I have seen my home supply of Hanukkah cards (once a seemingly never ending supply thanks to post-Hanukkah sales) dwindle to almost nothing because I have felt guilty, for environmental reasons, to purchase more.
However, with the discovery of eco friendly, plantable Hanukkah cards, the guilt is gone and my supply is being built up once again. Further, I really feel good when I send these 'green' Hanukkah cards because it is actually like giving a small bouquet of flowers to the recipients (if they choose to plant it).
Look for Plantable Hanukkah cards that are made from 100% recycled, handmade seed paper (the paper itself should be biodegradable. Each card is embedded with seeds of several flowers (I recommended asking what seeds are embedded) and should have easy planting instructions printed on each card. Basically all one does when they are done enjoying the Hanukkah card is tear it up into smaller pieces, put those pieces under a thin layer of soil and water it daily.
It won't be long until you see green stems sprout up and, a little while after that, colorful flowers. The seeds are good for at least a year so recipients need not worry if they will still 'be good' when planting season rolls around. They are also perfect for container planting.
Look for customizable options such as cards that can be personalized with your name and or to include a photo as part of the customization. You'll pay a small set up fee for this service but the fee is usually one amount whether you have 20 or 200 printed.
Diva Entertains, copyright 2009
Eco Friendly Hanukkah Cards