In the spirit of recycling, we are sharing some recycled ideas from previous years for keeping our sustainability commitment strong during the holiday season. From gift-giving to holiday decorating, there are lots of creative ways to keep our footprint small and our spirits high!
Books are a great idea for gift recipients of all ages. Consider books for the little ones that teach children to treasure and protect nature such as:
For older readers, perhaps giving books in digital form (ie Kindle or Nook) to people who use these devices. Some book titles for adults include:
“Small Town Big Oil” by David W. Moore
“Nature’s Best Hope: How You Can Save the World in Your Own Yard” by Douglas W. Tallamy
“Drawdown” edited by Paul Hawken
Shops that focus on sustainability are excellent sources of gifts. We Fill Good in Kittery has a variety of home and personal items, in bulk or packaged sustainably, that contain natural ingredients. Some ideas include Swedish dishcloths, refillable candles, rechargeable (butane-free) lighters, and locally made bar shampoos and soaps. While you’re there, fill some of your own containers with dishwasher pods, laundry pods and other bulk items in the store.
For the homeowner or gardener, we visited Eldredge Hardware to get some ideas including battery-powered lawn and garden equipment, Darn Tough socks, LED lighting (for inside and outside decorating), seed starter kits, garden tools, and The Naked Bee skin care products.
Bell Farm Shops has a whole room dedicated to keeping birds and bees happy such as sustainably made bird and bat houses, Mason bee houses, hummingbird feeders as well as other bird feeders and seeds.
Also, check out the Rewiring America Electric Gift Guide for some thoughtful electric gifts that will improve people’s lives in a meaningful way.
Experience or convenience gifts are always a welcome alternative to material gifts, allowing the recipient to enjoy a meal at a fun restaurant (or a homemade meal cooked by the gift-giver), a relaxing spa treatment, the thrill of a ropes course or a car detailing. You can also be creative by giving hand-created gift certificates for special treats for loved ones.
Online subscriptions for apps such as meditation and mindfulness, health-related memberships to gyms or sports clubs (such as pickleball or Crossfit), or monthly on-line access to a publication of interest are all gifts that keep giving over the course of a whole year.
Consider a membership gift to a museum or organization, like the Center for Wildlife here in York, which provides free admission for a year and special invitation to members-only events, fostering a love of wildlife and nature. If a membership isn’t the right fit, giving a simple donation to any charity your loved one values could be a meaningful and impactful gift.
Decorate your home with DIY decorations and crafts made from natural materials collected from outside. Also, when giving gifts, be creative in using eco-friendly methods to disguise your gift, rather than using store-bought wrapping paper that gets ripped off in seconds then tossed in the trash. Start collecting colorful envelopes, pages from catalogs, old maps, the comics section from the Sunday paper, scraps of fabric, or drawings that come home from school that could be used to wrap a small gift, reuse gift bags, or decorate plain boxes or paper using colorful markers.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from York EcoHomes!
