Most of us have too much stuff and it doesn’t make us particularly happy.
As the holidays come round we struggle to think of things to buy friends and relatives and often don’t know what we ‘need’ ourselves.
On Black Friday, and during seasonal sales, grabbing something at the mall or clicking ‘buy now’ on Amazon may give us a quick rush of endorphins, a temporary high, but it is fleeting. In fact, the more stuff we have the more time we spend trying to organize ourselves and our homes and that is exhausting and stressful.
We all know that taking unwanted belongings to Goodwill, or the charity shop, isn’t really solving the problem. Our cheaply-made, nonrecyclable, nondurable clutter and clothes may temporarily find a new home but ultimately they could end up somewhere where they cause harm. Chemicals and toxins can seep into our soil and water via landfills, and misplaced plastic can harm the environment in multiple ways.
In recent years, I have tried to be more thoughtful in the decisions I make when choosing gifts for others or when asked what I would like myself. Here are some suggestions on how to choose great gifts while treading lightly on nature…
More fun, less clutter!
Search Groupon.com and local listings for an ‘experience’ gift for loved ones. Maybe a meal at a local restaurant, afternoon tea with a view, a massage, or a brewery tour? In the past, my parents have bought us a family National Park Pass which created a lot of outdoor fun and memories.
Shop local
When goods travel further they have a larger carbon footprint. Shopping in your neighborhood is a great opportunity to support local businesses. Local makers often use and reuse items sourced locally. Check out GVL maker Time Capsule Jewelry for handmade and often eco-conscious gifts.
Make something
What can you make that is meaningful and thoughtful? My neighbors and work colleagues love receiving a homemade batch of Nigella Lawson’s Chilli Jam. I’ve also seen friends make stunning wood etching ornaments as gifts. Search Pinterest for great ideas and inspiration.
Think nature
Last year a friend bought me a really cool bee and bug hotel which I attached to a tree in my garden. Every time I study it I spot solitary bees, spiders, and woodlice sheltering in it. Insect populations are in decline so it makes me happy to give them a helping hand. This Christmas, I have bought my dad an owl nesting box to put up in his backyard. I know this will bring him a lot of joy.
Gifts that do good
We’ve started a tradition with our children that each Christmas they choose a gift from Heifer International, a development organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities. Heifer provides gifts ranging from a flock of chickens for a family in need in a developing country to tree saplings for a community that needs it to yield fruit, provide firewood and enrich the soil and air.
What can you give to make the world a better place?
Do you have an eco-friendly gift idea? Please add your comment below…