- The weather outside is frightful… Jan 19
- Green getaways Jan 17
- Eating well all winter… Jan 15
- Warm on the inside Dec 09
- Give the Gift of Green Gadgets Nov 14
- See all posts
Mother's Day
Choose recycled and tree-free greeting cards
Acorn Designs Note Cards
Acorn Designs has been in the eco-friendly paper goods biz since 1981. The company's extensive note card line revolves around animals, birds, and plants and is printed either on post-consumer recycled paper or a blend of tree-free kenaf and recycled paper fibers.Bloomin' Greeting Cards
Made from 100 percent post-consumer paper, soy-based inks, and organic pigments, these greeting and holiday cards contain a robust mix of seed species that will grow in all regions of the US when planted.Doodle Greetings
This family-run business in the Washington DC area has greeting cards for any occasion. The cards, envelopes, and packaging are made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper primarily from used and recycled copy and computer paper.Green Field Paper Company Grow-A-Note Greeting Cards
Green Field Paper has been making recycled paper goods since 1992. The company's Grow-A-Notes greeting cards and holiday cards are handmade with 100 percent post-consumer waste and embedded with wildflower seeds.Sappycards
There's nothing sappy about the sentiments expressed in these fresh, off-kilter cards. This small card company prints its designs on 100 percent post-consumer recycled cardstock that's chlorine-free. Vegetable-based inks are also used.Seltzer Goods
Seltzer Goods makes a range of greeting cards along with giftwrap, boxed notes, and notebooks. All are crafted with 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and veggie-based inks.Tree-Free Greetings
Wide range of 100 percent tree-free cards made from sustainably-harvested sources such as kenaf, sugar cane, and bamboo. You'll find holiday cards and their Classic Series includes wild birds and garden, western lifestyle, fairy world, and coastal themes.
Give a houseplant as a gift
1-800-flowers.com national florist
Carries many indoor plants, which can be delivered to many locations.Blooms-in-a-bag
Offers plants that are particularly colorful or aromatic for the home, such as lavender. Comes with a tin of seeds and soil in a chic bag that is the packaging for the gift and also acts as the leak-proof container in which to grow the plant. From Olive Barn.Branch houseplant gift kits
Offers an assortment of houseplant gift kits for many occasions.Garden-in-a-Bag
Self-contained plant kits for all sorts of events, from Congratulations Asters to Good Luck Clovers. From Gifts that Grow by Earthly Goods.White Flower Farm nursery
Carries hundreds of indoor plants deliverable to most locations.
Choose organic wine
Casa Barranca
South of France-schooled vintner William Moses' Casa Barranca winery and vineyard—located in Ojai Valley in California's Santa Barbara region—produces boutique, old-world wines made from Indiana Certified Organic (ICO) Syrah, Grenache, Semillon, and Viognier grapes. Casa Barranca also eschews the use of chemical solvents and cleaners in the winemaking process and powers its winery with solar power.Four Chimneys Organic Winery
Four Chimneys—America's first organic winery—produces a wide range of red, white, and fruit wines in New York's Finger Lakes region, an oenophiles paradise. The winery itself has been dubbed as "the most picturesque winery in the Finger Lakes" by National Geographic Magazine. All wines are certified by the Northeast Organic Farmers' Association of New York (NOFA) and are available for purchase online by the bottle or case.Frey Vineyards
Frey Vineyards, located in Mendocino County, California, has been producing green grapes since 1980 and is the largest strictly organic winery in the nation. Frey is also the first vineyard to domestically produce wine grown under biodynamic standards. All organic wines—from Chardonnay to Zinfandel—are grown under USDA organic standards and certified by Stellar Certification Services.Frog's Leap Winery
Even if you don't indulge in grape-derived sauce that often, the charming website and sustainable farming and business practices of Frog's Leap Winery may have you hankering for a bottle of its Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Carbernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Rutherford, Pink, or Petite Sirah.King Estate Winery
Since 1991, King Estate Winery has been producing award-winning Pinor Noir and Pinot Gris (and a limited amount of Chardonnay) at a 1,033-acre estate near Eugene, Oregon. In 2002, King Estate's vineyards and surrounding gardens received organic certification from Oregon Tilth. In the Eugene area? Stop by the Estate's scenic chateau-style winery to sample its sustainable spirits or dine in the restaurant, which features organically grown, local fare.La Rocca Vineyards
Toast to your health and to the environment with a glass of La Rocca Vineyard's organic wines. Boasting two separate vineyards (one for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and another for Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Chenin Blanc), all of La Rocca's wines are Certified Organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and produced in the Sierra foothills, northeast of San Francisco. La Rocca's Chardonnay received the People's Choice Award at Eco Fest 2003.Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Sporting Canada's largest organic vineyard—Summerhill Pyramid Winery, located in British Columbia's bustling Okanagan Valley wine region—produces organically grown Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Ehrenfelser, and Pinot Meunier grapes. Certification is overseen by the Pacific Agriculture Certification Society.
