0

Comments

The season of gifting is upon us. Before you head to the mall, think about this:

Landfill or Love?

Here are our favorite gifts to give that are not only low-impact on the environment, but are original, entertaining, comforting, and illuminating:

Event tickets: From Eric Clapton to the Nutcracker, the NHL, or The Doodle Bops, check out www.ticketmaster.com or www.inticketing.com (one tree planted per ticket sold) for events in cities across North America. Wrap it up with the CD or DVD related to the event. This works for international gift-giving, too. Check out the internet for events, restaurants, and attractions in the country where the gift recipient lives. Pay online and there’s no international shipping involved. Many such sites have an English option, if needed.

Subscriptions: Ensure that you’ll be remembered fondly at least once a month for a year by giving a magazine subscription. Our favorites: Utne Reader, O: The Oprah Magazine, Dwell, Fast Company, Real Simple, Wired, and Bust. Present the gift with a rolled up issue of the mag. Can’t pick a favorite? Give a gift card for an online magazine subscription service like Magazines.com. Other types of subscriptions include healthy home food delivery for the foodie in your life, or a newspaper subscription from a faraway land for a homesick friend.

Membership: Give a membership to an art gallery, fitness club, or community center. Especially good for families with kids are memberships to the local aquarium, zoo, science center, or skating rink.

Education! Adventure! Yoga classes, art classes, scuba, cooking, or horseback riding lessons may be the perfect gift. Horseback riding lessons blow the budget? Then give a one-time horseback riding session.

Good tidings and light: Spread relief and joy by giving one-time or regular house cleaning or landscaping services, a day at the spa – or a just a manicure, a lesson with a make-up artist, a Feng Shui consultation, or an astrology reading.

Landfill or Love? Go for the Love!