Green Options

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.

I’ve mentioned before that we aren’t big into Valentine’s Day around this house.  That said, we aren’t fun killers either and our children do fully participate in the Valentine fun at school. (I’m the Mom signed up to bring a fruit tray to the party… any ideas on making a super fun fruit presentation, please share!)

Recently I visited with Oregon’s own Kate Rosenthal, owner of Stubby Pencil Studios.   She started Stubby Pencil out with these amazingly adorable, DIY, Color N Kids Cards.  (Shown here with a set of Soy Crayons, 8 count for $1.00.)  The Valentine version of the cards come in a set of 12 for $7.95.  I adore that these cards come in a variety of images and sayings so there is something appropriate for everyone in class, a “love ya” for the BFF and a “cool dude” or “smile” for less close classmates.  I’m a firm believer in taking a Valentine for each child in the class (it’s part of our “love for all” family promotion).  

Around the Polka Dot Household we don’t buy into the whole Valentine’s Day thing… I just can’t get beyond the consumerism. Besides my husband gives me flowers every couple of months for no reason at all… why wait for V-Day?

That said, the kiddos do have Valentine’s celebrations at school and enjoy giving (and receiving) notes and sweet treats.

Here’s a better way to do it! The Fair Trade Valentine’s Day Action Kit. This kit includes: A box of individually wrapped fair trade chocolates (your choice of dark or milk), a bundle of 12 Valentine Greetings which feature a train and the saying, “On Valentines Day there’s nothing so sweet…as giving loved Ones Fair Trade chocolate to eat ” and facts about cocoa. Also included in the kit is An Amore/Love Papel Picado banner (perfect for the classroom party!), and An I Love Fair Trade Iron On, compliments of Transfair USA. The kit comes packaged in a recycled (red) Kraft handled bag and runs $17.00. (Read more about Global Exchange’s Fair Trade Chocolate Campaign.)

If you are looking for recycled cards, check out Stubby Pencil Studios DIY color cards. Here are some homecrafted ideas we’ve enjoyed in the past:

Sure you can buy your sweeties organic flowers or chocolate and have your children decorate Valentines made from recycled paper; however, in my family, we have another tradition. Every year for Valentine’s Day, we take the opportunity to buy a fruit tree or rose bush. What better way to express our love than to give a gift that may offset some of our carbon footprint?

I love chocolate as much as the next guy/gal, but I am not a fan of cut flowers, even though I worked in flower shop in high school. Lavish bouquets purchased to celebrate holidays have spawned a thriving industry that heavily relies on pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. According to the Wise Geek:

Most cut flowers are grown in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia in large greenhouse environments staffed by underpaid, non-unionized workers…Because cut flowers are grown in nations with more lax environmental laws, many banned substances including DDT and methyl-bromide are used in flower production…Some cut flowers may be shipped thousands of miles, adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at every step of the way.

Valentine’s Day has become more of a headache then heartfelt for most. Poor men are inundated with commercials claiming that if they don’t go to a mall jewelry store, their lover’s family and friends will be completely disappointed in them. That little jewelry box must also be accompanied by chocolates, flowers and a card. And, don’t forget the reservations, guys! No wonder men are not much into this dreaded day. Is this really what women want? Here’s a suggestion for this year: avoid the commercialized, boring routine and have a green Valentine’s Day!

No worries if you don’t know the first thing about making gifts - it is easier then ever to find cool, recycled, handmade gifts online. Online boutique Zanisa is a great place to find all sorts of recycled, organic and sustainable gifts like this necklace from designer Liana Kabel, made from recycled Tupperware! And of course, Etsy is the fantastic place to find original handmade gifts. Check out the daily Valentine’s Showcase for ideas.

Even if you are not a crafter, this recycled heart project from A Little Hut, is totally achievable. All you need is a paper egg carton, some red paint, background card-stock and a box frame to create something that your lover won’t soon forget.