Still stumped on what to get for Mom? Go for beautiful gifts that are eco-friendly too!
How about the Organic Chocolate Fantasy Gift Set from Kate’s Caring Gifts?
Or an Organic Cotton Spa Robe from VivaTerra?
Maybe some Vintage China Earrings from Eco-Artware?
Wrap the gift in a scarf or a pretty piece of fabric, the Sunday comics, an old map, or paper from Paporganics.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
With Mother’s Day coming up, look for eco-friendly gift options, like flowers from Organic Bouquet. Pick from their Charitable Gifts section and proceeds from the sale will go to the non-profit organization listed with the bouquet you choose. There are thirty-five organizations to choose from.
All bouquets are certified as Sustainably Grown by Veriflora, and come in packaging that is 100% recycled and recyclable.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
Our lawnmower kicked the bucket, so I decided to look for a greener mowing option. When I researched the impact gas lawnmowers have on the environment, I was appalled.
PeoplePoweredMachines.com reports:
Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants. Garden equipment engines, which have had unregulated emmissions until very recently, emit high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to 5% of the nation’s air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas.
A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars (or as much air pollution as driving a car for 100 miles).
Well, we’re not quite ready to switch to an old fashioned push mower, so we went electric. After some research, we decided on the Craftsman 37051 Electric Mower, from Sears.
It’s lightweight, much quieter than a gas mower (I rocked out to my iPod without having to crank it up), and adjusts easily to different cutting lengths. It comes with a bag for collecting clippings, but so far I’ve only used it for mulching.
You will have to stop mowing to pull the cord out of the way so you don’t mow over it. Pulling a lever on the handle makes the mower start instantly, so starting and stopping isn’t a hassle. I recommend wearing gardening gloves while mowing. I didn’t, and sliced my finger on some sharp plastic around the start lever.
All in all, I am really happy with this mower, it’s effective and amazingly easy to use. And, since there’s no gas exhaust, you can actually enjoy the smell of fresh cut grass.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
We’re always hearing about the health benefits of adding seafood to our diets, but it’s important to be an educated consumer when it comes to buying fish.
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That’s the idea behind Freecycle.org.
When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.
Or, maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
You can also specify if you’d like the item posted to go to a non-profit organization. Go to Freecycle.org to look for your local Freecycle group. Sign up and swap.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
Get a pitcher and mix up beverages at home. A few bags of tea, a packet of Kool-Aid, or a can of frozen juice concentrate leaves behind a lot less waste than a soda or juice bottle.
The pitcher above is made from recycled glass. You can order one here.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
In March, the city of Sydney, Australia observed Earth Hour. Between 7:30 and 8:30 PM on March 31st, the residents of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, turned off lights, shut off televisions, and powered down computers, in a self-imposed one hour blackout. The result: a decrease in energy consumption equal to taking 48,000 cars off the road.
DoOneNiceThing.com urges you to observe your own Earth Hour.
Pick a time that’s convenient for you and turn everything off.
- Dine by candlelight.
- Read by flashlight.
- Prepare a cold dinner.
- Take a stroll.
- Sit outside and gaze at the stars.
For one hour pretend it’s 100 years ago when there were no energy-guzzling appliances. Let’s reduce our dependence on foreign oil and give Mother Earth a rest.
Observe Earth Hour on your own, or take it a step further. Enlist neighbors, friends, family, or even your entire town to take an hour to turn it all off.
Another Eco-Friendly Tip from Allie.
Did you have a family member who sat in the corner at a party or holiday event, carefully folding up wrapping paper for future use? Maybe it was a grandma or great aunt who lived through the Depression and learned to save anything that was usable, maybe it was just someone who was thrifty and knew how to pinch pennies. What ever the reason behind it, saving wrapping paper makes good green sense.