Alternative Gift Registry

If you've ever planned a wedding, baby shower, or other occasion of major gifting, you may have wondered what to do about a registry. It can be a difficult decision, since you want to honor the contributions of important people in your life (and hey, maybe you just enjoy getting presents, too) but on the other hand you don't want your special occasion to cause a lot of environmentally destructive purchases. Even if you decide to go the "no gifts" route, chances are you'll end up receiving some anyway. When a registry is appropriate, it can actually be a great way to make sure that at least the items you get are things you stand behind ethically and know you will enjoy.

So, you're left with the question of what to register. That's where the Center for the New American Dream's Alternative Gift Registry comes in. This internet tool allows you to create a gift registry for any type of special occasion.

There are three basic types of green gifts you can include in this registry. First of all, you can select any product available on the internet and create a link to it. Second, you can link to your favorite charities and request donations in honor of your event. Third, you can ask for personalized or non-material gifts like things made by your guests or donations of time and energy. The great thing about the Alternative Gift Registry is that it brings all this together in one place. Like any online gift registry, you can note the number of each item you would like to receive, and guests can keep track of which gifts have already been spoken for.

Creative Commons image by Flickr user Saquan Stimpson

Roses are Red, Valentine's Day is Green

While Valentine's Day often involves a lot of shopping, I think there's something to be said for the holiday in terms of sustainability. After all, the gifts are often of the small and personal type. Plus, there's all that organic chocolate, and who can complain about that? If you're looking for something unique for your sweetheart, try the Lover's Essential Oil Sampler from Mountain Rose Herbs, featuring fragrant organic Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Palmarosa, Clary Sage, and Rose oils ($55). Jewelry is another great Valentine's Day tradition. If you're in the market for a diamond, take a look at Brilliant Earth, a Canadian jeweler that guarantees ethically and sustainably produced stones. For something a little funkier, check out some of Etsy's hand-crafted Valentine's Day offerings. Looking for something simple? Almost everyone loves chocolate, especially if it's organic and fair trade. Organic Bouquet has plenty of options for a variety of tastes. If it's down to the wire, consider Veriflora certified flowers from flowerbud.com. These flowers are sustainably and ethically grown, and prices (starting at around $70) include overnight shipping.

Smart Glass Spring Line

Smart Glass is deceptively simple. Artist Kathleen Plate got her start in the glass arts with traditional stained glass techniques, but her contemporary designs are much more minimal. Looking over her spring selection of cascading bangles, drop earrings and pendants, I think it's a great direction. The pieces showcase the clear, brilliant colors of bottle glass and the epitome of organic forms, the perfect circle, with little fussiness or distraction. Plate says that living close to the earth has always been a core value of her business, and this is evident in her choice of materials, which in many cases are a selection of recycled wine, beer, and water bottles. The Open line is new this season, and even the Coca Cola line is surprisingly delicate and beautiful.

Pet Project

Are you distressed by the fact that your pet's extra hair goes to waste? I'll admit it's unlikely, even for the greenest among us. And yet, innovator Catty Shack Creations has solved this vexing problem that we didn't even know we had! Your cat's or dog's hair, collected by groomers with kits available from the web site, can be washed, carded, spun by hand, knitted, felted and otherwise recycled into beautiful and truly unique handbags like the ones pictured here. Many different sizes and styles of bag are available, ranging from about $50 to $300. Not quite the cat's pajamas, but very, very close.

Treasures From Trees

It's probably too late to get any more presents under the tree before tomorrow, but happily these green gifts made from trees are suitable for occasions throughout the year. These bowls, designed by Doha Chebib and hand-crafted by the Loyal Loot Collective, are carved from locally reclaimed trees and finished with a water-based sealant. Naturally barky on the outside and satiny bright on the inside, they'd make an interesting accent for any room (especially with a few contrasting colors). Loyal Loot Log Bowls are available online from Rose and Radish. For younger friends, this intricate toy treehouse is a great bet. They're hand crafted by a fair-trade group in Vietnam, from reclaimed Cherry and Elder woods. Like many Waldorf toys, this fort engages kids' imaginations while keeping them close to the natural world. (Tree blocks are lots of fun, too.)

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)