• Cooked by Michael Pollan
• VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good by Mark Bittman
• Bet the Farm: How Food Stopped Being Food by Frederick Kaufman
• Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America by Wenonah Hauter
• The Perfect Protein: The Fish Lover’s Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World by Andy Sharpless and Suzannah Evans

6. Buy Fair Trade. Common Mother’s Day gifts include chocolate, fresh fruit, coffee, or flowers–all items that can be purchased from fair trade producers. By demanding fair prices for their goods, Fairtrade International helps support smaller producers and farmers who may have a hard time covering their own costs while remaining competitive in the global market. Fair Trade USA has aglobal reach map that shows many of the organizations involved in fair trade.


Food Tank co-founder Ellen Gustafson recently launched the Apron Project. The first collection of aprons are handmade in Rwanda by Indego Africa, an award-winning, design-driven nonprofit social enterprise supporting women-owned businesses in Rwanda. The organization helps businesswomen build economic independence through access to markets and education.7. Plant a garden. Planting a vegetable garden at home is not only a fun Mother’s Day activity, but is also an excellent way to make sure that Mom has fresh produce available for the rest of the summer.It’s also a money-saver, the National Gardening Association estimates that the average return on the investment of a home garden is US$530. For the amateur urban gardener with limited space, these tips from Inhabitat are a good place to start.

About Food Tank
Food Tank: The Food Think Tank, founded by Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson, is a think tank focused on feeding the world better.

Choose Ethical, Sustainable Gifts this Mother’s Day is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

 This question showed up in my Facebook feed yesterday:

“What are your most used and least used items from your wedding registry?  I don’t want something in my kitchen or house that doesn’t belong there.”

My friend’s younger sister is getting married and asked this question. It’s interesting to read the answers and see some of her friends consider the wedding gifts they registered for, and how useful they’ve turned out to be.  She’s getting advice to skip the formal serving pieces, and opt for more of the things you use every day like towels and linens.

When we registered for our wedding gifts 12 years ago, I remember reading about keeping price points in mind when you create a registry.  It said most people get the list, scan it for the first $25 or $50 item, grab it and go.  Whether or not that’s the most thoughtful way to choose a gift… that’s for you to decide.  I know it means you’re getting the couple something they want.

What I know from experience is that the gifts that now mean so much to us were not the things two 24-year olds scanned in a department store or Target on a Saturday night to cross yet another Wedding To-Do off our lists.

Next time you’re shopping for a wedding gift, challenge yourself to think of something that will really make a difference in the lives of two people beginning a life together.  They’ll get plenty of “stuff” so why not give a gift that doesn’t add clutter to their lives?

• Local CSA Share – It really is the cliched “gift that keeps on giving.”  A share in a local farm or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) will keep the newlyweds’ kitchen stocked with fresh, seasonal foods throughout the harvest.  Not only are you investing in good health, you’re keeping money in the local community, instead of overseas where most of our stuff is made.  Check Local Harvest for a CSA near the couple.

• Couples Cooking Classes – Learning to cook is a fun and productive way to spend time together.  It’s also another way to set up healthy habits of eating at home and being partners for meal times.  Look online for a culinary school in the couple’s area.  Or try Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma, or a local specialty store or restaurant.

• Straight Talk on Money – If marriage came with an instruction manual, Sharon O’Day’s How and When to Talk to Your Partner about Money  would be volume one.  Learning how to have rational, non-judgemental conversations about money early on sets the couple up for a healthy relationship.  This digital e-book (little to no carbon footprint) is the perfect balance of feelings and finances.

• Experience Gifts – Experiences create lasting memories and have been found to be more fulfilling and enjoyable than material items.  A guided city tour, hot air balloon ride, or a whitewater rafting adventure are just some of the ways many couples enjoy spending time together.  Check out Cloud 9 Living Wedding Experience Gifts section for more ideas.

• Charitable Gifts – If the couple has a favorite charity they support, consider donating to it in their names.  Make sure it’s a cause that’s important to them, not just to you.  You’ll find ways to donate to environmental, children’s, health research, and many other organizations online.  Research the fund on Charity Navigator so you know you’re making a wise choice.

• Cash - When in doubt about the perfect wedding gift, opt for money.  Like an experience gift, money never ends up collecting dust in the basement.  You’ll also save the couple the trouble of returning another thing they don’t want or need.

