You don’t want to be rude to your guests, but you’d like them to embrace your green way of living while visiting your home. So, what’s a planet-friendly party planner to do? Earth911 spoke with Suzanne Bertani, the eco-conscious mom behind Green Planet Parties and the green parenting blog MommyFootprint, to get a few tips on how to inspire your guests to go green – without sounding preachy or pushy.

Tip #1: Trying to Photo: Flickr

1. Choose one thing to green

“My best tip is to state in the invitation and tell people ‘we are excited to be hosting a green event and would love your help,’” Bertani suggests. “Then pick a topic where you want to green – something that is close to your heart as the party host.”

While some hosts may be tempted to direct guests with a simple “this is a green event” statement in their invitations or e-vites, Bertani warns that being too general could overwhelm or confuse your guests, especially if going green is unfamiliar them.

“Being a greenie, [an eco-friendly lifestyle] really makes sense to you and your world, but it might be new for your guests,” says Bertani. “So, try to think about that and minimize confusion by focusing on one area.”

Start by identifying a goal for your green celebration, like zero waste, all-local or plastic-free. And be as clear as possible in your invitations to help your guests participate, suggests Bertani, who first got started hosting green events when throwing birthday parties for her four children. For example, if you are hosting a zero-waste potluck, specifically ask your guests to pack food in reusable containers and avoid disposable packaging.

“Focus on doing one thing well, and your guests will walk away noticing a difference,” the eco mom says.

READ: 5 Ways to Throw a Green Dinner Party

2. Make it visual

If you’re worried that Great Aunt Myrtle won’t get the message of your green event, consider using online visual aids to clear things up.

“You really have to make [your eco message] clear to guests and take the guess-work out of it because people are busy,” Bertani says. “And if you want to make it really easy, make it visual.”

Bertani suggests setting up a Pinterest board or Tumblr account for your party and sending the link in your invitations or e-vites. Include ideas for potluck recipes, homemade gifts or reusable gift wrap to give your guests some guidance. Stuck for ideas? Check out Earth911 on Pinterest and Tumblr and snag a few of ours!

SEE: Shocking and Shareable Eco Art

3. Go local, get outside

If you’re planning a potluck, the easiest way to add a touch of green is to go local, Bertani suggests. In your e-vites, tell your guests that you’re hosting an “all-local table” and encourage them to source their contributions locally.

“Everyone goes to that party, they have their dish and they can talk about where their food came from, how they sourced it and the recipes that they used,” Bertani says. “It’s fun. It kind of turns into a game, and people like it.”

If you’re using Pinterest to perk up your party, include recipes based on produce picks that are local and seasonal in your area. To make your get-together even greener, take it outside (weather permitting of course!).

“I personally love hosting parties in a forest or a park because the kids are running around, and it’s just a great way to host a party,” Bertani says. Throwing your party outdoors saves energy and helps your guests commune with Mother Nature.

READ: Your Local Guide to Winter Produce

A look at how the PaperKarma app works to reduce paper waste. Photo: PaperKarma

If you’ve ever found yourself at your mailbox, baffled by the fact that you’ve received nothing but a pile of junk mail that will only find its way to the trash, there’s an app for that.

PaperKarma, a smartphone application released in early February, reduces your paper junk mail with the snap of a picture and is available on both the iPhone and Android markets.

The application uses your smartphone’s picture-sending capabilities to see which companies are sending you a stack of junk. Then, they contact the sender and ask them to unsubscribe your name.

This isn’t a foolproof system, PaperKarma states on their website. Some companies don’t have an actual list from which to remove your name and rather bombards mailboxes with junk addressed to “resident.” Still, most ethical companies will unsubscribe people that don’t want their mail.

In the digital age, it’s easy to expect that unsubscribing from a junk mail list would be quick and instant, but often companies will pre-address your mail for months at a time. After a while, though, you should see your junk mail greatly reduced, PaperKarma says.

PaperKarma will check in after some time to make sure you have, in fact, been unsubscribed.

READ: 8 Ways to Reduce Your Junk Mail

To make matters even tougher, animal products could be hiding in one of many nooks and crannies in your meal – from beef stock-based sauces to bread glazed with egg.

