Green gifts

Gift giving can be challenging, you want to find something that the person likes, you may not have a lot to spend in these tough economic times, and you want your choice to represent your interest in being greener. What are the options for green gift giving?

If you want to be greener that means you consume less, less materials that is produced and thrown away. Here are some ideas to think about the next time you need to give a present.

In the past, homemade gifts were looked down on as being a sign that the giver could not afford to purchase a gift. Not today! Today time is one of the most valuable commodities that a person has. We all only have a limited amount of time and we are pulled in so many directions to do so many things we have to prioritize how we spend our time. So, today a gift that you make personally shows that you really care about the person because you spent your precious time to make them something.

Some of the easiest gifts you can make yourself are homemade baked goods. Be creative and bake bread and deliver it every week for a month. Another idea is to write up family recipes and compile them in a wooden box or recipe book. Prepare dinner for a friend or elderly relative and deliver it to them. Give baby-sitting coupons to your friends with children so they can enjoy a date night. If you excel in a sport, are good with computers, or love to garden offer free lessons and services that use your talents and the things you love to do.

So you have a little money or just don’t have the time to make something or can give yourself. What are some other green gift options? Find out what the person really likes. If they like music you may want to give them concert tickets. If they like to ski, purchase a pair or ski tickets to a local ski area. Transfer frequent flyer miles to a person who loves to travel. Give zoo or museum passes and memberships. If they enjoy reading give a give certificate to a bookstore or, even better, a used bookstore.

Give a gift that does something good in the name of your recipient. Find out their favorite causes and give a gift in their name. Plant a tree in their name. Give a membership to a non-profit that works hands-on to protect the Earth’s ecosystem.

There are also many products that you can purchase that are eco friendly. Look for items that are made with post consumer or recycled items. Purchase stainless water bottles and discourage the use of plastic. Local artists are very creative in using unusual items out of reused materials. Also consider fair trade products when you purchase items as gifts. You do not want to support unfair trade practices by purchasing items that are inexpensive due to cheap labor costs. Also remember that an item made locally reduces the transport costs of shipping.