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by Carrie Pollare, Editor
Yes, it’s true. Thanksgiving is just a week away and we all know what that means. Not only will many of us be going to wonderful (hopefully organic) Thanksgiving feasts, but it also signals the beginning of the holiday party season. In that spirit, it’s always nice to show up with a lovely eco friendly gift for the host and/or hostess. Whether you want to spend $10 or $50, here’s the way we do it…eco style!
The Wine Arc
Such clean lines…so architectural in design…what a conversation piece! This wine holder by Molly Kinney, made from bamboo, uses the weight of the bottle to keep it upright. $21 at www.zanisa.com
Egg Plant: Basil
This is an egg-ceptional (sorry…) gift! Inside a closed unglazed ceramic egg is a basil plant waiting to be hatched. You simply take a spoon to break open the top, water the soil inside and place in a sunny place, like a window sill. So cute! $12 at www.branchhome.com
“I’m Tired of…” Bracelets
Give a gift of giving back (not to mention a totally fashionable eco friendly bracelet, made out of recycled tires and metals). Each bracelet supports one of 10 important causes, from world hunger to animal cruelty and cancer to diabetes and autism. For every $10 bracelet you buy, half of that ($5) is donated to a charity that supports the cause you choose. $10 at www.ImTiredOnline.com
Organic Peppermint Bark
Peppermint and chocolate…need we say more?! This is a hand made, single-origin dark, smooth bark with no additives, combined with certified organic peppermint oil and sprinkled with crunch nuggets. A little pricey but so worth it! $39 at www.vivaterra.com
Vintage Record Coasters
These retro coasters from Vinylux are made from real vinyl records…remember those?! Comes in a set of six assorted labels, packed in a clear round case. $20 at www.elsewares.com
This Naturally Soft Body Pack
Besides the fact that this is a wonderful skin care line, we just love the creative and unique packaging of this gift pack. Inside the reusable glass jar is a natural goat’s milk soap and sisal washcloth, sugared body polish and a rich body lotion. Choose from lavender, citrus or coconut. $45 at www.thisnaturally.com
Tread Light Gifts Winter Munchie Kit
A new eco twist on the gift basket, this kit includes fun snacks for a cold night, including organic hot chocolate and two boxes of 479 organic popcorn, which was featured in the New York Times and comes in sophisticated flavors, like Black Truffle and Vietnamese Cinnamon Sugar. The packaging is also very cute…a 100% organic cotton bag with a no-waste, plantable gift tag. $42.95 at www.treadlightgifts.com
Edward Salad Hands
Love the name… These ergonomic salad servers are made of pressed bamboo fiber and come in both light and dark finishes. $22 at www.3Rliving.com
Nature Isle Gourmet Two-Pack Gift Sets
Spicy Carribean BBQ Sauce…Mango Kissed Mustard…Tropical Fruit Chutney…give the gift of authentic, all natural, Caribbean chutneys, mustards, sauces and more. You pick which two items go into your gift. $14.95 at www.natureisletropicalgourmet.com
Arghand Skin-Nourishing Soap
Made by a privately-funded co-op in Afghanistan, this set of three beautifully packaged, natural soaps includes deep red pomegranate, Kandahar rose and white almond with a swirl of wild almond butter. The craftsmen make their own fragrances, colors and oils using traditional methods and each soap is wrapped in a strip of recycled silk, formerly used as a turban. $21 at www.eco-artware.com
Truly Wize Bakery Organic Cookie Gift Box
Take it from us, these cookies are amazing! An earth friendly gift box filled with a dozen organic cookies, you get to choose from peanut butter, cinnamon chocolate chip (Rachel Ray’s favorite), lemon ginger, chocolate truffle, oatmeal cranberry or snickerdoodle. $24.95 at www.trulywize.com
Coaster/Trivet Set in Slate/Chestnut
These are fun! Made of 100% eco-certified felted wool, they can be either coasters or trivets. Why, you ask? Because, basically, you get four pieces, an outer and inner ring in each of the two colors and you mix and match. $22 at www.branchhome.com
Himalayan Crystal Salt Votive Candle Holders
While these are very striking, there’s more to these votive candle holders that meets the eye. Himalayan salt rocks are said to have restorative powers. They naturally discharge negative ions into the air to counter any pollutants, promoting health and well being. $24.95 for a set of two at www.natural-salt-lamps.com
Recycled Paper Picture Frame
This sophisticated, fair trade, picture frame is made of tiny rolls of recycled newspaper. Each row is hand rolled by artisans in Thailand. Holds a 4” x 6” photo. $12.95 at www.7loaves.com
Grow Green Bio-degradable Indoor Lavender Garden
Your luscious scented lavender plant is ready to blossom inside this pot, made entirely of renewable grain husks, primarily rice hulls, and organic pigments. $15.50 at www.delight.com
Liz Earle Little Beauty Treat – Hands
This hand care combo smells so good and we all have silky soft hands from using it here. Small containers of Orange Flower Hand Wash, Hand Repair and Superbalm from this British natural skin care line come in a beautiful eco friendly gift box, inspired by the Sea Holly plant. The Sea Holly is a costal flower that used to be found growing wildly along the coastline of most European countries, but is now becoming extinct in certain regions. $21.50 at www.us.lizearle.com
Chef’s Candle
This natural, non-toxic soy based candle is meant for the kitchen. It eliminates odors without using fragrance by electrostatically attracting the molecules that form odors and neutralizing them. Pretty high tech for a candle! The French Pillivuyt porcelain jar makes an elegant display and it comes in a silk box. $39 at www.zanisa.com