Choose Fair Trade Certified chocolate
Alter Eco
Using cocoa from Bolivia and Ghana, Alter Eco produces an array of chocolate bars, some unadorned for chocoholics, like the Dark Blackout Chocolate bar with 85 percent cocoa, and others with tasty add-ins like the Milk Moka chocolate bar which blends Swiss milk chocolate with gourmet South American coffee beans. All their chocolate is also Certified Organic.Divine Chocolate
The Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana grows the cocoa beans that are made into Divine Chocolate products and the farmers also own a share of the company. They carry a variety of bars including smaller snack-size bars, chocolate coins, and little egg-shaped treats.Equal Exchange
The cocoa in Equal Exchange's organic chocolate products come from three farmer cooperatives in the Dominican Republic and Peru. Offerings include an organic chocolate espresso bean bar, an organic dark chocolate bar with pure cocoa nibs (bits of roasted cocoa beans that give it crunchiness), and an organic milk chocolate bar with ground hazelnuts. They also sell organic baking cocoa and hot cocoa.Green & Black's
This UK-based company got its start in 1991 and they have a wide range of organic, fair trade chocolate bars as well as hot cocoa and baking cocoa. The Maya Gold bar was their first product to earn the UK fair trade certification in 1994. It's a blend of rich, dark chocolate, a twist of orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of vanilla. Search Green & Black's site for retail locations.Ithaca Fine Chocolates
The first US chocolate company to offer Fair Trade Certified chocolates, Ithaca's Art Bars use cocoa from the El Ceibo Cocoa Co-op in Bolivia that's also organic. The range of five flavors goes from milk chocolate to extra dark chocolate. Each Art Bar contains a collectible card with one of 24 artworks from adult and child artists.Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates
This California-based company offers a wide line of chocolates from various chocolate bars to flavored cocoa mixes, truffles, Valentine's Day chocolates, and coffee beans dipped in 65 percent bittersweet chocolate. Their products bear the seal of Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).
Choose restaurants serving local and organic food
Chef's Collaborative
Chef's Collaborative Local Food Search allows site users to search for member restaurants serving sustainable cuisine in their area. Member restaurants serve seasonal, local, and environmentally friendly foods, including only food items that have been sustainably grown or fished. Members also buy foods that are grown in accordance with diversity preservation and traditional practices. The organization has more than 1,000 members nationwide.Eat Well Guide
The Eat Well Guide offers a free online directory of almost 9,000 farms, restaurants, stores, bed & breakfasts, and other outlets that offer sustainably farmed meat, poultry, and dairy products as well as flower products in the US and Canada. Enter your zip code or use the advanced search feature to look for antibiotic- and hormone-free animal products, as well as those raised via sustainable production methods, including organic, pasture-raised, and heritage.FoodRoutes.org
The FoodRoutes Network sponsors Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters throughout the country. These chapters find ways to connect consumers to local food vendors via outreach education, community events, festivals, and farmers markets. Check for a BFBL chapter in your area to see where to buy locally grown produce, flowers, meat, and other foods.Happy Cow Vegetarian Guide to Restaurants and Health Food Stores
At Happy Cow you can find restaurants that serve local and organic produce—and no meat at all—as a way to bypass altogether the environmental degradation associated with meat production. The website lists restaurants (and health food stores) in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Middle East, South America, and Africa.Local Harvest
Find organic, sustainably grown meats, dairy products, and other foods at local farmer's markets, community-supported agriculture co-ops (CSAs), family farms, and restaurants in your area. Local Harvest provides nationwide directories. In addition, the organization offers locally grown meat and animal products from family farms around the country via its online store—everything from bison and emu meat to duck eggs and sheep cheese.Low Impact Living's Organic Dining Across America
Low Impact Living has compiled a resource listing many organic restaurants across the United States. Links on the main page will take you to lists and descriptions of organic restaurants in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. For other locations, click on the link to nationwide organic restaurants.Organic Kitchen Restaurants Listing
Organic Kitchen provides a list of restaurants serving organic food and beverages by state. The list is not comprehensive—a highlighting of Organic Kitchen's picks—but is constantly growing.The Organic Food Database
This website database lists restaurants, farms, CSAs, and food vendors who sell organic foods in the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the world. The site also includes information about organic health, organic farming and gardening, and other organic practices.
