It's hard to believe that just over a year ago, the idea of celebrating a healthy and eco-wise Halloween wasn't even a twinkle in the eye of  the American consciousness. For many years health conscious and sustainably minded individuals took it upon themselves to compost their pumpkins or to hand out stickers instead of Snickers. But for the most part, Halloween continued to evolve in the opposite direction.  

So when Green Halloween® launched last year, we hoped that people would realize that being healthy and Earth-considerate didn't have to go out the window during holidays. It was, in fact, possible to have fun celebrating, while celebrating green.

But would people be interested?

Of course we had no idead how Americans would respond to our vision, but we hoped people would find it interesting enough to give it a try.

And try they did.

Here we are on our second year and already we've expanded from one city to six, from two-thousand to more than 14,000 weekly visitors on our website, and from local to national news. We've seen more companies sourcing Halloween products that are people- and earth-friendly and more stores interested in stocking them. We've heard about schools giving Halloween parties at retirement homes and neighborhoods hosting costume swaps. We've heard from you that this is an initiative whose time has come.

In one year, by working together, we've already made significant changes.

Imagine what 2009 will bring.

Thank you, from the bottom of our green hearts, for your support, participation  and enthusiasm. Without you, this dream wouldn't have stood a chance. We hope that you will continue to share your feedback with us so that we can know how we're doing and continue to support and inspire change.

This year, after your kids are strutting around in their eco-themed costumes, or you're leared how to make bracelets out of candy wrappers, or you've taken stock of how your trick-or-treaters like the green goodies you've offered, let us know how it went.  Send us your stories, photos and videos.

Have a spooktacular and safe Halloween from Treeswing and the Green Halloween® team.

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Halloween soup

The perfect pre-or post-trick-or-treat meal

Giving your child a full, healthy meal before trick-or-treating can make the experience more enjoyable and fend off (or take the steam out of) post-collection binging.

This recipe is not only healthy and filling, it's colorful and festive, perfect for a quiet holiday or a huge Halloween bash.

If eating before the collecting begins isn't your cup of tea, consider simmering a pot of the soup while you're out and coming home to enjoy a warm bowl.

Soup ingredients:

1/2 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, chopped

med. potato peeled and sliced

1 lb carrots, chopped

2 1/2 cup water

2 sm bouillon cubes (chicken or veggie flavor)

1/2 tsp celery salt

a few shakes of “Spike ” seasoning

1 tsp Turmeric

1/2 tsp kosher salt/ ground black pepper

Creamy Yogurt Garnish

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 tbsp heavy cream

Heat a skillet with a a little oil. Sauté onion with a little salt as this helps release the water and lets it caramelize quicker. When it is just beginning to get soft add garlic and potato sauté well, until it starts to brown.  Transfer veggies to a pot.  Add water (2 cups) to pan and deglaze (get the bits off). Dump the water in the pot. Throw in the celery salt and bouillon cubes, Spike seasoning and some black pepper, set over low heat on another burner.  Add a bit more oil to the pan and toss in the Turmeric. Let the spice bubble in the oil, it sounds really cool.

Add the carrots and sauté over med heat till slightly golden and glazed looking.  Add carrots to the pot.  Add 1/4 cup water to pan to deglaze again.  Cook the soup about 20 minutes more.  When the carrots and potato are really soft (falls off a paring knife when stabbed) take pot off burner and let soup cool 5-10 minutes. Puree soup with a blender or a hand held immersion blender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Whisk the yogurt and cream in a bowl. Put a few tablespoons in a baggie and squeeze to the corner. Snip a very tiny bit off the corner and use bag to make design of your choice on the bowl of soup. Alternately you could just put a blob of cream on the soup.

* Contributed by Wenonah Michallet-Ferrier. You can find more of her recipes in our new book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

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We get this question a lot these days and didn't have an answer until now. But here it is:

Zoe (age 7.75), a witch.

Finley (age 4), a broom.

You might be thinking that big sister convinced little sister to be her lowly and subordinate broom but the fact is that Zoe actually wanted Finley to be her cat.

No, Finn said, I want to be a broom.

Now, wait a minute, girls... Finley can be whatever she wants to be and it doesn't have to "match" what you are, Zoe. Finn, what would you like to be for Halloween?

A broom.

What kind of broom?

One that sweeps and has lot's of thistles.

You mean bristles?

Okay.

Then, broom it is!

Here is our plan for how to transform Finley into a broom (made from things we already own):

• Brown turtle neck
• Brown tights
• Brown skirt (happens to be organic cotton)
• Hula skirt made of raffia, cut at the elastic waist and sewn to the bottom of the skirt.
• Hair in braids, tied with rafia
• Cheeks streaked with brown bronzer (mineral makeup).
• Accessories: Halloween ChicoBag and lantern made with re-purposed glass jar, wire coat-hanger, and a beeswax candle.

Here is the plan for Zoe's witch costume:

• Black witch dress and hat (from dress-up box)
• Black tights
• Black boots
• Black and purple striped BabyLegs on legs and black with white spider BabyLegs on arms.
• Purple mineral makeup mixed with lip balm for lips and cheeks.
• Hair ratted
• Accessories: orange plastic pumpkin that belonged to Corey's husband when he was a child. Carrying a lantern made with re-purpsed glass jar, wire coat-hanger, and a beeswax candle. (This battery-free, rechargeable kid-powered black cat flashlight might have also been a great choice).

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 Important candy recalls

There is a new warning put out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that Sherwood brand Pirate’s Gold Milk Chocolate Coins are being recalled due to the fact that they’ve tested positive for melamine.

These coins may be sold at Costco, as well as many bulk and dollar stores, specifically in Canada.

MomsRising.org has a page outlining additional candy products found to be unsafe by the US Food and Drug Administration and gives more information on melamine and candy produced in China.

Please let your friends and loved ones know.

For a list of our suggestions for treasures and healthy treats, click here.