When it comes to beautiful and earth-friendly gift ideas for the holiday shopping season, I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in one of the greenest cities in the country. With easy access to local, sustainable, and fairly traded products that support the local economy and contribute to good old fashioned planetary healing, shopping for holiday gifts for family and friends now carries with it an opportunity to make a difference. That, plus it's a lot of fun to take a piece of Portland to people in other places.
Stumped on where to start? Let me help. Here are three of my current favorite green gift ideas that also make wonderful stocking stuffers:
#1 Votive Candles from Pacifica Home
Locally based Pacifica Home, prides itself on using the finest,
consumer-safe and sustainable raw materials, including natural
ingredients and essential oils. Their vegetable soy wax candles are
hand poured in-house and boast lead-free cotton wicks. That plus the
candles are long burning (votives burn for 25 hours), come in a
variety of scents, and are free of icky phthalates that are typically
found in plastics. You can order the above votive candle box set
online at www.pacificacandles.com for $50, or stop by your local New Seasons Market where you can take in each scent individually ($6 each).
#2 Eco-Friendly Java Log Fire Starters
Get creative with your stocking stuffers this year and give the gift of
an affordable java log fire starter which retails at approximately
$.89. Java Logs are compound left-over coffee grinds that burn safe and
effectively in your fireplace with the start of a match. Besides
looking like a piece of chocolate (always a plus), Java Logs come in
100% recycled packaging, and divert 20 million pounds of year of coffee
waste away from landfills. Available at your local Fred Meyers. For
more info on Java Logs, visit the website: www.java-log.com.
#3 Eco-Silver Pendant by Toby Pomeroy
This fabulous silver pendant on black silk lanyard, created by local
jewelry designer and goldsmith Toby Pomeroy was made with 100%
reclaimed silver. Learn more about the artist’s commitment to
sustainability by visiting www.tobypomeroy.com.
The pendant which retails for $165 can be purchased at Marios located
833 SW Broadway or at The Real MotherGoose located at 901 SW Yamhill.
More:
2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Eco Gifts Under $100
2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Eco Gifts Under $25