It’s the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year!’ And we all know what that means… PRESENTS! I don’t know about you, but I sure get overwhelmed with that daunting task of gift-giving. Who should I include on my gift list this year? What would be meaningful to them? How can I afford to buy something for everyone on my list? Where am I going to find the time to gather all these gifts? On top of all that, I always love the idea of putting my money back into the local economy and supporting businesses that stand for good causes and/or sustainable practices. Then I start thinking about the extra waste stream created by the excess packaging of all these gifts. So the stress builds and I push the entire endeavor to the back burner, and in the end I cringe when I have to buy some meaningless gift at the last minute. Sound familiar? Well, here are some gift ideas that we can all feel good about:
- A gift card to a local museum
- Homemade chocolate pretzels, spiced nuts, chutneys, cakes, etc… and in reusable containers
- Redeemable coupons for free babysitting, tutoring, house-cleaning or a homemade meal
- Homemade play dough with used cookie cutters
- Donation to a local charity in someone else’s name
- A candle or bath salts in a reusable tin
- A rechargeable battery-starter kit including the charger and a selection of rechargeable batteries
- Compost bin (one for the yard and a small one for the kitchen)
- A food share to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and support your local farmers
- Art supply kit for your child including all sorts and sizes of recycled containers, material scraps and decorations
- A handmade photo collage
- Support a local artist
- Attend a local holiday bazaar
- Concert or theater tickets
- Local shops are always looking for ways to get your holiday business – walk in and give them a chance!
- “Green-themed” books
- Look for gifts made out of recycled materials
- Cleverly labeled/decorated reusable water bottles or canteens
- Gift certificate to a local restaurant or business
- Offer the gift of your time such as taking a friend hiking or birding
And instead of wrapping paper, try using fabric scraps, newspaper, reusable gift bags, cloth sacks, baskets or simply decorating the gift with a homemade card secured to the gift with natural fiber raffia!
Happy Holidays, Hampton Roads!!!
Article written by askHRgreen.org member Dawn Oleksy, Environmental Coordinator, James City County