Happy Easter! Despite all the commercialization around this holiday, there are so many ways to make your Easter compassionate, conscious, and earth friendly. I like it because it makes another great occasion to celebrate and be present with spring.
Here are some easy, creative, and eco ideas for your celebration!

• Try making dip-dyed vegan marshmallows as a fun alternative to eggs. If you really want to get into this project, you can dye your marshmallows with fresh foods (such as beets for red, lemon peels and carrots for yellow and orange).
• Design a creative scavenger hunt for your kids to enjoy, or reverse roles and have the kids get imaginative and the adults do the hunt.
• Save money and get thrifty by re-using old Easter baskets: check out thrifts stores or craigslist.
• Have fun growing your own grass for your family’s Easter baskets or making it by coloring and cutting scrap paper into small blades.
• Support a compassionate Easter basket with healthy items like dried fruit or creative gifts such as a gardening kit, saplings, organic cotton/soy stuffed bunnies or baby farm animals, animal-based picture books, or vintage paper mache eggs.  If you want to include treats, look for vegan ones such as these listed on Vegan Essentials. Some more vegan Easter chocolate can be found at:  Divine Treasures, Sweet and Sara, Premium Chocolatiers, Mama Ganache, No Whey! Chocolates, and Sjaak’s Organic Chocolates. 
• Hold out on purchasing a bunny or chick even though it may seem fun and appropriate as an Easter gift. Animal welfare agencies throughout the U.S. get swamped with thousands of pet Easter gifts once they are no longer wanted. If you have seriously considered getting a pet, try to adopt from rescue organizations first, and gift your child a how-to book on caring for that pet.
• Try to avoid sugary and unhealthy foods if you can. It’s helpful to feed him or her healthy and filling foods prior to the candy based activities or bring along healthier alternatives.
• When decorating with flowers, try picking them right from your  backyard. If not possible, look for cut flowers that are both Organic and Fair Trade certified.
• If you have family and friends who will be hosting with egg based foods and activities, encourage them to support organic, human certified, vegetarian fed, and cage free eggs. If you want to go a step further, promote using the egg waste by composting or in other recipes.

Overall, embrace the time you have to spend with loved ones as well as the opportunity to slow down and cook delicious and healthy foods. To see more thoughts on a Kind Easter, check out my tips from last year and my original Kind Classic Easter post.
What about you? What will you be doing this Easter? What are your ideas on fun and eco ways to celebrate it?
 
Photo Source: The Bunny Retreat