustainable living practices in our community,” says Marg Evans, education co-ordinator.

Taking place on the often frenzied Black Friday weekend she says the event is an opportunity for families to relax and enjoy something completely free.

All supplies, except for the snacks, are recycled or recovered from nature.

The Earth Friendly Holiday Event takes place at the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Centre Friday Nov. 25 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We will be crafting up bird houses, popcorn garlands, holiday gift cards, and the popular bike wheel wreaths, with snacks and music in between,” says Brianna van de Wijngaard, society community liaison.

Natural wreaths, critter homes, table centres, holiday art, pottery and weaving treasures are just some of the items visitors can make to take home, she notes.

Potters, weavers and artists will have their rooms open with instruction and materials available for creating tree ornaments, cards and other holiday crafts in their respective materials, Evans says.

Crafters from Xat’sull Heritage Village will once again provide instruction on making beautiful dream catchers and delicate medicine bags, Evans says.

She says the conservation society members will be busy helping people to make wreaths where fragrant cedar, pine, spruce and fir boughs are mounted on re-purposed fencing wire and bike rims. Pine cones and mountain ash berries add decoration to the wreaths and other craft items such as critter homes, cone mice and hedgehogs.

Boughs along with dried grasses, flowers and re-purposed cones (made from old braille magazines) also make lovely table centres, she adds.  More nature craft is found at the Scout Island naturalists table, where ‘birds’ are a favourite focus.

There will also be a basket for donations of toques, scarves, mitts and warm winter wear to be hung about town this winter on the city’s “Giving Trees.”

There will also be a society membership and donation table set up at the event, where visitors can either purchase a conservation society membership, or make a donation in the name of a loved one.

“Simply provide a recipient name and address, and we will send their new membership card or donation certificate before the holidays,” van de Wijngaard says.

People who are unable to attend the event, but would still like to donate in someone’s name can contact the conservation society directly at wastewise@ccconserv.org or 250-398-7929.