Green Wedding Gifts That Don’t Create Clutter is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

Easter’s on its way!  So we’ve pulled together a quick roundup of eco-friendly Easter resources for you.

Over at Green Child Magazine you’ll find a simple how to on coloring Easter eggs naturally.  Or if you don’t have time to cook up your own earth friendly dyes, you can use a kit like WeeCanToo.

As for thinking outside of the candy isle, Amanda at the Eco-friendly Family gives plenty of tips.  Then you can head over to Abe’s to stock up on some favorites at a great discount!

Green Your Easter (and save some too!) is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

It’s mid-March and the winter months will soon be a distant memory. Many of us will be turning to thoughts of vacations… and if you’re anything like us, a vital part of our vacation attire is a pair of shades. But why opt for any shades when you can have a totally unique pair made by Wooed By Wood?

As the name suggests, the sunglasses are made from… you guessed it – wood. Not just any wood, but reclaimed wood sustainably harvested and hand-crafted into something really special. We learned it takes nearly two weeks and 50 different processes to make one pair.

Some of the stunning choices include frames made from Bamboo, Cocobolo, Zebrawood, and Walnut, which really do look the part. But as Julia from the company states, “Mother Nature was the real designer, all we did was to lend a helping hand.” In essence, they’re the ideal gift for someone who cares about the environment but wants to look and feel fabulous.

As well as making you look good, they’re extremely practical.  With polarized lenses and spring hinges for better fitting, they’re made to last.  With prices starting at $80, they make a stunning gift for someone special.

Joh (pronounced Joe) and Julia’s love for wood runs deep. “Some of the oldest living things on our planet are trees and our reliance on wood is as important today as it was thousands of years ago,” says Joh. “All we’re doing is bringing it back to life in a way that is practical, yet beautiful at the same time.”

Julia and Joh are about as passionate about the environment as you can be and this is reflected in the quality of their materials and the time and effort spent making their inspiring products.

Wooed By Wood Sunglasses: A Simply Stunning Gift Idea is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

In need of a fresh, new gift idea for a special someone in your life? Why not try tap water’s new best friend… the drop-in filters from GAC (Granular Activated Carbon)

GAC filters are uniquely designed to simply drop into tap water in order to quickly and effectively remove chlorine, taste and odor.  Use it just like a tea bag.

They are a great gift for anyone who wants to stay hydrated on the go, while leading an eco-friendly lifestyle. They can be perfectly pair with a funky new reusable bottle of your choice! And single filter will filter up to 50 liters, so that friend of yours can sip in style all day.

But what if your friend is more of a coffee drinker? No problem! These little filters can do wonders for your coffee if you place them in the back of your coffee maker’s water reservoir. A single filter will do the trick, removing all taste and odor from your tap water, giving you an extra tasty cup of coffee.

Did we mention that these filters are 100% biodegradable?  That means no green guilt here. So, for the active friends, this makes a great addition to a stainless steel water bottle as a gift.  Or pair GAC filters with their favorite brand of coffee or tea for a healthy and delicious gift.

Portable, Biodegradable Mini Water Filters from GAC is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

In honor of our 44 presidents, Abe’s Market is holding a sale!

Abe’s Market has long been our favorite one-stop-shop for healthy foods and products.  If you haven’t given them a try yet, now is the perfect time.  Whether you live gluten-free, vegan, paleo… or just trying to use non-toxic or sustainable products, Abe’s has what you need.  And they’re constantly making improvements to their website so everything is easy to find.

If you have favorite Abe’s products, we’d love to hear about them.  Or if you decide to try Abe’s for the first time during this sale, let us know how what you think!

Shop Now!

Save up to 44% at Abe’s Market! is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

Editor’s note:  What a privilege it has been getting to know Dana Holmes of Gifts.com this year. Today she’s sharinge her expert advice on holiday gifting etiquette.

The holidays are a time of joy, giving, and catching up with family and friends near and far. Between preparing a holiday meal, decorating your home in time for company, and shopping for gifts for your closest loved ones, the merry season can get hectic fast.

Throw in juggling cocktail parties, dinner parties, and various gift exchanges and the holiday giving season can overwhelm even the jolliest of elves. The easiest way to enjoy all of the opportunities to share in the holiday spirit is to know the rules and be prepared.

