It
’s that time of year again. The stores are filling up with
holiday merchandise and my wife’s anxiety level is rising with that
age old question, “What are we going to buy for them?” I’m hear to
remind you all that it is possible to spread lots of holiday cheer
without shopping endlessly.
It’s that time of year again. The stores are filling up with holiday merchandise and my wife’s anxiety level is rising with that age old question, “What are we going to buy for them?” I’m hear to remind you all that it is possible to spread lots of holiday cheer without shopping endlessly.
Here are some ideas for giving meaningful gifts that go easy on the environment:
Entertainment coupons and tickets: Attending a concert, play, sporting event, movie, or other performance can create lasting memories. You can also consider buying a loved one a season pass for the Aquatics Center or a gift certificate for recreation classes and programs.
Homemade gifts: Whether it’s a cherished craft or hand crafted food, when someone receives a homemade gift, they know that you spent your valuable time creating something for them.
Food items: Gifts like fruit baskets, cheese assortments, and wine are widely appreciated and are unlikely to go to waste. Consider a “wine of the month” subscription or similar arrangement that lasts all year.
Donations: With a world full of needy people and a society as comfortable as ours, why not send a donation to a trusted organization in honor of a friend or relative as a gift. One interesting site offering donation opportunities is www.alternativegifts.org.
Magazine subscriptions: Magazines can provide hours of entertainment, education, and just plain enjoyment all the year through. While magazines do consume resources to produce, your friends and family members can be trusted to recycle them when they’re done.
Plants: How about a little greenery as a way of being green? Plants purify our air and just make our homes and workplaces nicer places to be. Naturally, you need to be careful when purchasing plants to ensure that the recipient has a good place to plant it.
Green gifts: There are many items that help protect the environment that make great gifts. Compact fluorescent bulbs, canvas shopping bags, and transit coupons are just a few ideas.
Ask your favorite shopkeeper for other environmentally friendly gift giving ideas.
Eco-Fact of the Week: Many Morgan Hill merchants sell “products” that will make great eco-gifts like massages, recreation passes, and movie tickets. Even if you aren’t buying an eco-gift, remember that shopping in Morgan Hill contributes to important civic services like fire suppression, police protection, and recreation.
Eco-Web Pages of the Week: A well-written article on green holiday gifts can be found at www.greenmoneyjournal.com/article.mpl?newsletterid=27&articleid=277.
For those of you intent on buying a lasting gift with an ecological twist, check out www.thegreenscene.com/links.html#shopgreen for a list of links to lots of different green gifts.
