22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #13

 

Recycled Tire Basket

Whether you are hauling firewood or fresh-picked fruits and veggies, this tough and roomy industrial tote is hand-sculpted from scraps of recycled tires.  Baskets have a 50 pound capacity and are handmade in a job skill workshop by people with disabilities or limiting conditions in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

$25 at Uncommon Goods

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #12

LunchBots Duo

Do away with those evil plastic containers for your lunches and snacks and switch to LunchBots -- stainless steel lunch and snack containers that are healthier than plastic and better for the environment. Both the container and the lid are made from the highest quality, 18/8 stainless steel and are dishwasher safe. They are safe, eco-friendly, and durable and the ideal container for snacks. It has a handy divider for crackers and cheese, fruit and nuts, and more.

$17.99 each

Other sizes and varieties available.  

Also available in stores.   

Read more about why you should avoid plastic. 

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #11

Eco-Dough

For the kid -- or playful adult -- on your list.  This all-natural sculpting dough is handmade in Portland, Maine and is colored with dyes made from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes instead of your typical toxins!

$24 at Uncommon Goods

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #10

Green Bride Guide Deluxe Green Wedding Starter Kit

For the couple with nuptials on the horizon, this kit has everything you need to start planning an eco-friendly wedding including:

• an autographed copy of The Green Bride Guide book
• exclusive samples from approved green wedding vendors
• a ton of information
• a $50 gift card to the Green Bride Guide Gift Shop & Registry

It all comes packaged in a 100% organic cotton reusable Green Bride Guide tote. 

$49.95 each, including free carbon neutral shipping

Note from Lori:  
I love the Green Bride Guide!  It is the resource for any couple planning an eco-friendly wedding.  Not only do they provide helpful tips on how to green your wedding, they have an extensive list of vendors who have been carefully screened and now, they have an amazing gift shop & registry! 

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #9

Holiday Honey Bear

From Banner Bee Company, a great stocking stuffer – all natural honey!  These tiny honey bears are filled with Maryland Wildflower Honey from this year's harvest.  2 ounces of goodness decorated in a Santa hat and a ribbon scarf for the season!  

Prices range from $2.25 - $3.00 each, depending on quantities. 

Other products include:  hand salve, lip balm, hand wash, soap, bug repellant, beeswax candles and more!  You can even adopt your own hive! 

Banner Bee’s products are 100% biodegradable, cruelty free, and do not contain harmful phlatates, parabens, petroleum products, synthetic fragrance oils, preservatives, FD&C colorants or dyes, or other toxic chemicals.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #8

Eco-Friendly Dog Beds

For the dog -- or dog lover -- on your list, these eco-friendly dog beds with sophisticated designs are as soft and firm as their favorite sofa cushion - which makes for a good sleep. Island Dog Design dog beds are like a 'natural tempur-pedic' mattress, but aren't made with chemicals and fire retardants. So, its a healthier alternative. Made with premium quality natural latex foam, which is eco-friendly and a plant based material, it is also:

• Therapeutic for your dog - comfortable and supportive, and keeps its shape
• Naturally antimicrobial - warding off dust-mites, mold and bacteria
• Easy to keep clean, and wash — (and doesn't take on the smell of your dog!)
• Chemical free, and biodegradable in a landfill
• Responsibly harvested
• Made in the USA

$185 - $265
Available in assorted sizes, designs and colors.

Free shipping through December 10th for viewers of this blog! Enter code:  GREEEN2011.

I discovered this company at the Green Festival last year in Washington, DC and purchased a  bed for my dog Dolly.  You can see she likes it! I sometimes use it for a meditation mat! 

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #7

Sticky Fingers' Sweets:  100 Super Secret Vegan Recipes

Any foodie -- whether vegan or not -- will appreciate this cookbook which offers a range of recipes including cakes (plus helpful details on decorating, frosting, borders and crunch), cupcakes, cookies, brownies, whoopee pies, fruit pies, cheesecakes, muffins, breads, scones and more.  I can't wait to try out Chocolate Love Cake.  My mouth is watering already!

The cookbook is written by Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats  and a winner on the Food Network's Cupcake Wars.  The book also includes a forward by Rory Freedman, co-author of Skinny Bitch, one of my all-time favorite books which I recommend to anyone who will listen! 

Sticky Fingers is more than a bakery.  They also offer sandwiches, sides and soups -- all of which will win over any die-hard carnivore (I've seen it happen!).   In addition, they support great causes such as Compassion Over Killing and Pinups for Pitbulls. 

