Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, if you haven’t thought about what to give your sweetheart yet then it is time to get ready. On top of picking out the perfect gifts to give, you also have to consider just how green your Valentine’s Days gifts are. From chocolates to flowers there are environmentally friendly gift alternatives to help you add a little green to cupid’s arrow. Here are the top 5 green Valentine’s Day gift ideas for you to give.
- Fair trade chocolate. Mmmm, chocolate. Who doesn’t love a big heart shaped box full of various chocolates to enjoy? Even better when those chocolates come from fair trade farms. Try shops like Global Exchange and SERRV for a huge selection of delicious fair trade chocolate.
- Organic flowers. Roses are the cliche Valentine’s Day gift. This year make them a little more special by choosing ones that were grown organically. Skip the pesticides and fertilizers that gt dumped into the ground and choose flowers with a more natural beauty. One place to check out is Organic Bouquet, a floral shop that partners with The Nature Conservancy to educate people on sustainably grown organic flowers.
- Jewelry for a good cause. Jewelry doesn’t have to just look good, it can be good too. Sites such as Ten Thousand Villages and Taraluna offer hand crafted jewelry from artisans all over the world. The jewelry is fair trade and often a main source of income for families in poorer areas. Go ahead and buy several pieces!
- Plant a tree. It might not seem romantic at first, but having a tree planted in your sweetheart’s name can be a beautiful gift. Sell it with “as the tree grows so does our love” and you have the makings of an incredibly romantic gift that also helps the earth. You can buy a tree from a local nursery to plant yourself and tie it off with a green bow. If you don’t have a green thumb yourself Tree Givers plants trees in the name of whomever you want. You can order a special tree be planted for your Valentine and receive a Certificate of planting to give.
- Make it yourself. Of course the best gift you could give is something that you made yourself. Skip all the fancy packaging and put something together with your own two hands. Try making a basket of homemade soaps or make your own candles. Making the gift yourself not only makes it extra special, it often makes it the more eco-friendly option.
What green gifts are you planning to give this Valentine’s Day?
Image source – tatlin/sxc.hu
I love Ten Thousand Villages they have amazing fair trade/handmade products that are not price gouged for the consumers.
Hi Summer,
Thanks for mentioning Fair Trade chocolate! It does make a great gift, especially when you tell the recipient how much good that chocolate bar does for struggling cocoa farmers in the developing world.
I also wanted to let you and your readers know that Fair Trade flowers are available too! You can order them online at 1800Flowers.com or look for them in your local grocery store.
The Fair Trade Certified label guarantees that flower workers in developing nations receive:
* Fair wages
* Childcare and schooling for their children
* Paid maternity, vacation and sick leave
* A premium of 10% of each sale to invest in community development
* Training to implement development projects of their choosing including scholarships, microlending, adult literacy and gardens to feed their families
* Protective gear and training on safe handling of agrochemicals
Growers are able to attract and keep the best workers because of these benefits, leading to better productivity and better flower quality. More than 30 of the highest quality growers in Ecuador, Colombia and Africa are Fair Trade Certified, producing more than a billion stems every year in hundreds of the hottest varieties.
Brettney, Ten Thousand Villages is one of my favorite online shops. There are just so many awesome things there to buy, and none of them make me feel dirty for buying them. 🙂
Katie, I did not know that 1800Flowers had Fair Trade Flowers! Thanks for letting me know.
I’m sending my nephews and nieces recycled cardboard heart boxes from Cardboard Safari so they can use them for teacher or friend gifts – add some fair trade chocolate inside, maybe decorate the outside a bit?
http://www.cardboardsafari.com/shop/results.php?action=showproducts&category=Valentine%20Items
My favorite is one Jessica had discovered…called the TickleMe Plant. It is a real plant that MOVES when you Tickle it! The leaves instantly fold and even the branches droop when you Tickle It. What a cool what to share your love and your love of nature. I see it all over the net or you can find it at http://www.ticklemeplant.com
They even have a TickleMe Plant Book/Guide. It’s more like a pet then a plant!
Another good place to get Fair Trade chocolate, gifts, coffee etc is the Equal Exchange’s store http://shop.equalexchange.com They also have gifts with Ten Thousand Villages Gift Baskets.
Valentine’s Day is Sunday, February 14 but don’t panic, this doesn’t mean that you have to go buy a fuzzy bear and plan an elaborate evening out on the town for your significant other. Of course Valentine’s Day is about treating the one you love to quality time, but you don’t have to go through the hassle of buying cute knickknacks and stuffed animals that will go to waste. Instead you can give your sweetheart some eco-friendly attention. It will be close to impossible to book a reservation at the most elegant restaurant in your town on Valentine’s Day, so why bother stressing over dinner when you can make a fabulous meal at home? If your significant other is always cooking food for you, return the favor for at least one night. You don’t even have to be an amazing chef to pull it off. Use locally grown fruits and vegetables from your market and create a sushi bar or black bean tacos.