So, what’s a novice vegan to do? Don’t fret, hungry greenie. Earth911 has you covered. Whether you’ve recently adopted a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle or you simply want to give it a try for a night, here are 10 questions to ask your server before choosing a veg-based meal.

So, you're at the table. Now what? Choosing a vegetarian or vegan meal can be tricky, but Earth911 is here to help. Photo: Flickr/missmeng

1. What vegetarian options do you have?

If a brief glance over the menu yields less-than-exciting choices like a garden salad, steamed broccoli or crudités, ask your server about other options. You may have missed a few vegetarian or vegan choices on the menu, and some others may be simple for the chef to “veganize.”

Ask about getting a pasta course without fish or chicken, or order that yummy panini without the cheese. Most restaurants receive requests for vegetarian and vegan meals often. So, your sever will likely have a number of options on hand if you ask.

2. Do you offer à la carte?

Can’t find a veg-based entree that strikes your fancy? Another option is to go à la carte, which allows you to build your own plate using side dishes and lighter fare.

Assemble an à la carte platter with all of your favorites – some rice or pasta, a salad and a few fresh veggies – to create a well-balanced meal that’s pleasing to your palate (and the planet).

3. How is this made/what is this made out of?

Ordering something even though you don’t know the ingredients is a recipe for disaster. So, if your head is spinning from menu choices like baba ganoush, seitan and polenta, don’t be afraid to ask your server for a bit more information.

Once you’ve picked a meal, take a moment to double-check with your server that your choice is animal product-free. Meat and dairy can often be lurking in choices like soups, breaded appetizers and stuffed pastas. So, making sure is your best bet to avoid surprises.

4. How can I make my choice vegan?

If you’re already going vegetarian, vegan could be a few simple steps away. Ask your server if your meal contains any eggs or dairy and if it can be prepared without these ingredients for a vegan-friendly plate. And while you’re at it, ask about locally-grown and organic produce to up the green factor of your meal.

5. Are vegetables and beans cooked with dairy or animal fats?

Here’s where choosing veg can get a bit tricky. You’ve selected a meal with only vegetable ingredients, but how are those ingredients prepared?

Some restaurants cook beans and other vegetables in butter, bacon fat or other animal products. To save yourself the headache of sending a meal back, don’t assume. Ask first.

Designer Yong Hoon Choi builds a kitchen out of discarded wood used for overseas shipping. Photo: Yong Hoon Choi

Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, is home to the country’s largest port and is the fifth busiest port in the world. With all those ships making stops in the sunny city of 3.6 million people, plenty of waste piles up, including scrap wood that encases a variety of goods. That wood sourced from across the globe does its job protecting bulk cargo, but is just thrown away after those same ships leave Busan for other destinations.

Originally from Busan, designer Yong Hoon Choi now lives in Seoul but frequently visits his hometown and spends a lot of time at the city’s busy seaport. He became fascinated by the waste left behind as the result of the 13 million shipping containers that pass through Busan annually. Choi realized that wood could be put to good use, and an idea that challenges how Koreans design their homes was born.

The Forgotten Room

Influenced by his time living and working abroad in Los Angeles and New York, Choi decided he wanted Koreans to rethink how they build and design their living spaces.

Although South Korea is now a global focal point for new trends and design, interiors generally do not reflect Koreans’ keen sense of style. In fact, most kitchens in Korea are strictly a functional space and boast little except drab Formica surfaces and prefabricated cabinets. So despite the genuine hospitality Koreans show to visitors, that warmth does not translate into most home interiors.

PHOTOS: Stunning Recycled Glass Countertops

Choi sees two opportunities in the stacks of scrap wood through which he rummages when he visits Busan; to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and to design cool kitchen cabinets and surfaces.

If you like theatrical musical performers like Blue Man Group or Stomp, then you’ll love ScrapArtsMusic, a Vancouver-based quintet that fashions its percussive instruments from industrial materials that would have otherwise been discarded, ranging from accordion parts to artillery shells.

The group was founded by Gregory Kozak, a drummer with a passion for welding and recycling, and Justine Murdy, a designer who loves over-the-top performances.

After getting their big break with an appearance at an NBA half-time show, the ensemble has since toured the world and performed at the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Learn about ScrapArtMusic’s upcoming concerts on their Facebook page, and visit their Vimeo channel to see more videos of their live performances.

