Eco Easter Excitement

Hey, peeps! Are you bristling with excitement about Sunday's highly-anticipated diorama unveilings? Did you make the mistake of eating some of your supplies? Need to recover from the dye-and-preservative overload?! Check out the following ideas for natural Easter egg dyes and decorations:

I so totally want to do this next year (note to self -- must start at least one week ahead of time if not two): wheatgrass for the Easter basket. (via Ecobites)

To eat: hard-boiled "ruby eggs" -- they're dyed with beet juice and look lovely. You need to let them soak overnight and you only need the juice, so I'm thinking I will make beets tomorrow with extra water and then have simple beet salad around (olive oil, sea salt, and lemon) with the purply eggs. Mmmmm. (ruby eggs via A Veggie Venture)

To go in the basket: fresh spring vegetables. Gotta hit the Saturday farmer's market 'cause the big bunny comes early on Sunday. We've done this from the get-go, so my daughter associates Easter with both chocolate (from her grandparents) and fresh spring nibblings. Such a time of renewal, with fertility eggs and tender shoots.

And, I have to say I haven't tried the natural food dye ideas out yet but found a great post just this morning warning me that beet juice (my old standby!) doesn't dye the egg shells. Whoa, nelly, serendipitous timing! (via Slow Life France)

Here are other links I have collected on enviro Easter -- hope they help you play around with nontoxic color and green rabbiting this weekend:

• Care2 homemade natural Easter egg dyes
• Green Guide Easter eggs
• Mother Earth's Garden - dye eggs the natural way with things you can grow in your garden
• Curbly video podcast on naturally dyed Easter eggs
• Martha Stewart natural Easter egg dyes
• Nature Moms eco-friendly Easter: more natural dye ideas, knitted Easter egg instructions, fair trade basket sources, plus great tips for non-candy items to put in the Easter basket
• OrganicMania 5 Ways to Go Retro for an Eco-Friendly Easter: great hint to check out thrift stores for decorations (and even gifts -- that's where the big bunny got some pretty spring clothes for our muffin!)
• Gray Matters (Because Life is Neither Black Nor White) A Tisket A Tasket A Greener Easter Basket: great links, to natural wool reusable Easter grass and natural dye kits you can purchase if you're not up for the materials assembly on your own (or the food waste)