Going, Going, Green!
Another “Reason for the Season”:
Gift-Giving Goes GREEN!

by Jane Norton, Code Green Coalition

Sustainability is often presented as a three-legged stool that addresses the ecological, social and economic aspects of how we live and work. An additional important ‘leg' not often included is the spiritual. Honoring the “reason for the season” while nurturing your own spirit is essential to keeping you balanced through the holidays. One of the key principles of sustainability is to learn from nature. Much of the natural world slows down and goes dormant as it moves into winter. The commercialized approach to the holidays beckons us to do just the opposite – encouraging over-consumption of goods and food, topped off with a busy schedule of parties and events.

There are saner, more creative ways to celebrate and “greener”, more conscious ways to shop, if gift giving is on your list. Imagine how your holidays would look and feel if you took cues from nature. Determine who and what are most important to you. Review your traditions and choose to continue only those that honor all involved. Create new traditions that fit your values rather than the prevalent cultural ones. Give yourself the opportunity to envision YOUR ideal way to celebrate and consider the following:

• Plant the seeds of a greener tomorrow. Send a Give-a-tree card to have a tree planted in a national forest damaged by fire, insect or disease. See www.arborday.org/yourtree
• Donate to a charity in someone's name.
• Share an experience by giving tickets to a local performance or giving a membership to an organization or local museum.
• Support a local artist by giving a gift certificate toward a purchase of their work.
• Offer a healing experience with a gift certificate to a local healer.
• Get someone special a membership in a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) for next season so they can share in the bounty of fresh, locally-grown organic produce. For more information, check out the website www.carolinafarmstewards.org
• Make a coupon book offering YOUR time and talents.
• Create your own gift – ONLY if it won't add more stress!
• Buy local – and that doesn't mean at your local big box store – it means at a locally-owned business whose profits generally stay in the community. There is a wealth of independent bookstores, toy stores, and specialty stores in every community.
• Purchase fair trade items. Visit FairTradeFederation.com for more information.

If you absolutely cannot find what you want locally, or don't have the time to do so, there are many options on the internet. The Center for New American Dream's website (www.newdream.org) has a Conscious Consumer Marketplace with links to many green and sustainable products. And www.coopamerica.org offers a Holiday Green Gift Catalog.

Rather than wrapping presents with non-recyclable foil and other papers printed with toxic inks, consider purchasing a fabric bag that the receiver can use again. Many holistic and organic food markets carry a line of brightly-colored print cotton bags in various shapes and sizes, including ones that can be unzipped to unfold into a grocery bag. For more information, visit www.wrapsacks.com

If you are traveling to celebrate the holidays, consider purchasing carbon offsets. When we drive, fly, and use electricity, we emit carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change. Now you can invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that reduce carbon emissions by participating in a Greenhouse Gas Offset Program. Sustainable Travel International (www.carbonoffsets.org) has researched the leading credible greenhouse gas, or carbon offset, programs available and provides links to these on their website.

You can celebrate the season in a natural, meaningful, spirit nurturing way while making a difference for the planet. Have a blessed, healthy, sustainable, and magical holiday season.

Jane Norton offers ReSourcing the Future, coaching and consulting for developing sustainable lifestyles, livelihoods, organizations, and communities. As Executive Director of Eartheal (www.eartheal.org) and co-founder of Code Green Coalition, www.codegreen.us, she is co-developing the Triangle Green Guide, an upcoming online and print directory of green and sustainable businesses, services and not-for profits in the Triangle.

Printed in the December 2006/January 2007 issue of Innerchange.