With so much going on I forgot that Easter is almost here. Dang. In any case, it’s not too late to green your Easter baskets. Here’s how in eight easy steps…

1. Use recycled baskets – use real baskets not plastic toss away baskets. You can pick up old, but still like-new baskets at thrift stores or use what you have around the house. I have literally used the same Easter basket for my own son Cedar for four years running and I doubt he’s even noticed. I create the basket, then at some point after Easter swipe the basket back so I can use it next year. If you’re not already using all reusable grocery bags, you can also make baskets with paper grocery bags or make an ultra fancy basket with recycled craft paper.

2. Use natural Easter grass – Plastic grass is dangerous for kids and pets; especially if they try to munch on it. Use naturally made store bought grass or make some with colored recycled construction paper; just toss it through your paper shredder. If you don’t have a paper shredder, just cut the paper up the old-fashioned way. You can also fill a basket with greenery such as wheatgrass, pine, or other leaves.

3. Ban or reuse plastic filler Easter eggs – Buy real eggs or sustainably made wooden eggs instead of plastic ones if you want something to hide. If you buy wooden Easter eggs you and the kiddos can even paint them. If you want something to fill, reuse the same eggs year after year or choose a more eco-friendly Easter egg to fill. You can even make your own pretend Easter eggs with recycled egg cartons.

4. Never stuff small animals in baskets - little bunnies and chicks shouldn’t be part of your Easter celebration. Pets are a big consideration, not a fly-by-night holiday gift.

5. Choose sustainable treats – Look for certified organic and Fair Trade candy, cookies, and other Easter treats. You can also make your own treats which cuts out the whole annoying packaging issue. Coming up we’ll look at some good specific treats.

6. Go with organic non-toxic Easter eggs – Buy sustainable, free range, organic eggs. I know we haven’t talked much about eco-friendly eggs here, but for now, you’ll be fine if you look for the USDA Organic label. When you dye them, try an eco-friendly egg coloring kit first.

7. Choose eco-friendly toys – Look for organic stuffed friends and other sustainably made toys.

8. Recycle everything! – You can compost your Easter egg shells and recycle that homemade paper grass along with candy wrappers.

This year the annual White House Easter Egg Roll will focus on healthy and green living. The Easter event is held on the White House South Lawn each spring and is one of the most eagerly anticipated spring events in our nation’s capital.

According to the official White House website, the Easter Egg Roll event will be held on April 5 and will feature live music, sports, cooking stations, storytelling and Easter egg rolling. All of the Easter activities will be geared towards encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives in order to support Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to combat childhood obesity.

Additionally you can celebrate this tradition with your very own eco-friendly White House Easter Egg from the National Park Foundation. This year the souvenir eggs are being made in the United States from FSC-certified hardwood with vegetable-oil based inks and a water-based coating. The eggs come in four unique colors; pink, yellow, green, and purple and includes the stamped signatures of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

It’s a little early for Easter, but being that this new eco-kids product just launched this week, we should take a look. Parent Dish calls the brand new Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit one of the best green toys at Toy Fair 2010 and while I haven’t seen it yet personally it does sound super spiffy.

The eco-egg coloring kit comes with dissolvable vegetable capsules in five vibrant colors made with natural extracts from purple sweet potato, paprika, beta carotene, red cabbage and blueberries. There’s enough dye in each kit to color eggs twice. The kit also comes with 2 soy crayons for decorating.

I’m interested in actually seeing if this kit works well though.

I’ve had luck dying play clay, cloth and paper with homemade vegetable, flower and fruit dye, but not Easter eggs. The colors are usually not potent enough to stick to the shell (I’m guessing) or the dyes leave a color you don’t want on your eggs (like brownish gray). In fact, Green Baby Guide has a very good post about the problems of Easter egg dyes that points out this natural dye issue.

So, I’m wondering if these natural dyes really work. Hopefully they do because why not go with a natural option if you can. If you’ve used these eco-kids egg dyes let me know how they worked the comments.

The Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit is available right now at the eco-kids website and I’ve heard rumors that the kit will be available at select Whole Foods Market locations beginning March 4 as well.