$17.24 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound and iTunes

$12.99 for your Kindle

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #6

God is Green

From the author of  the award-winning children's book Easy To Be Green, God is Green uses verses from the Bible to explain how being green is part of God's plan for taking care of the earth and all of creation.  Although written for new and early readers through the third grade, the messages in this book are timely and relevant for all ages.  Expected available date is December 15 - just in time for the holidays!  

Pre-order for only $12.95 and get free shipping and handling through December 15th.

For additional information on this book, Easy To Be Green, and other helpful information for educators and kids, visit All For The One.  

Green Tip

What to do with your old books? 

1. Donate to a thrift store, Goodwill or other charity
2. Donate to your local library (check first, as some titles and subjects might not be acceptable)
3.  Sell at a yard sale
4.  Go to Earth911, enter "books" and your zip code and you'll get even more suggestions of places to take your old books. 

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #5

Hydros Filtering Water Bottle

$21.35 each

$1 from each purchase helps fund sustainable water infastructure projects. By purchasing your Hydros Bottle, you are joining Operation Hydros, the fight against the global water crisis. Not only does your bottle provide you with great tasting water on the go, each purchase helps fund sustainable water projects. Through these water projects, the proceeds of a single Hydros Bottle sold will provide clean water for someone in need for one whole year.

This price is 31% off the regular price if you order it today, Green Tuesday, and is a special deal that is being offered through Green America.  Shipping is included in the price. 

Pre-order this next generation HyrosBottle v2 in Blue, Orange, Green, Pink or Charcoal.  Orders will be shipped on December 15th. 

Features:  
- water bottle has its own filtration system
- BPA free and dishwasher safe
- made in the USA
- recycle your filter at participating retail stores OR by sending it back to Hydros 

Green Tip
Did you know that 38 billion disposable plastic water bottles find their way into landfills each year?  So when entertaining this holiday season, say NO to bottled water!  Decades ago, we entertained just fine without bottled water.  How did we do it?  We used decorative pitchers or large insulated containers.  Why can't we still do that?  

When cleaning up, if you have glasses with leftover water, don't dump the water down the drain.  Use it to water a plant inside OR outside.

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #4

Gift Idea #4

Solar Recycled Messenger Bag from Voltaic Systems
This bag will charge cell phones, iPads*, sat phones, PDAs, GPSs, iPods, cameras and most other hand-held electronics.  The battery pack (which is included) stores power until you need it.  Reinforced and padded to carry and protect a laptop, this bag is made with recycled PET and features large, zipped pockets for documents, and multiple small pockets for electronic devices.

$199 (normally $229)

Available through The Ultimate Green Store which is offering 20% off all orders with the code CYBERSAVINGS.  Offer good through Tuesday, November 29th only.

The Ultimate Green Store is also offering free shipping on orders over $50 (with some restrictions). 


Green Tip

Don’t give away your hard earned dollars to just any old company.  Instead, support businesses that will do something good with your money.  For example, The Ultimate Green Store has a SAVE THE PLANET – SUSTAIN YOUR SCHOOL program where schools can join The Ultimate Green Store’s affiliate program and download customized banners providing parents with a resource for shopping for green products (including eco-friendly school supplies) while earning money for their school.  10% of all sales will go back to the school as a fundraiser. 

22 Days of Green Gift Giving: Gift Idea #3

Green Tip

Today’s Green Tip is courtesy of Greenline Paper Company, the official office supply store for lori hill event productions. 

Opt for wrapping paper made with recycled content.   

The average American household increases their volume of trash by 25% during the holidays.  Much of this increase is due to the heavy use of greeting cards and gift wrapping paper.  Most store-bought gift wrapping paper contains absolutely no recycled content.  Check out these sources for recycled gift wrap paper.

Greenfield Paper Company

Fish Lips Paper Designs

Earth Love'n Paper Products

Gift Idea #3

Even though yesterday was Small Business Saturday®, I want to highlight another small business that I love to support.  earth alley, in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, offers gift items that are, among other things, fair trade and/or created from artisans who take discardable material and make it better by reusing it.  Many of these artisans are local to Baltimore (buying local is green, too!).  Check out this eco gift item which is pictured above.   

Tagua necklaces, key chains, earrings and bracelets

$9.99 – $49.99 each

Gift items are not available online, so come to Baltimore to see all the great gift items earth alley has to offer.

If you are not local to earth alley support a small business by checking out Green America's National Green Pages for a local, green business near you.