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MY GREEN HOLIDAY GIFT LIST
I am always up for the next bold “go-green” step.
Hey, I invited red wiggler worms to live in a bin in my
NYC apartment to eat up my food scraps. Paper towels
have long left the premises. And my cats eat
(reluctantly) wheat germ cat food (might be time to stop that particular practice, as several people have
noted how skinny they’ve become).
With the holidays upon us, images of presents, wrapping paper and packaging are dancing in my head. Alas, clearly not too environmentally friendly. And who truly needs more “stuff”? Could it be time to put an end to the materialistic marathon of the holiday season?
Maybe. But I am not sure I am that bold. My children would surely revolt, and I think I would be sad not getting them anything. Frankly, I look forward to giving presents to my children, family and friends.
So instead of calling it quits with the gifts, here is a list of eco-friendly holiday gift ideas that won’t wreak havoc on Mother Earth:
KIDS
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For the animal-loving, puzzle-solving wee one in your family, get a play set made from rubberwood with the creatures of the rain forest. |
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This is one of my son’s favorite games (shh, don’t tell him that I am slowly brainwashing him into an environmentalist). The ultimate “green” version of Monopoly: Earthopoly—A Game Celebrating Earth, One Turn at a Time. |
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Gotta love the organic PJs from Hanna Andersson. Super cute for the whole family. |
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No true environmentalist-in-training’s library should be without a copy of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, which still rings true today. |
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Introduce your young ones to the power of the sun with a solar-powered toy like this crab. Added bonus: no whining about needing new batteries. |
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For the naturalist, an indoor gardening kit is the perfect way to get in touch with nature. |
GROWN-UPS
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My own mother has turned into quite the beekeeper. We have all read about the bee populations dying off, and here is a great way to make an impact. Try this Beginner Beekeeping Kit as a unique gift for a loved one. |
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For the adult who has everything, this Living Ecosphere is a wonderful idea. |
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And then there’s the essential gift for all eco-minded people, the ChicoBag. |
Resources:
Check out the HealthyToys.org website, a great resource for consumers of toys. The site has an extensive list of products tested for lead, cadmium, chlorine, arsenic, bromine and mercury, chromium, and tin, to name a few.
In 2006, Francesca Olivieri co-founded the company sage baby, an online eco-friendly baby store offering everything from organic clothes and skincare to furniture. She also writes a monthly blog for Scenic Hudson as well as contributes articles to Daily Candy Kids, CitiScoop and NRDC’s Simple Steps. She continues to watch her green business grow while seeking to apply her values to her own home and family. Francesca lives in New York City with her husband and three kids, 9, 7 and 4.
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