Below are some reminders of what to get for which holiday engagement, plus some time-saving (and fun!) gift ideas for each.

If you start preparing now, you’ll be able to celebrate the holidays with a smile.

Cocktail Party

Cocktail parties are so welcoming and festive, it can seem impossible to bring the wrong gift. But in fact, it can be done. To avoid mild embarrassment, skip that trip to the florist that you were considering. Getting the hostess flowers, while it seems like a sweet gesture, gives them an extra job. The last thing they need is an added chore while they’re running around their house at the eleventh hour.

A safer bet is something they can use for their next party or for their home. Try the Live Edge Bottle Stopper  for something unique and stylish, or the Pottery Barn Penguin Snow Globe Bottle Stopper  for something whimsical. Bottle stoppers are easy to keep on your shelf for emergency giving and everyone needs this, but never buys them for themselves.

If you buy more than one of the same kind, keep a list with them so you don’t give to the same person twice. And for an unnecessary but nice touch, pick up a bottle of wine to give to the host. I like to pick up a case of my favorite wine for this purpose.

Office Party

In office party culture, there are usually two approaches to gift-giving: either the staff or team collectively pools their money for a gift for their boss, or a staff gift exchange takes place.

In the first instance, typically, people on the team chip in whatever they can, $20 and up, to get one big gift. That way, no one ends up feeling like a kiss-up or like they didn’t do enough. The next step is to get organized!

Start an email chain to the team where you can share ideas and eventually decide on one gift. Then decide who will collect the money and ultimately buy and wrap the gift. Designate someone to get the card and pass it around for everyone to sign. You are good to go!

To make the group swap more fun and memorable try a white elephant gift exchange. This popular holiday party game is played like this: each participant supplies one wrapped gift to contribute to the pile. Usually, there is a set dollar limit and theme, which is either decided on by the game’s host, or agreed upon by the participants. I love making it a gag gift theme and keeping the limit low so that people have to get creative. One of my favorite examples is a box full of a 6-pack of cheap beer & a few scratch off lottery tickets. Everyone draws a number to set the order of the evening.

Then, the first person opens their gift. Once it’s the second person’s turn, they have the option to choose a new gift or “steal” a previously opened gift. If someone has their gift stolen, they can choose to “steal” another person’s gift or select a new gift from the pile. (Once they open a new gift, their turn is over.) A gift can only be stolen 3 times. The game continues in this pattern until all the gifts have been unwrapped. For a twist at the end, you can decide which gift is the worst and let that person trade for whatever gift they want. The best part is how many different gifts you receive and give up along the way, and what you wind up with in the end may be the very gift you wanted all along, but it also might be the one gift you continuously tried to avoid! This game is a surefire success and guaranteed fun for all involved.

Family Gift Exchange

Families are spread out like never before, which can be especially difficult during the holiday season, gift-wise and otherwise. One solution is to use an online service for your gift exchange. A favorite Secret Santa organizer (Yes, Santa is in the title, but people of all religious backgrounds can participate!) of mine is called Elfster. It’s as easy as registering, creating a gift exchange (what, when, and where), and inviting your friends and family. On Elfster, you can create a wish list for yourself, choosing from the selection of gifts they provide or from elsewhere; plus you can anonymously ask your secret giftee questions to get a better sense of what to get them. Using a service like Elfster provides you with all the tools you need to plan a fun Secret Santa with none of the laborious legwork.

Re-gifting

Re-gifting used to be an automatic no-no, but as we get increasingly busier, the stigma has lessened and the act of re-gifting has become more commonplace. In other words, re-gifting can be done, but there are rules to follow in order to pull it off smoothly. For instance, only give to people in a totally different circle than the one the gift came from and always snazz up your re-gift with new wrapping paper and a fresh card. Use Post-it notes to record the gifter’s name and the date you received the gift before you store it for future giving to prevent future faux pas.

Personality Profiler

If you are truly stumped for gift ideas, one of my favorite go-tos is Gift.com’s Personality Profiler. Select the recipient you are shopping for (man, woman, teen, child), answer a series of questions (Example: For vacation she’d rather be a. soaking up the sun or b. soaking up the local sites), and voilà, endless suggestions appear at your fingertips tailored to their unique personality. You can then refine by your budget and can change your answers for endless personality combinations. Warning: this game can become pretty addicting, fast; it’s that much fun!

