(First published April 24, 2008,
last updated
April 20 2010)
Mothers are pretty special people; toiling away for our benefit for
many,
many years; well past our childhood and teenage trials. Mother Nature
has been
personified as a female for thousands of years, representing the
giving of
life, sustenance and nurturing- and it's quite fitting.
If you observe Mothers Day, honor your mom and Mother Nature by giving
her a green gift this year!
The race is on to grab your Mothers Day gift dollar - some
retailers say
she needs diamonds, others peddle expensive perfume; but stop and
think about
it a little. If your Mom is someone who cares about you and the
natural world
as so many mothers do, why buy her something that may contribute to
poisoning
her and the planet?
Local flowers
While I have not observed Mothers day for many years - in part due
to my
mother passing away a while back; I do remember how my mom appreciated
nature
and increasingly so as her time of passing drew near.
If she received flowers from someone, she wouldn't just look at
them and
give them a perfunctory sniff; she would marvel at length at their
beauty -
gently touching the leaves and petals, viewing them from all angles
and
admiring their shape and texture. Flowers were a feast for her senses.
Cut flowers are usually a winner with moms; but so many flowers are
imported from other states and sometimes internationally. This
requires extra
resources in terms of fuel for transportation, refrigeration and at
times
other treatments to keep them looking fresh. If you decide on flowers
as a
Mothers Day gift; try to buy ones that are grown locally.
Better still, perhaps potted flowers, herbs or decorative plants
that can
be planted in the garden - that way she'll have a gift that won't
wither and
die within a short time.
Jewelry
Gifts that sparkle are definitely popular with moms; but the
jewelry
industry has wreaked
havoc on the environment. For example, it takes up to 5 tons of
water and
20 tons of mine waste to create a simple gold ring! Consider buying
something
pre-loved, from a socially responsible jeweler or items made from
glass,
shells or recycled materials. It may sound a little tacky, but there's
some
truly beautiful pieces available!
Organic Perfume
Many perfumes are made up of toxic chemical cocktails, components
of which
are not only hazardous to the environment, but to human health. Some
of the
common chemicals used are carcinogenic! Look for perfumes labeled as
being
organic and carrying the appropriate certification.
Organic Cosmetics
It's the same situation with cosmetic items - chemical cocktails
that wind
up in the human body or flushed down the drain to pollute the
environment.
Again look for organic products and those based on plant materials,
such as
olive oil..
Candles
Another Mother's Day favorite - but did you know that many candles
are made
from crude oil byproducts? Burning candles releases all sorts of nasty
stuff;
including benzene, styrene, acetone and particulate matter. The wicks
on some
candles may even contain lead! Additionally, scented candles may
contain more
synthetic chemicals. As a more earth friendly and healthy choice, soy
candles
or candles made of beeswax are the way to go and for scented candles,
look for
soy or beeswax ones that incorporate essential oils - and have a
non-lead wick
of course.
Sponsorships and memberships
Mothers being the caring folk they are generally derive great
pleasure from
helping others. Perhaps a donation in her name for a tree planting or a
conservation project might bring her joy? Maybe a membership to an
online
organic cooking club? A trip to a health spa? The possibilities are
endless.
Fair trade clothes and accessories
Look for items made from organic cotton and produced in fair trade
conditions. "Fair
trade" is a term applied to products that meet certain conditions
relating to labor (non-sweatshop), environmental standards and social
policy.
For example, if you wanted to buy your Mom a handbag as a gift, run
a search on your favorite search engine for :
fair trade handbags
Or "fair trade" preceding any product you're thinking of buying -
you'll be surprised the range of items now available.
Kitchenware and appliances
If you're game enough to buy your Mother a gift that has anything
remotely
to do with domestic chores, good luck to you and tread carefully :).
When
purchasing electrical equipment, try to find items that consume as
little
power as possible and have recyclable components. Steer clear of
cookware and
other appliances with non-stick surfaces made from Teflon
(learn more).
Green gift certificates
Sometimes its hard to decide on a gift for your Mother, especially a
"green" one; so why not let your mom decide for yourself? Many green
online stores now offer gift certificates and by giving a voucher to a
store
that specializes in environmentally friendly products, you might open
up a
whole new world for your mom! Finding green gift stores online is
pretty easy
as so many stores with a focus on the environment have popped up in
recent
years - search on terms such as:
green gifts mother's day
earth friendly gifts mother's day
When you give your gift, explain the big picture and thoughts
behind it -
you'll be sure to especially impress your mom this Mothers Day with
the
thought and effort you've put into your selection!
Do you have great green gift ideas for Mom this Mother's Day?
Please share
them below, I'm sure others will be appreciative!
