Don’t be overwhelmed with the upcoming holidays.  I have some great gift ideas if you who want to contribute to the well being of others, now and in the future.

So, in my blogs, I had discussed microfarming, planting gardens, soil enhancements and other subjects related to #sustainable gardening.

For instance, here are some ideas to get others started on Planting a Garden:

  • Go to Amazon.com and type in “books about sustainability”. You’ll find a large selection of books related to backyard beekeeping, small farming aka microfarming, cooking with #sustainable ingredients.
  • Fill a Western Red Cedar planter with organic soil and seeds as a starter garden for anyone. The Cedar is renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and harvested from some of the most sustainably managed forests in the world.
  • Give the gift of a class at a nursery where your recipient will learn skills such as selecting and planting native plants; starting a beehive; planting a citrus tree.  Or, a gift card for a garden consultation that may teach your recipient the basics of starting a garden.

Let’s Talk Toys!

I remember how fun it was to shop for toys for my kids. And, what parent doesn’t rejoice in seeing their kids getting so excited when they receive that special toy they requested from “Santa”? I had no clue about the substances used to manufacture the toys, or what happened to them once they were discarded or donated.  Perhaps you can limit the number of toys your kids receive.  Here’s a link to sustainable toys Maybe you could substitute an experience, a family hike, a trip to a local farm, a live theatre performance.  You’ll reduce the clutter in your home and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Let’s wrap this up by talking about presenting your gifts to the recipient.

I’ll start off by mentioning that wrapping paper with glitter, velvet flocking or anything metallic on the paper is not recyclable.  Also, any sticky tape and decorations such as ribbons and bows cannot be recycled. Plain wrapping paper is totally recyclable. Look for wrapping paper, ribbons and bows that use sustainable soy ink. Or, decorate the package with natural items such as pine cones or pine sprigs.

I used to love to wrap my gifts in beautiful, shiny paper, set them all under the tree and stand back to admire the beautiful display. Today, if I use any kind of paper, it will be plain so I can recycle it.  I also use #furoshiki a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth.  In the past, I’ve wrapped gifts in scarves, tea towels, and handkerchiefs.  It’s a fun idea and my recipients have been quite fascinated and grateful.

Have you heard of “Superior Giftwrap”? There are eco-friendly alternatives in their gift packaging products. Another great alternative to wrapping paper.  Just Google their website.

By the way, if you like the idea of sharing experiences with family or friends as gifts, head over to my Customized Explorations tab on my website to get started.