Many ways to think green on St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a celebration where the color green takes center stage. With Ireland commonly known as the Emerald Isle, and green clothing and embellishments being a large part of parades and fun, perhaps you are wondering how to take St. Patrick's Day green a little further.

You can make St. Patrick's Day green -- the environmental green, that is -- with some easy ideas. Consider the following tips and techniques.

* Recycled and reusable decorations: Take brown paper bags and cut them into shamrocks and color or paint the clovers green. Or, cut the shape of a shamrock into half of a potato and use the potato as a stamp to put a clover design on paper using paint or food coloring. Save your decorations for use every year.

* Visit a local brewery: Enjoying a pint is par for the course on this holiday. However, imported beers may impart a larger carbon footprint than if you enjoy a local brew. Many towns across the country boast a local brewery where you can pick up a nice beer or ale.

* Choose locally grown foods: Who can pass up traditional Irish dishes on St. Patrick's Day? Make them a little greener by purchasing organic vegetables and meats from local farms.

* Carpool: If you're planning a day out for revelry with friends or family, take as few cars as possible. Better yet, walk so you won't have to contend with choosing a designated driver.

* Make parade modifications: If your town hosts a St. Patrick's Day parade, find out if green birdseed can be tossed in lieu of paper confetti or ticker tape. This will cut down on the amount of litter in the streets that could end up in water supplies or in other natural habitats. It also cuts down on the energy needed for sanitation to come and clean up the streets.

There are many ways to enjoy an environmentally friendly St. Patrick's Day this year. For more green-colored fun, test your knowledge with these quiz questions.

1. A green horn is:

a. an inexperienced person

b. an eco-safe musical instrument

c. a growth that occurs on animals that eat too much vegetation

2. Which one of these colors is a type of green?

a. cerulean

b. vermilion

c. chartreuse

3. A person who is displaying "green" eyes is said to be what?

a. tired

b. envious

c. loving

4. If you are "green around the gills" you are feeling:

a. nauseous

b. happy

c. like a fish

5. A "green thumb" is a person who is good at what?

a. painting

b. gardening

c. eco-friendly pursuits