Green your holidays with this collection of eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas! According to Sustainable America, an estimated 8,000 tons of wrapping paper is used during the holiday season – that equals roughly 50,000 trees!

Wrapping paper is designed for single-use, and although the patterns can be cheerful and bright, the environmental impact is anything but. Think you'll just recycle the gift wrap? Think again! Most wrapping paper is not recyclable – meaning its final destination is a landfill. 

Instead, everyday household items can be repurposed into creative gift wraps for the holidays or any occasion! 

The handmade cosmetics and beauty products company Lush was inspired by the traditional Japanese art of wrapping cloth called Furoshiki. The company sells colorful eco-friendly fabric wraps in-store and online. The scarfs are made from either organic cotton or two recycled plastic bottles! They'll even throw in instruction cards with directions on how to wrap all of your goodies. The wraps are basically a gift within itself, and the recipient can either pay-it-forward and reuse the fabric to wrap their next gift in or use it as a tote, scarf, or headband.

Never heard of Lush? The company is against animal testing and all products are 100 percent vegetarian. Try the shampoo bar! Ditch the shampoo bottles and use a bar instead (there's even a tin you can purchase to store it in). Conditioner bars are available too.

Here are five ways you can reuse your knot wrap via LushUSA.com. 

Easy peasy and adorable! Check out this idea from "SustainableMags."

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• Grab an empty cereal box

 

• Cut the tabs off the top of the box

 

• Use a hole punch to make two holes on either side of the box

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• Thread ribbon, twine, shoestrings (or anything you can think of) through the holes and tie a knot on the ends

​Got a gift certificate or small item such as a bracelet or other trinket? Try this recycled pillow boxes idea from Older and Wisor. How cute are these?

Put a bow on it – you're done! How about this great idea from "Creative Homemaking?" Use your leftover fabric scraps to make fabric twine! 

Rooterville, A Sanctuary, is located near Gainesville, Florida, about one and a half hours from Jacksonville, Florida (where The Girls Gone Green is headquartered). 

So, we grabbed our boots and our friends, and our friends of friends and hit the road to tour the sanctuary and lend a hand for the day! 

But let's back up a bit. What exactly is Rooterville? 
Rooterville was founded in 2004 by Elaine West. The sanctuary, sprawling 30-acres of land, tucked away in a secluded area, truly is that – not only a sanctuary in the sense of a place for rescued animals to live, but a place that all beings, can come and reflect and enjoy sentient beings and serene landscape. The animals roam freely amongst the property.
Today, more than 300 animals call the sanctuary home, including pot-bellied and farm pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens, cows, dogs and cats!

There’s even a butterfly garden, planted in honor of Stella, the first farm pig that came to live at Rooterville. Stella fell from a truck on her way to a slaughter house. She died in 2014, but got to experience what life was like away from cruel factory farm conditions.

The animals who come to the sanctuary are often abused, abandoned or neglected. Many of the residents are former “teacup pigs” who end up growing much larger than the breeder promised. Teacup pigs are a myth. In order for the pigs to stay small, breeders will recommend virtually starving the pigs. (Read more about teacup pigs here).
Other pigs end up at the sanctuary for various reasons. Space and mischievousness, not to mention home owners association rules and zoning laws are just some of the reasons pigs end up at the sanctuary. Pigs can be difficult to care for, if you don’t know what you’re in for. With the intelligence equivalent to a 3-year-old child, a pig’s lifespan is about 20 years and they aren’t fully grown until they are three years old.

Watch this short video to learn more about the sanctuary! 

We spent the day helping fluff hay in shelter areas and place fresh, new hay where needed. You see, the pigs like the hay "just so." And we were warned not to be too surprised if while poking at the hay, a pig or two might rise out of hiding. The hay-laying was in preparation for a cold snap. (Yes, for all those not from the Sunshine State, it does indeed dip into freezing temps in Northeast Florida!) Gotta keep those piggies warm! ​​

The pigs like the hay piled high on the sides and back of the enclosures so they can dive head first into the piles and nestle down for the night.

It's not just pigs who call Rooterville home. The sanctuary also has rescue goats, turkeys, chickens, dogs, cows and more! Click here to read more animal stories!  ​

We had a great day at the sanctuary and hope you visit it sometime soon or support the sanctuary with monetary or physical donations. The sanctuary is always looking for volunteers! ​

 Become a Rooterville member
Make a monetary donation 
​Sponsor an animal 
​Volunteer at the sanctuary

Pig Yoga at Rooterville! Jan. 6, 2018 from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tickets are $15 pp. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit the Facebook event page. Space is limited; must RSVP.

Rooterville is located at 5579 Darwood St., Melrose, FL 32666. For more information, call (386) 661-2287, email elaine@rooterville.org or visit www.rooterville.org.