So, whether you’re planning to attend a friend’s cocktail party, or it’s your turn to organize the Secret Santa this year, you have it covered! Happy Holidays! 

Top photo credit: tobym via photopin cc

Holiday Gifting Etiquette is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

When our first son was born eleven years ago, the only thing I knew about his crib mattress was that it wasn’t supposed to be fluffy or thick because of the risk of SIDS.  My husband’s grandfather helped us research the best mattress, but we never saw a single warning about the toxic substances that might be inside them.

Our parenting  journey quickly set us on a more natural path, so by the time we were thinking of having another baby, we were much more educated on what to look out for.  But there still weren’t very many options available for safe baby gear.

It turns out, I’m not the only mom who felt that way.  Founder of RockaBye Organics, Samantha Stack says, “When my first daughter was born, I had no idea about the health hazards in conventional mattresses. After some time, I learned about how scary the flame retardants are and chemicals in the mattresses.  When it came time to get a new mattress for our youngest daughter, I knew I needed to go organic.”

That’s when she realized the lack of resources and education available… and she decided to do something about it.  Now, as a mom to three girls, she has seen and tested pretty much everything on the market.

“Big retailers sell products that claim to be organic, but they can still have flame retardants and plastics.  After some research, I decided to create a store where parents could easily find these organic sleep products and not have to question what was in each mattress, sheet, blanket.  We do it all for them!”

That’s how they’ve landed on some of the highest quality products available for families today.  Here are some of our must-have picks for creating a safe nursery.

If you plan on co-sleeping, the Baby Bunk infant sleeper is a safe option to consider.  Recommended for infants – birth to 6 months, this solid maple sleeper can support up to 35 pounds.  When baby has outgrown the sleeper, you can repurpose it into a bench for your child’s room.

Safe, Healthy Sleep with RockaBye Organics is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

Let your mind wander to an early December day.  Festive wreaths on neighbors’ doors greet you on the chilly – or maybe even snowy – walk to the mailbox. The anticipation of what might have arrived in today’s delivery.  Is it too early for a gift to arrive?  You open the mailbox, and there they are…

The holiday cards.

So warm and bright on this cold, gray day. You’re drawn inside to curl up by the fire with your hot cocoa and cherish the familiar handwriting of your great aunt, see how much friends’ babies have grown, and read those newsy, and sometimes awkward (which makes them perfect) Christmas newsletters.

The Eco Quandry of Christmas Cards

Along the path to Green Living, I have phased out many a thing that I once thought was necessary or important. Often expecting it to be hard, I usually end up not missing it at all.  But so far, I haven’t been able to let go of the holiday card tradition.

In my well-intentioned defense, my grandmother was the postmaster in our town.  Mail and cards were a part of our livelihood.  I spent a good part of my childhood in the post office – watching her sort mail, listening to stories from the mail carriers, and eating pineapple-flavored suckers.

I remember helping her hang enough holiday cards to fill two doorways in her house. To this day, when I see cards on display at Christmas, I’m reminded that this season is more about people than things.   

To shut out holiday cards completely would make me feel like a Scrooge. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t tried to pare down our list and “green” the system a bit.  Most years, the conversation about sending out cards goes something like this…

Mid-November

Me: “I think this is the year.”

Mike (my husband): “The year for what?”

Me: “The year we make the leap and only send cards to people who aren’t on Facebook.”

Mike: “Are you sure?  You really get into that kind of thing…”

Me: “I’m positive. Trees, paper, inks, transportation, and who knows we’re licking on those envelopes!  Yep, this year, we’re taking a stand.  Less is more!”

Mike:  ”Ok”

Early December

Me: “Ohhhh!  Did you see this card from our old neighbors?  It’s so cute!  Too bad we didn’t send them anything.”

Mike: “Changed your mind already?”

Next comes my soap box – much less passionate than the first – about how recycled cards aren’t that bad. It’s like I’m trying to convince my husband.  But the truth is, he knew all along I wouldn’t go through with our crusade against the card.

The person I’m really trying to convince is me.

