Eco-friendly Gift Ideas & Tips for the Holiday Season (Go Green!)

As Kermit the frog always says, it's not easy being green. Our little muppet friend is right about that, but there are some things everyone can do to live a more eco-friendly life. And with the holiday season rapidly approaching, now is a good time reveal a few gift ideas and actions that can help you and people on your list be a little more like Kermit.

Ecowool- Though not widely known, ecowool is fast becoming a popular choice for clothing and garment manufacturing. Ecowool is comprised of materials from plants and animals that live and are grown outdoors in a pure, clean, green environment. No harmful chemicals are used during production, and as a result there are not the toxic by-products normally associated with processing and manufacturing. Ecowool breathes, keeping warmth next to the body, while whisking away perspiration. It also resists staining, soiling, and odors. Ecowool is naturally flame retardant, something many synthetic materials simply cannot say. It is lighter than traditional wool, and repels outside moisture. For complete clothing lines and more information, go to www.ecowool.com or any other clothing manufacturer that carries it.

Hemp- Although hemp is often associated with the hippie culture, gone are the days when woven bracelets and necklaces sandwiched a peace shirt and rose tinted glasses. Hemp has now made its way into just about every area of clothing manufacturing. Heavy sweatshirts, handbags, biodegradable plastics, jewelry, wallets, shoes, soap, and even pet collars are just a few of the products made from hemp these days. Hemp is one tough fiber, four times as strong as cotton- hemp ropes were considered to be the best in the world for over 300 years, and the huge sails of naval vessels of the 1600's were tailored from hemp. Hemp as been cultivated for centuries, dating back to the Roman Empire, in short, its many uses and value have long been known by mankind. In addition to being an extremely eco-friendly product, hemp products are now very fashionable, and built to last. Plus, it is about the same price as regular cotton, $14.00 for a tee shirt is typical. There are dozens if not hundreds of hemp retails online, one of the largest is www.hemptraders.com. You are bound to find something you like there.

It may seem like an obvious choice, but The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Living by Trish Riley, (Alpha Press)is an excellent gift choice for anyone hoping to spread the word about eco-friendly living. The "Idiot" books, much like their yellow "dummy" counterparts give plenty of information while maintaining interest level with interspersed humor. Helpful information is given about global warming and how we can help slow it down by reducing carbon dioxide output. More useful topics include: hybrid cars, pesticides and how to avoid using them, alternate energy sources, buying energy credits, and teaching children the value of living green. The book lists for $16.95, but is often on sale for much less, and you can even get a used copy if you are trying to save some trees! www.amazon.com is just one of many book sellers that stock it.

Christmas "Treecycling"- Speaking of trees, though this isn't really a gift idea, but for the multitudes of people who celebrate the holidays with a real Christmas tree, the best thing you can do is have your discarded tree recycled or "treecycled" as it is sometimes called. Telling your friends and neighbors about this program is an easy way to promote it. Recycled trees are used for: beachfront erosion prevention, fish habitat, wood chips & mulch, and is used in managing river delta sediment. It is a natural resource that should be used to the fullest. Check with your city or town to see if pickup service is offered, or locate a local drop off site. For more information contact: www.christmastree.org/environment.cfm

And finally, what would the holiday season be without chocolate? Most people are going to consume some form of the tasty stuff, so why not give someone chocolate that is both eco-friendly and delicious at the same time? These chocolates are made from all organically grown ingredients, and grown on farms where farmers incorporate eco-friendly methods, such as using little to no pesticides. These chocolates aren't anything that will wreck your budget either, as a single bar can be had for $1.99 and up. Gift baskets and sampler packs are also offered from every company I've seen. There are dozens of green chocolate makers (pun intended) but to name just a few; Terra Nostra Organic, Green & Black's Organic, and Divine. Give the sweet tooth on your list something sweet and green! Just like Kermit!