SEE: The Best DIY Musical Instruments

Photo: Alexandra Vietti, Earth911

This Valentine’s Day, Earth911 decided that expressions of affection shouldn’t be limited to couples only; we wanted to show Mother Earth some love. We asked our readers and staff to come up with their Valentine’s love letters to Mama Earth, and here’s what they wrote:

“Roses are red,
The Earth’s green and blue.
You take care of Mother Earth,
She’ll take care of you.”

– Leah Blunt, Fulfillment Editor, Earth911

“Earth Mother, Earth Mother
What would we do
If the streams dried up
And the skies weren’t blue?

Earth Mother, Earth Mother
I promise this to you
I will do all I can
To take care of you.”

– Jeannea Spence, Eastern Media Sales Director, Earth911

“Dear Mother Earth,

Roses are red, violets are blue, and I’m grateful to you for those things and the rest of the beautiful planet we’re lucky enough to live on! I promise to do my best to keep this planet clean and green.

Love, Becky.”

– Becky Striepe, Earth911 reader, via Facebook

“Hey Mother Earth, I cho-cho-choose you…okay, I stole that from ‘The Simpsons,’ but the sentiment is all me!

Love, Raquel.”

 – Raquel Fagan, Vice President, Media and Partnerships, Earth911

“Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Recycling takes old materials
And turns them into something new.”

– Alexis Petru, Staff Writer, Earth911

“Oh, Mother Nature. How can I express my love for you?
I couldn’t think of a way. So, I wrote a haiku!

Your spindly trees,
Bright green grass and warming sun
Beams make my day. Hooray!”

– Mary Mazzoni, Staff Writer, Earth911

“Mother Earth,

Be Mine
(and my children’s)
(and their children’s)
(and their children’s)
(and their children’s)

…You get the idea.

Love, Leah.”

– Leah Blunt, Fulfillment Editor, Earth911

Not feeling the love this Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re flying solo or just not the kind of person who gets into the Valentine’s Day spirit, we’ve rounded up five ways you can keep busy and do something good for the planet, while the rest of the population observes this quasi-holiday.

1. Throw a last-minute dinner party

Just because you’re not going out for a Valentine’s dinner date doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an evening of good food and good company. Avoid the overcrowded restaurants, and invite your single and anti-Valentine’s Day friends over for a last-minute, eco-friendly dinner party.

To start planning your menu, check out Earth911’s recipe database for ideas for low-waste, seasonal and vegetarian meals: a hearty winter soup, tasty veggie burgers or spring rolls or some international dishes like Pad Thai or sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. When shopping for your meal, look for organic and local produce at the farmers market and grocery store to cut down on the pesticides used to grow your food and the distance it traveled to your plate.

And when it comes to decorating the table, you don’t need to shell out big bucks for a floral arrangement. Make your own low- waste centerpiece with materials you already have lying around the house: a bouquet of flowers made from leftover tissue paper or a candleholder using old picture frames you have piled up in the closet.

For more festive and Earth-friendly ideas, check out Earth911’s guide to throwing a green dinner party.

READ: 5 Ways to Throw a Green Dinner Party

2. Get crafty

Get your creative juices flowing with an evening of recycled craft-making – a great way to distract you from Valentine’s festivities and turn trash into treasure.

If you’ve been enjoying your fair share of Valentine’s candy this week, gather your leftover candy wrappers – a material not accepted by most local recycling programs – and make bracelets, handbags and bookmarks, following Earth911’s guide to crazy crafts with candy wrappers.

Got CDs and DVDs you don’t know what to do with now that you’ve made the switch to digital music? Or have piles of old magazines, newspapers and junk mail that need to be tossed into the recycling bin? Check out these cool crafts that turn paper clutter into decorative bowls, end tables and floral centerpieces and old CDs and DVDs into jewelry, picture frames and disco balls.

READ: 12 Crazy Ways to Go DIY This Year

3. Get moving

Exercise is proven to lift your spirits – which you could definitely use on your least favorite holiday – and there are plenty of ways to make today’s workout more environmentally responsible.