So this holiday, I’m facing it head on. I already know that day is coming when I’ll wish I had planned ahead and found the perfect holiday card.  I also know that if I don’t plan ahead, I’ll end up throwing something together at the last minute.  Like last year’s recycled paper photo card where the only family photo I found in a hurry had one of us (yours truly) in sunglasses.

This year, I plan on mixing and matching different sets of cards I’ve found at Abe’s Market. I’m definitely learning as I go, but this is what’s helping me keep the Christmas card process as simple and eco-friendly as possible.

• Keep a digital address book.  This cuts down on paper, and helps you avoid a messy, scratched out address book if you have friends or family that move around a lot.

• Pare down your list.  Think about the people you truly want to impact by wishing them a meaningful holiday this year.  If that includes your college roommate you haven’t talked to in 10 years, by all means keep him or her on your list. But if it’s time for some to go, just know you’re doing it in the name of the environment (and also your budget).

• Photo card? Decide now.  Getting the perfect family photo can take time. Will you use a vacation photo from this summer? Hire a professional?  Or just take a candid of the kids in front of the tree?  Coordinating outfits and scheduling appointments always works out best when you’re not in a rush.

• Including a family newsletter?  Start now.  It can take a few drafts to make sure you include the big news from the last year.  Be sure to keep it condensed to one page to save paper, and to make sure your recipients actually read it.

• Break the process into manageable steps.  Set aside time in increments to handwrite cards and addresses, so it doesn’t take up half of a precious Saturday in December.

• Choose eco-friendly cards.  The first card pictured in this post is 100% recycled kraft paper from Abe’s Market.  The center card is an interactive digital card from Unvelope.com.  If you decide to go with photo cards, many of the online providers offer recycled photo cards.  You’ll also notice greener options from a variety of card companies… ones that are known for being sustainable, and also companies trying to capture a more conscious audience.

Greening Your Holiday Greeting Cards is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide

Another gift giving occasion… another gorgeous set of fabric gift bags!

During the summer, we discovered the festive prints and colors of VZWraps by designer, Isabelle Vesey.   She sent some boy-friendly birthday and sports print gift bags, and they were a big hit at our boys’ birthday party… and a few parties since!

So when Isabelle gave us a peek at her holiday styles, we jumped at the chance to give away a gift certificate to her store.  Giveaway details are below.

If you’re new to eco-friendly ways of wrapping gifts, you’ll find plenty of advice on our Wrap It Green page.  But here are a few reasons why those glittery rolls of wrapping paper aren’t the best option for making this a holiday that’s kind to the planet…

• Wrapping paper is often made from virgin trees and wastes precious resources in the production process.
• Most wrapping paper is coated with glitters, dyes, laminates, or other substances that make it impossible to recycle.  That means, even if you fold it neatly and place it in your recycling bin… it still winds up in a landfill.
• The Clean Air Council found an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated in the U.S. during the Christmas holidays… mostly wrapping paper and shopping bags.

How Do Fabric Gift Bags Help Offset This Waste?

Our family has used many of the same fabric gift bags or crocheted bags for the past 5 years.  Many of them stay in our own rotation, while some of them have come back around via family or friends.  I’ve never had one tear or malfunction.  And if one gets dirty, you can toss it in the washer and it comes out good as new.

In the production phase, VZWraps keeps the process as waste-free as possible.  Isabelle explains:

Handcrafted in the Philadelphia area, the bag sizes are based on no-waste cutting, so that all the fabric is used leaving no scraps behind. Most of the ribbons are made in the USA, primarily from recycled materials. Our eco-grosgrain ribbon is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, and the eco-satin is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.

By 2013, we hope to transition to having 90% of our ribbons made from recycled materials. We recently added gift bags made from organic, GOTS-certified cotton, and we will increase our usage of organics as we continue to find suitable fabrics.

Isabelle is truly conscious of keeping her company as green as possible, and it shows.  So does her passion for fun, festive prints.  Take a peek at her Holiday Collection and start picking out your favorites… because the winner of this giveaway receives a $25 gift certificate to her store.

Isabelle has also offered Green Gifts Guide readers a special 10% off discount now through December 15th.  Just enter GGG10 at checkout.

For your chance to win the $25 gift certificate to VZWraps, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

EcoMonday Giveaway: Fabric Gift Bags from VZWraps is a post from: The Art of Meaningful Celebrations and Eco-friendly Gift Giving | Green Gifts Guide