• Thin postal tubes cut to size, or thick, heavy (card-weight) paper that can be rolled into tubing. You will need 40cm in length for each cracker.
• Decorative paper –you can use recycled wrapping paper, magazines, newspapers or comic books. You will need a square piece – 40cm x 40cm for each cracker.
• Scissors
• Sticky tape
• Cracker snaps – these are available at Spotlight, eBay and Amazon.com
• Small toys, lollies or home-made treats that can be put inside crackers
• Ribbons or thick pieces of string + salt
• Tissue paper hats (optional)

1 – Measure out the thin postal tubes to 40cm long. If you are using card paper, roll them out, and secure firmly with sticky tape. Cut the tubes into three sections – 1 x 20cm and 2 x 10cm.

2 – In the 20cm section place your gifts, a paper hat and the central section of the cracker snaps. Secure the cracker snap with a small piece of sticky tape.

3- Place the three sections of tubing on the wrapping paper and separate each section by 1cm. Roll the tubing along the paper and secure with sticky tape. Pinch and twist the gap between each section of tubing, and then tie with a piece of string or decorative ribbon. That’s it! You are now ready for the Christmas celebrations!

The post How to Make Your Own Christmas Crackers! appeared first on Oakwood.

Much of this food ends up in landfill, where it will decompose over time. But during this process, it releases a potent greenhouse gas known as methane. Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide and has major implications for global warming and climate change.

The good news is that there are many, basic things that we can do to reduce food waste during the festive season. Here are some tips:

TIP# 1 – Plan ahead.

People tend to over-cater for events during the festive season. They often buy food in a mad rush and take extra measures to ensure that there is an abundance of food available for everyone.

Instead, try making a list, calculate portion sizes and plan ahead for the use of leftovers. By making a list and following a basic plan, there will be less excess food purchased, and minimal food waste.

TIP# 2 – Store food correctly.

Food will last much longer if it is properly stored. Make sure your fridge is set between 3-4 degrees and invest in some good quality storage containers. You can label food items clearly with masking tape and a pen so you know how long it will last. 

TIP# 3 – Celebrate leftovers.

Our parents and grandparents knew how to make good food stretch further and last longer; they transformed it into delicious leftover dishes. At Christmas time, it’s really easy to do this.

Leftover tips:

Plan ahead by considering how you will use food to make leftover dishes.
Use the celebration days following Christmas to use up your leftover Christmas meals.

Leftover dishes:

Use your turkey carcass and leftover meat to make stock and soup. 

Use leftover ham and turkey meat for sandwiches, curries or stir-fries.
Leftover vegetables go brilliantly well in omelettes, sandwiches and cold-roast salads.
Christmas pudding is delicious layered with cream, yoghurt and fruit in a Boxing Day trifle.

TIP#4 – Reduce food packaging.

Rubbish volumes spike by up to 30% over Christmas. Choose items with less packaging and try wrapping your Christmas presents in re-useable material such as fabric. You can also re-use and recycle old paper wrapping if you store it correctly, or use butcher’s paper and get your kids to do some drawings on it. 

TIP#5 – Make 2015 the year of the compost bin.

For every person that gets a compost bin and stops throwing food waste in the trash, it reduces the burden on landfill by 1 tonne, per person, per year. A simple compost bin, worm farm, bokashi bucket or any other food waste recycling system (chickens are my mother’s favourite) will significantly reduce your yearly waste output.

Ask at your local council for any composting systems that they might sell. They often offer incentives for people to start recycling their food waste.

The post 5 Ways to Waste Less & Save Money – Christmas appeared first on Oakwood.