Living Without Meat

This is the second year now that I have had to decide whether or not to dye Easter eggs in the arts and crafts class that I teach at my community center.

Last year, I chose not to, but did not address the issue either. I did not mention why we were not coloring eggs. I did not really find another Easter craft to take its place either.

This year, however, we made lots of fun Easter and spring-themed crafts. Plus, I talked to everybody about why I am not comfortable dying eggs! They all listened, quite interested in what I had to say.

So if you are not comfortable with the facts of mass-produced eggs (i.e. if baby males hatch they are suffocated, ground alive, or otherwise disposed of since they are useless and it is considered more cost-effective just to get rid of them), and don’t have a local farmer to buy from, here are some great egg dying alternatives:

* Boo-Boo Bunny: I already gave all of mine away so I can’t show photos, but they work great in baskets or alone. Use permanent markers to draw whiskers, mouth, and nose, and in place of googly eyes for younger kids. An ice cube fits in the bunny’s belly area and it becomes an ice pack for boo-boos.

* Easter Cards: cut two identical, big ovals (eggs) out of construction paper. Leave one solid, and cut one in half with a zig-zag, cracked egg-looking line. Decorate the solid one with a greeting, a chick, etc. Then glue just the top and bottom edges of the split oval pieces to the solid one. The card opens like cracking an egg!

* Spring Animals from Jars. Plus, anything that you find on Summer’s site will be animal-friendly!

* Fill Easter Baskets: Make it a group event. Fill them to give to friends, each other, or to donate - women’s shelters and long term care facilities both love receiving this kind of thing!

* Pom-pom Friends: Glue felt feet and beaks, googly eyes, yarn hair, pipe cleaner arms, etc. onto pom-poms. Try making your own pom-poms, too!

* Two Words: Styrofoam Eggs

* Memory Game!!: This was my favorite game as a kid; I think I loved it because I could honestly beat adults. Why not make your own set of cards? Make spring and Easter drawings, then cover the backs with all the same paper, fabric, felt, foam, etc.

* Wreath: Picture to come of my new door decoration! Dollar Tree - and other stores - sells twisted, wooden, plain wreaths of varying sizes. You can also get faux flowers, fabric ribbon, plastic eggs, and more. Add some palm leaves or a cross. I change mine every season!