Choose natural perfume
Aftelier Perfumes
Artisanal perfumer Mandy Aftel (also the founder of The Natural Perfumers Guild) eschews synthetic ingredients and opts for wild-crafted or organic oils when possible. Her Aftelier line features traditional liquid perfumes, solid scents, face and body products, and custom scents.Anthony Logistics for Men Body Spray
From this popular line of men's grooming products comes an aromatic arsenal of nature-based, allergy-tested body sprays for guys. Choose from Courage (Amber Spice), Energy (Cardamom Zest), Spirit (Green Spice), and Strength (Fresh Incense). A portion of sales from Anthony's products goes to organizations helping to fight prostate cancer.Aubrey Organics Angelica eau de parfum
Rest assured when you dab a little Aubrey Organics' Angelica behind your ears or on your wrists; you're wearing a scent made with USDA-certified organic ingredients (sans synthetic aldehydes and petrochemicals) and crafted for women with sensitive skin.Aveda Love Pure-Fume Essence
With key ingredients like sandalwood, jasmine, rose, and ylang ylang, Love Pure-Fume's heady scent can also be added to Aveda's Body Care Massage Formula, Aroma Diffusers, or Aroma Rings.Burt's Bees Bay Rum Cologne
This men's fragrance from Burt's Bees contains natural oils and an enticing mix of tropical herbs and spices. Can't get enough of that heady scent? Try out the Bay Rum Aftershave Balm and Shaving Soap. Product is 99.91 percent natural.Gendarme
Although not exactly natural, the Gendarme fragrance line of perfumes and colognes—including the unisex signature scent Gendarme, Grabazzi and Gendarme V for men, and Carriére for women—are designed for those with chemical sensitivites.Herban Cowboy Organic Dusk Cologne
This organic cologne by Herban Cowboy is free of dyes and synthetic ingredients and is vegan certified. The cologne's packaging is recycled and biodegradable with soy-based printing inks. Aftershave balm, soap, shave cream, and deodorant also available.L'Occitane Eau de Toilettes and Eau de Parfums
With L'Occitane—an all-natural French beauty line with a rapid cult following worldwide—women can smell like the South of France without setting foot out the front door. All products are animal-free and plant-based (organic when possible.)LUSH Solid Perfumes
This UK-based purveyor of natural handmade bath and body products offers a line of solid perfumes—choose from Karma, Go Green, Fever, Potion, Silky Underwear, and Honey I Washed the Kids. They're preservative-free, contain fair trade cocoa butter, and are packaged in recycled aluminum tins.Molly Artisanal Soap Natural Perfumes
Beauty has never looked—or smelled—greener with Molly's line of natural soaps and shower gels, balms, body butters, and fragrances made from natural essential oils for men and women. Perfumes are made in small batches and are available in spray, oil, or sample sizes.Rich Hippie Organic Perfume
The Rich Hippie line of organic, wild-crafted fragrances employs traditional scent-making methods used before World War II and the rise of the synthetic, petro-based perfumes. Choose from 15 women's and unisex scents, such as Bohemian Wedding, Hoochie Coochie, Purple Haze, and Foxy Lady.Spao Apothekaria natural perfumes
Spaõ Apothekaria's line of natural fragrances—Body Splash, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, or Pafum—are handcrafted old-world style without the use of synthetic chemicals and preservatives.The Body Shop Of A Man Eau de Toilette
This scent for men is natural and sports lemon, bergamot, and fig leaves. UK-based The Body Shop is famed for social and environmental progressiveness. Read up on the company's eco and ethical campaigns.