Skip the car trip to the gym and take advantage of the mild winter weather by enjoying a walk or bike ride in your neighborhood or outside your office on your lunch break.

You can even go trash running, the new eco-friendly trend that’s taking the sprinting world by storm. Grab a trash bag and set off on your course, making quick stops to pick up litter while you enjoy your jog.

If you’re a passionate yogi, try an online yoga class through YogaToday or YogaGlo, and pursue your practice without spewing carbon emissions on your car ride to the yoga studio.

READ: How to Ecoize Your Exercise Routine

4. Clean out your closets

Clearing out your closets and getting rid of old clothes is another great way to be productive and keep your mind off of Valentine’s Day. But where can you recycle all those old clothes that no longer fit or pieces you simply never wear anymore?

Search Earth911’s recycling directory for nonprofits that you can donate your unwanted but still wearable garments to or recycling companies that accept damaged clothes and scraps.

You can also sell your secondhand clothing and accessories in good condition to earn extra cash – or trade in your unwanted duds for some new-to-you pieces – at clothing swap websites like SwapStyle.com, Dig’N’Swap, Rehash Clothes or ReFashioner.

Feeling crafty? Whether you’re an expert with the sewing machine or more comfortable with scissors and a hot glue gun, check out these cool DIY projects, in a range of skill levels, that upcycle old jeans into coasters and handbags and sports jerseys into quilts and pillows.

READ: Guide to Swapping and Selling Clothes Online

5. Pamper yourself

Escape the Valentine’s Day hype and the daily grind by treating yourself to an indulgent spa treatment with good-for-the-Earth ingredients. But don’t spend a small fortune at your local eco spa; follow Earth911’s simple tutorials for making your own all-natural concoctions for a fraction of the price.

Does your skin need a recharge? A sea salt scrub to exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin can cost over $100 at a spa, but our handy recipe, which calls for kosher salt, jojoba oil, lemon and an essential oil of your choice, will only set you back $15.

Or if your eyes are looking tired from stress and long days in front of a computer screen, try our $10 age-defying eye treatment, using a cucumber and aloe vera gel.

READ: Make Your Own Luxe Spa Treatments

Photo: Flickr/hmomoy

Think you can’t green your Valentine’s Day plans because you waited until the last minute (again)? Don’t fret, planet-friendly procrastinator. Here are six green tips to help you show your love the eco way.

1. Start at the farmer’s market

Think your local farmer’s market is just for fruits and veggies? Think again. Most farmer’s markets carry a wide selection of locally-grown flowers, and you may even discover some tasty chocolate confections made by farmers and artisans from your neighborhood. Didn’t find exactly what you were looking for? Don’t stress. Try an unconventional gift like homemade cider, jam or apple butter to show your honey you care.

2. Use your local grocer

Planning to gift your Valentine with organic flowers or candy? Shopping online or at local green boutiques is one option. But if you’re pressed for time, utilize the selection at your local grocery store. Green & Black’s and Newman’s Own organic chocolates are carried in most supermarkets, and almost all grocers’ florists carry organic and sustainable choices. Just ask!

3. Try a greener gift wrap

Get creative when wrapping your Valentine’s Day gifts by using recycled, reused or repurposed materials. Check out our handy guide to greener gift wrapping for ideas.

4. Choose a gift that gives back

Think outside the candy box for your Valentine’s gifts by choosing a gift that gives back. That $20 you’d spend on a bouquet of roses could buy a flock of chicks for a hungry family through Heifer International or help save an endangered species through the World Wildlife Fund. Use our guide for more charitable gifting ideas, and start showing your special someone (and the planet) some love.

5. Dine green

Planning a night out on the town with your Valentine? Choose a sustainable or eco-friendly eatery to cut back on the footprint of your meal and support a green business in your community. Not sure where to start? Just type your zip code into a green restaurant search database, like the Green Restaurant Association or EatWellGuide.org, for a full list of choices in your area.

6. Think vintage

Sure, you could make a last-minute trip to the mall for your Valentine’s jewelry. But wouldn’t it be cooler to give your special someone a gift with a touch of history? Rather than hitting the big-name jewelry stores, check out a local thrift shop or second-hand store for a vintage necklace, ring or broach that suits your sweetie’s style.