Have you considered not chopping down a Christmas tree this year? Or giving time rather than things? Whether you are a small-town parent looking to purchase a few gifts for your immediate family or an L.A. jet setter who needs to buy for a staff of 50, consider some of the following options to help make the holidays more meaningful and less of a disaster on the environment.

Recycling is Your Friend

Cut up old holiday cards and use them for decoupage projects, gift tags, scrap booking, making new cards, or kids crafts.

Give an herb garden kit to a favorite gardener friend, family member, or employee. If that person happens to live in a northern climate, the ground will be frozen in December, so be certain not to include anything that needs immediate planting.

Use and give rechargeable batteries. You can use them many times before taking them to your nearest battery recycling center.

Newspaper, old gift bags, comics and magazines make great wrapping paper. Think about using the comic section as wrapping for your child’s gift, or old Martha Stewart magazine pages to wrap that herb kit. In our family we just recycle gift bags every year. Sure, I might receive this year’s gift in the bag I put my nephew’s gift in last Christmas, but who cares?

Second-Hand Can be More Thoughtful Than New

Instead of buying a brand new book or CD, see if you can find one in good condition at a second-hand bookstore. Don’t forget about Half.com and eBay, both are great resources for reusing clothing, jewelry, books, DVDs, CD, and more.

Make Your Own Gifts

It’s a given that most people love a handcrafted gift because of the investment of time, love and creative energy it represents. If you excel in the kitchen, try making preserves, cakes, pies or bread.

If you like to work with wood, use your skills to craft CD racks or spice shelves. If you knit, a warm scarf or mittens are always great gift ideas.

Buy Green

If you’re not comfortable making gifts, or simply lack the time, you can give something green by buying products made locally. Purchase handmade items with less packaging such as a sweater, stuffed toys, wooden toys, puzzles, furniture, etc.

Consider gift certificates for favors such as helping a friend with childcare or an elderly relative with yard work. A frazzled single parent might enjoy a night away, or an aunt who loves a clean house but can’t reach her windows might appreciate a helping hand. Make your own gift certificates that offer someone a free hour of babysitting, a free lawn mowing or house cleaning. Chances are they will appreciate it much more than any trinket you can give them.

You Don’t Always Have to Give “Things”

Think about someone who might enjoy more of an event-oriented gift. Instead of buying kids another gadget that they might already have and probably don’t really need, give them an experience. An afternoon of horseback riding, a massage or pedicure, a session in a pottery studio or tickets to a concert or play are all environmentally-friendly gift ideas.

Photos Can be the Perfect Gift

Frame a piece of art created by a child. Most relatives would love receiving something that acts as a snapshot of a specific time in a child’s life.

Create a homemade photo album full of wonderful family pictures.

Design a cookbook with your family’s favorite recipes. Make this gift even more eco-friendly by not printing hard copies and simply giving out the URL to the online version.

Decorate, personalize and paint an old small box and use it for a jewelry box or knick-knacks. This is another fun craft children can help create. I have two tin can pencil holders on my desk from my son; I love seeing them every day when I sit down to work.

Think About Community and Charity

Volunteer! Organize a carol singing party with friends and family; arrange to visit local shut-ins, hospitals, and/or long-term care facilities. None one of you will walk away with anything material, but you will feel the true meaning of Christmas.

Give a donation in someone’s name. One of our Christmas gifts each year is a donation made by my mother on our behalf. My brother and I each have charities that we support and our mother donates a certain amount to the charity of our choice as a gift to us. This is particularly meaningful as my own ability to donate has decreased over the past couple of years. It makes me feel good to know that my charities are still receiving funds on my behalf.

Regardless of what you end up giving, be creative and think GREEN! Chances are the gift will be more meaningful to the recipient and it will be easier on your wallet. Happy Holidays