Green Your Holidays
Celebrate your holidays this year with gifts that give back to the planet.
‘Twas the season of giving
And all ‘cross the world
Gift wrappings were shredded
And ribbons unfurled.
But a mere few days later
We heard someone mutter
“Just what shall I do now
With all of this clutter?
“The presents are opened
The dollhouse, the luggage
And all we’ve got left
Is a big pile of rubbish.
“If only I’d thought
To give something much leaner
Next season, I vow
I’ll give gifts that are greener!”
The holidays are a joyful time, to be sure, full of friends, family, food and fun. This year, we hope you’ll consider extending your holiday wishes to Planet Earth by giving green gifts—gifts that leave a tiny footprint, or none at all, on the ecosystem.
And just in case you’re searching for some gift ideas, we have a few green suggestions to get you started.
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1. Digital Gifting
Thanks to the rapid advances of technology, these days it’s possible to give meaningful, long-lasting gifts composed entirely out of binary code.
Apple’s iTunes Store offers a number of ways to gift everything from recorded music to movies to music videos to TV shows, all at the click of a button.
Don’t worry if the recipient of your gift doesn’t have an iPod—all digital content can be played quickly, easily and without charge right from the desktop.
Similarly, Rhapsody offers subscription-based streaming music that allows you, or your giftee, to listen to thousands of hours of streaming digital music, or download an unlimited number of MP3s to your collection for a low monthly fee. |
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If your shopping for a bookworm, you can give the gift of digital reading. Today, digital readers abound, from Amazon’s
Kindle to the
Sony eBook Reader to lesser-known brands.
Each is capable of storing hundreds of full-length books in digital format, making taking your library with you wherever you go as easy as carrying a single traditional book.
From the classics to the latest best-sellers, a huge selection of in-print books are available for download, for a fraction of the cost of a hardcover. And think of all the trees you’ll be saving!
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4. Recycled Gifts
If you really want your gifts to tread lightly on the planet this year, look no further than Uncommon Grounds, where absolutely everything for sale is made from something else.
A mirror made out of old 45s? They’ve got it. A watch with a telephone cord for a band? You bet. Cheese trays made from old wine bottles? Why, of course! |
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5. Homemade gifts
Nothin’ says lovin’ like something from the oven, or so the old saw goes. Cooks.com has literally thousands of tried-and-true recipes submitted by cooks and bakers just like you. (Or in my case, a lot better than me.)
Or if baking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of crafty-crafts you could whip up quickly and easily.
Scarves make wonderful gifts, despite what you thought of the one your Aunt Edna gave you every year. Especially when you make them yourself.
Jimmy Bean’s Wool offers sumptuous, stunning yarns in a variety of organic fibers, including cotton, bamboo and more. And they even have patterns! |
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6. “White Elephant” gifts (regifting)
In the not-too-distant past, “regifting” was consider the height of bad form. But these days, as we’re trying to get over our earth-contaminating consumer ways, consider going through the stuff you already own to find that perfect something for someone else.
“My friends and I started this tradition a couple of years ago. We all want to exchange gifts, but we don’t want to buy into the buying frenzy that happens every holiday season,” explains Jenifer Bailey, a San Francisco-based graphic designer and self-proclaimed holiday maven. “Instead, if I have something that a friend has admired in my home, I’ll wrap it up and gift it. I think it makes the presents more meaningful and more personal.” |
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7. Humanitarian gifts
Forget small packages. Some of the best gifts come in no package at all.
Kiva is a not-for-profit micro-lending organization that allows those with funds to spare to share the wealth with those who need a helping hand all over the world.
Lenders get to choose the individuals or organizations they’d like to offer a small loan to, and then have the option of reloaning their funds in support of another worth endeavor once the original borrower has paid the loan back. |
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You can get your giftees started in micro-lending for a good cause with a
Kiva Gift Certificate, which they can redeem as cash to lend.
Similarly,
Heifer International lets you purchase livestock—chickens, goats, sheep, even cows—that will be donated to communities in need all around the globe, helping them to become more self-sufficient and sustaining.
The recipient of your Heifer gift will get a card in the mail informing them of your donation in their name.
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8. Gifts to Remember
Think back five years ago. Can you remember every gift you gave, much less received? If you’re like me, the answer is an emphatic “Not a clue.” I know I chose the gifts with care, but for the life of me, I can’t recall a single one. Same goes for the thoughtfully selected gifts I received.
But I’ll never forget the first time I went to the theater with my mother, or the first camping trip with my small children. |
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This year, why not give the gift of an experience that you can treasure together for years to come?
A
national parks pass or a membership to botanical gardens or aquariums is a gift that keeps on giving long after the tinsel and candles are a distant memory.
Is your sweetie’s favorite band planning a tour? Find out at
TicketMaster.com and book front row seats!
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9. Growing Gifts
Speaking of eternal memories, why not give something that will literally live on long after the holidays are over?
Some cities offer “Adopt a Christmas Tree” programs.
In the Bay Area, for example, two organizations (the Friends of the Urban Forest and SF Environment) have teamed up to offer locals a chance to order a living, potted Christmas Tree for about what one would expect to pay for a commercially grown cut tree. |
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According to the
Dreaming of a Green Christmas website, “Each one of these beautiful, 6' to 8' tall trees has been handpicked to thrive in San Francisco.” And when the holidays are over, you can return the tree which will be planted in the city for free.
Traditional holiday plants, like poinsettia and narcissus will look even more festive in these eco-friendly rice-hull pots and planters from the
Olive Barn.
Or how about an indoor do-it-yourself herb garden? The company offers a complete kit to get your indoor garden started.
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10. Eternal gifts
No matter what you’re giving, or receiving this holiday season, remember that if we want our children, and their children and all the children to come to be able to enjoy the bounties that the season has to offer, we’re going to have to come together to protect our planet. After all, Mother Earth is the source of all good things, so treat her kindly. |
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- Take me back home -