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A Greener Valentine’s Day

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

We all know that red, pink, and white are the traditional Valentine’s Day colors. Red for roses, pink for hearts, and white for…diamonds? This year, try adding green into the mix. Sure, green may clash horribly with the other three colors, but if your sweetheart has an environmental conscious, he/she will surely appreciate your thoughtfulness as much or more than those dozen roses.

To ease your worrying over the perfect gift, we are providing you with some fabulous ideas to make this Valentine’s Day one to remember.

1) Jewelry–The slogan of Brilliant Earth Jewelry says it all: Jewelry with a Conscience. Many have heard of the widespread conflicts and violence surrounding the diamond industry. Diamonds and gems from Brilliant Earth are gathered via socially and environmentally responsible practices, utilize recycled gold and silver, and can be custom made to order.

2) Green Meals–The winter months often provide a challenge for those of us who prefer to appease our taste buds with local, sustainable, and organic foods. Fortunately many restaurants, such as L’Etoile in Madison, WI,  strive to offer the best seasonal cuisine all year round. To find a green restaurant in your area, visit the Green Restaurant Association. But first, one cautionary tale: Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, so be sure to check for restaurant hours to avoid an embarrassing situation.

Courtesy of Inhabitat

3) Sustainable Chocolate–Chocolate-y indulgences seem to be a staple of this holiday. We certainly won’t judge if you choose to please your sweetheart’s sweet tooth, so long as it is done properly. Consider finding a chocolatier in your area for a unique mix of delicious delights or seek out companies with solid track records, such as Equal Exchange, Dagoba, or Endangered Species chocolate products.

4) Seeds–It’s no secret that roses, lilies, and orchids are not fond of the cold. Instead of giving imported or greenhouse-grown flowers, consider a few seed packets of his/her favorite types. While the effect is not the same as walking into a room with a dozen roses, seed packets will provide hours of couple time as you plant, care for, and enjoy your flowers. If you’re still not convinced, consider this: flowers that remain in-ground last much longer than flowers placed in a vase. Try to find organic seeds, like the ones at the Organic Seed Alliance. And if y’all are wondering, I am quite fond of sunflowers…

5) Poo Paper–For the writer in your life, Mr. Ellie Pooh’s paper is a fantastic idea. This relatively new company was Co-op America’s 2008 Green Business Leader Award Winner. The Poo Paper is 100% recycled: 75% of the product is animal dung with the other 25% made from post-consumer paper. Its wide variety of sizes, patterns, and colors guarantees that you can find the perfect poo product. You know what they say, Mr. Ellie Pooh’s paper is as organic as it gets.

Powered Green’s Green Gift Guide

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

AAAAAoSC9moAAAAAAH_iwgThere are a million green gift ideas this holiday season, with just as many gift guides to help find the perfect item for that special someone.

To add to the discussion, we’ve compiled a list of our own favorite green gifts for this time of year. We’ve also included some links to different green gift guides that offer up advice in finding that perfect gift.

But, before you do any of this be sure to take a look at some wonderful green gifts from Powered Green and help support renewable energy this holiday season.

Personal Favorites

First, try something local like specialty coffees, teas or biscotti from any nearby cafe. An art lover or writer on the list? Support the art scene with locally made stationary, jewelry, or coasters. Also, searching for Fair Trade items is another way to find something unique while supporting a worthwhile movement.

If you have a Mac-user on your wish list, you can’t go wrong with a ColcaSac Sleeve. What a great, sustainable product they’ll be able to use everyday.

Also popular this holiday season is a pair of shoes from Tom Shoes.  This company is an inspiration to shoe lovers everywhere, as with every pair purchased, Tom’s donates a pair to a child in need.

If you can’t seem to find exactly what you need, consider making a donation in a friend or family member’s name to a local charity or non-profit. Many times, organizations offer creative ways to donate to their cause throughout the holidays.

Lastly, if nothing seems to catch your eye, the best gifts are those you can make yourself. Friends and family love to receive hand-made gifts, and if you have the time and know-how it’s a great idea (Don’t know how? Send us an e-mail! We’re pretty crafty here.).

Links to other Green Gift Guides

TreeHugger has a great green gift guide sorted into different categories.

For around the house gifts take a look at GAIAM’s top green gifts list.

The Daily Green’s gift list boasts one of a kind smaller items.

For the tech person on your list, be sure to visit our Energy Seal page to learn how to green your computer.

Have another great gift idea? Leave a comment and we’ll add it to the post!

From all of us at Inked Green, Happy Holidays!