This holiday season, green gift guides are seemingly everywhere (thankfully!). Thus, I’m sad to say, my idea for this blog is unoriginal. Really, I should be promoting a consumerism-free holiday season, which is perhaps the greenest kind of holiday; but I fear that idea is not going to catch on any time soon in this country. So, just in case you’re still looking for ideas for your mom, sister, daughter, grandmother, partner, best friend, mentor, or whoever else has touched your life, give her a gift even Mother Earth would appreciate. Here are some of my favorite finds (many of which I wouldn’t mind finding under the tree):

*Note: Not all of these gifts are “green” in the conventional sense of the word; they represent the gamut of connotations for “sustainability” – from local to environmentally friendly products and from fairly traded to consciousness-raising gifts.

For the Eco-Trend Setter

Smart Glass Jewelry – Washington-born artist Kathleen Plate has found a unique way to recycle beer and Coke bottles – she makes them into simple, but chic necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Simple Shoe's Toetally Boot – Made with a medley of eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton, wool, water-based cements, and 100% post consumer paper pulp, these boots would delight any woman looking for a comfortable and stylish shoe to kick around in. I’ve personally been coveting these for a while (hint, hint to any loved ones reading this…I wear a size 6).

Hip Chicks Do Wine – For the wino in your life, tickle her palate with a bottle (or two) from this Portland-based, women-owned urban winery. Owners Laurie Lewis and Renee Neely purchase all of their grapes from Oregon and Washington vineyards, many of which are located in the Willamette Valley. With feisty names such as Drop Dead Red and Bad Girl Blanc that boast fruity flavors such as blackberry and apple, these wines are sure to stir up some fun.

For the Activist

Slingshot Organizer – Help her stay organized and empowered with this pocket planner, which includes more than just a calendar – it also inspires its owner with dates of past radical events, a menstrual cycle calendar, a contact list of radical groups, and more. You can pick one up at any of a myriad of local shops, including In Other Words, Alberta Grocery, Food Front, People’s Food Coop, Mirador Community Store, Laughing Horse Books and Q is for Choir.

Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design  – Authors Kira Gould and Lance Hosey explore the role of women in the sustainable design movement in this book that tries to answer the question: who is the greener gender? This is one of my current reads; stay tuned for my review in a couple of weeks (in other words, keep reading my blog…please). 

A gift from Global Sistergoods – This local and (of course) women-owned business with a global perspective sells fairly traded crafts made by women artisans from around the world. A gift from Global Sistergoods pays it forward – your purchase supports the entrepreneurship and self-reliance of economically disadvantaged women in developing countries.

For the Practical Woman

Reusable menstrual pads – Admittedly, this is another plug for alternative menstrual products – if she hasn’t tried them yet, slip one in her stocking and slip her a hint. While you’re at it, support local, woman-owned businesses – Glad Rags and Moon Pads are both made by Portland women and can be found in most cooperatives and/or at In Other Words.

Buenostyle Organic Undies – “I see London, I see France; I see your organic underpants!” Every woman could always use another pair of underwear, and I don’t mean lingerie (who actually wears that, anyway?). These organic cotton undies put the sass in eco-friendly clothing and have the practicality for everyday wear (but I don't mean wear them every day).

Patagonia Eco Rain Shell Jacket – No Pacific Northwestern woman can stay dry and sane without a good rain jacket. With this eco-award-winning jacket, which is made from 100% recycled polyester, she can “wear the talk” and keep her wits about her through the rainy season…or rather, the three rainy seasons. 

For the Crafty Woman

Earth Friendly Yarns – Gift the knitting fiend in your life with organic, vegan, recycled and/or fairly traded threads from this Seattle-based company. Alternatively, you can also find organic fabrics and threads at either of the neighboring boutiques Close Knit & Bolt on Alberta Street.

Reused craft materials – Feed her creativity with reused craft or building materials from either SCRAP or The Rebuilding Center; although you might run the risk of being called out on “re-gifting,” which isn’t a bad thing per se. If you don’t know exactly what she’d want, both offer gift certificates.

Grass Chair – Indeed, this gift is gender-neutral; but it was so off-the-wall that I had to include it. Plus, this could satiate her craftiness and her green thumb.

For the Woman who says she doesn’t want anything (really, she doesn’t want anything!)

Green Tags – Help her achieve a lighter carbon impact by offsetting her fossil fuel consumption with Green Tags. In turn, the money you spend goes towards renewable energy and watershed restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Donations – Make a donation in her name to her favorite non-profit organization.

An Experience Gift – If she insists that she doesn’t need any material objects, but you insist on getting her something, why not treat her with a gift certificate for an experience to treat herself? Plus, this idea has the bonus of not creating more eventual (and inevitable) waste. I’ll shoot out some ideas to get you started: yoga classes at one of the city’s plethora of yoga studios, an acupuncture session, an annual membership to Portland Rock Gym, or surfing lessons with Oregon Surf Adventures.

I’ll end by pointing out the added beauty of any of the above gift ideas – you can avoid the nightmare that is the mall full of holiday shoppers.

May your holidays be merry, bright, and green!