Choose jewlery made from recycled materials
*e*oware by emiko-o
In case you wake up one morning and decide that you really want to wear earrings made with used Lego figurines—hopefully not on the day of an important business meeting—look no further than the *e*oware jewelry line by San Francisco-based artist emiko-o. Using salvaged and new plastic alongside precious gems and metals, *e*oware has been featured in museums and galleries across the US and UK.Geekware by Acorn Studios
Are you an eco-conscious IT gal looking to add a little flair to your wardrobe? Turn to Geekware by Acorn Studios, a line of jewelry and accessories crafted by Edmonton, Alberta-based Nicola Harper.Hardwear by Renee
Although the stunning handbags are the piece de resistance of Renee Christopher's Hardwear line, sneak a peek at her cuffs—made from recycled Arizona Iced Tea and beer cans—and earrings—made from salvaged acrylic commercial signs—for waste stream to the runway fashions.Newspaper Jewelry
Does your stylish Aunt Sadie have her face perpetually buried in a book of crossword puzzles? On her next birthday, why not bestow her with recycled crossword puzzle earrings?Recycled Art by Modern Vintage
Los Angeles-based jewelry designer Stefania Panfili works with Luxane, a state-of-the-art polyurethane resin for her Modern Vintage creations. For her Recycled Art line of bangles, she throws recycled aluminum beverage cans into the mix.Smart Glass Jewelry
After taking a gander at Kathleen Plate's Atlanta-based recycled glass jewelry line, Smart Glass Jewelry, you won't be able to argue with the company's motto: "You won't believe how beautiful a beer bottle can be."Spacefruit recycled plastic jewelry
Vividly colored, daringly designed, and stylishly sustainable, Becky Crawford's Spacefruit plastic jewelry collection will surely knock those not-so-green mined rocks right off of you. Pieces are crafted from objects such as shampoo bottles and nurdles, which are aquatic life-endangering plastic pellet flotsam used in shipping.Star of David Recycled Ethiopian silver pendant
This stylish, eco-friendly jewelry is made from high-quality silver of melted Maria Theresa thalers (dollars), a currency used in many countries, including Austria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Niger, and Chad, for hundreds of years. They’re hand-cut, making each piece unique.StarStrings
Have you ever contemplated guitar string heaven? Lucky spent strings end up in the crafty hands of Molly Magdalain, a triple-threat singer/songwriter/designer, who incorporates them into her jewelry line, StarStrings. Magdalain primarily uses donated, recycled strings and strives to incorporate found objects into her work. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and keychains are available from this musician on a mission.VerdeRocks
Designer Gwen Davis injects a breath of sustainable, stylish air into the bling scene by creating "nouveau vintage" out of strictly organic, vintage, and recycled materials. Through her pieces—necklaces, bracelets and cuffs, and personal accessories—Davis makes it clear that green jewelry isn't just about hemp chokers.Vling! by Alarm Industries
To the dismay of many audiophiles, the good old vinyl LP is a thing of the past, since replaced by cassettes, CDs, and then MP3s. The crafty folks at Alarm Industries keep the records spinning—or dangling, in this case—with the Vling!
Buy carbon offsets
3Degrees
In addition to their carbon offset offering, 3Degrees is a leading national supplier of Green-e Certified RECs sourced from a variety of renewable energy technologies, including wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, low-impact hydro, landfill gas, and biogas. Use the footprint calculator to get started on your green energy path.Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org lets you offset emissions from air and car travel, energy use, and even special events.Climate Care
Shrink the size of your carbon footprint at home, while you drive, fly, or bask on some faraway beach.Climate Friendly
Tally emissions from driving, air travel, and home energy. Offset only what you choose. Or pick from one of Climate Friendly's custom packages (including driving, flying, etc.) that let you go carbon neutral just in that area for a year.GreenLife
GreenLife lets you offset your carbon emissions from home energy use, air travel, and driving. Offset your entire yearly emissions or a portion via one of the company's pre-priced packages or use the online calculator for a more precise tally.LivClean Carbon Offset Solutions
LivClean is a Canadian organization offering carbon offset products and solutions to both individuals and businesses around the world. Services include carbon footprint assessment, the procurement and sale of carbon offsets, sustainable business solutions, including sustainable positioning strategies, marketing, and communications, and more.My Climate
Neutralize emissions from flying, driving, and powering your home or business.Native Energy
Help fund community-based clean renewable energy projects, including methane reduction ventures and wind power initiatives.Sustainable Travel International
Calculate your entire carbon footprint from air and car travel, energy use, and hotel stays with STI's easy-to-use carbon calculator.The CarbonNeutral Company
Whether you're a student or business owner, the CarbonNeutral Company lets you tally emissions from flying, driving, running your home, or powering your truck fleet.
