Do you still send out printed cards for the holidays? Instead of buying them from a store, why not support environmental charities at the same time? Environmental, humane and humanitarian organizations like the National Wildlife Federation, the Humane Society of the United States and UNICEF all sell printed cards through their online shops. A portion of the sale goes to benefit the charity's work, and your card will also contain advocacy messaging that you can send to your recipient. It's an easy way to support good causes and get lovely printed cards, too.

As you're raking leaves and getting your garden ready for winter, think about leaving dead flowers and plants intact. Dead stalks and seedheads may look unattractive, but they can be a much-needed source of food for birds. As the snow covers the ground, these dead flowers will poke though. Even leaving ferns intact can be a source of food for wild animals. Black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, sunflowers, marigolds and zinnias are all perfect flower candidates to leave alone in the garden.

When squirrels start overtaking your attic or get stuck in your house, one of the easiest ways to remedy the problem is to use a humane trap. The trap lures the squirrel inside (usually baited with peanut butter), and a trigger shuts a door behind it. When it's time to release the squirrel outside, don't relocate him far away from your house. The squirrel probably has a nest nearby, and moving it to a foreign place gives it little chance to survive. Instead, fix the entry point where it got into your house, which will also solve the problem for the future.