Buy Handmade This Holiday Season

Gift giving can be a tricky topic around this time of year, particularly in environmentally conscious circles. For some people it's a treasured holiday tradition, while for others gift shopping is a task to put off as long as possible if not avoid altogether. If you do choose to shop for gifts this year, one eco-friendly option to consider is supporting independent crafters and buying unique handmade items for the folks on your list. According to the Pledge Handmade site, The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production. Last year, over 10,000 people took the pledge to "buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me." You can go here to sign the pledge, and here to learn more and get resources for handmade gifting. Not sure where to start? Etsy is a great place to find beautiful gifts made by thousands of independent crafters. If you're more of a DIY type yourself, check out some bonus green craft tips at Sew Green (and then you'd better get off the internet and start crafting). (Creative Commons image by Sabrina Eras)