Buy eco-friendly dog accessories
Bella Dogga
Banishment to the doghouse takes a stylish—and sustainable—turn with Bella Dogga’s line of beds and pillows. Featuring fabrics made with 100 percent organic cotton and printed with low-impact dyes, all beds and pillows are stuffed with organic kapok.Castor & Pollux Pet Works
Lavish your canine companion with a wide range of natural pooch paraphernalia at Castor & Pollux Pet Works, including natural rawhide bones, herbal collars, and Red Rover Au Natural Plush Toys. Organic dog food, treats, cleaning products, and items for your kitty available too.Purrfect Play
Indulge your dog’s favorite pastimes in an eco-friendly manner at Purrfect Play—fetching organic, dye-free wool balls; gnawing on hemp rope chew toys; snoozing in nontoxic, dye-free cotton bedding. Organic dog biscuits and hemp collars and leashes also available.SimplyFido
Need to leave your pooch home alone for a spell? Keep 'em entertained with Wally, Oscar, Lolly, or Maggie...just a few of the loveable, organic cotton plush toys from SimplyFido. Plush blankets and tees also available.West Paw Design
Montana-based West Paw Design’s dog beds and toys are covered with organic cotton fabric and stuffed with material made from recycled plastic soda bottles. Want Muffin to make a green statement? Check out the Tree Hugger stuffed toy.Worldwise Eco-friendly pet products
Satisfy an animal-lover’s desires with eco-friendly products for feline and canine companions. Options include cat and dog beds, electronic and low-tech balls and toys, play tunnels, activity centers, and more. They’re made with a number of eco-materials including EcoRest (a fibrefill blend made of recycled plastic bottles), natural rubber, reclaimed fibers, and Certified Organic catnip (the cat toys, that is).
Read books about eco-topics
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
A collection of influential nature essays first published in 1949, a year after conservationist Leopold's death. This edition features photographs of Leopold's former Wisconsin farm taken by Michael Sewell. Leopold's writings remain timeless and elegant.American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau edited by Bill McKibben
At 900 pages, this sweeping anthology covers American eco-lit beginning with the early conservationalists like Thoreau and John Muir and ending with contemporary green scribes like Michael Pollan and Paul Hawken. Along the way, writers such as John Steinbeck, Buckminster Fuller, and others are featured.Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World created by Rick Smolan and Jennifer Erwitt
Thirsty for change? Although heavy on the visuals—this volume features more than 250 photographs from top-notch photojournalists—Blue Planet Run also features essays addressing the global water crisis by eco-luminaries such as Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken, and others.Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
From the moment you pick up this innovative manifesto that calls for a complete end to the cycle of waste, you'll know you're in for something out of the ordinary: the book itself is waterproof, completely recyclable, and contains pages made from plastic resins and fillers.Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach
Callenbach's 1975 sci fi yarn imagines Ecotopia, an environmentally correct but slightly sinister country consisting of Washington, Oregon, and northern California. In the novel, a New York reporter investigates the country 20 years after it seceded from the rest of the United States.Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet by David Suzuki and Holly Dressel
Environmental scientist Suzuki and co-author Dressel move beyond headline-stealing, bad news bears eco-news with remarkable examples of individuals, organizations, and governments from around the globe making green strides.Judaism and Ecology Created World and Revealed Word
Inspire your Jewish friends with a book that explains Judaism’s deep concern for the well-being of the natural world. Written by 21 different contributors, this book examines the Jewish mystical tradition, Jewish environmental activism, and attempts to formulate a constructive Jewish theology of nature.Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Dillard's Pulitzer Prize-winning, Thoreau-channeling 1974 work may not boast razzle dazzle and a page-turning plot, but its rich, lyrical language and thoughtful meditations on a sojourn spent in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains prove to be a pleasurable read.Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Kingsolver—the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life—enchants with her 2001 novel set in Appalachia. The book contains environmental themes, multiple narrative voices, and Kingsolver's rich, patented sense of place.Rushing to Paradise by J.G. Ballard
Primarily known for his transgressive science fiction novels and meditations on automobile culture, like Concrete Island and Crash, this 1994 work from controversial British scribe Ballard is a riveting—albeit bleak—tale of an eco-crusade gone bad.Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Marine biologist Carson's classic 1962 work is an in-depth look at the environmental perils of agricultural chemicals like DDT. Although she passed away two years after her groundbreaking book's publication, Carson's legacy lives on in the work of many environmental groups.The End of Nature by Bill McKibben
McKibben's provocative, ponder-worthy examination of global warming was a hot read when first published in 1989 and continues to be so today.The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen
Rogers and Kostigen reach for the stars in this smart, practical guide to achieving green one reasonable step at a time. A-listers like Robert Redford, Jennifer Aniston, Martha Stewart, and Ellen DeGeneres contribute anecdotes on their own eco-friendly lifestyle habits.The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential Skills To Stop Climate Change by David de Rothschild
Amusing full-color illustrations, environmental facts, and instruction merrily collide in this cheeky but essential spin on survival guides of yesteryear. De Rothschild's book is the official tie-in volume to 2007's global Live Earth concerts.The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
This 1971 classic features all the things that children (and adults) love about the good doctor: infectious rhymes, vivid illustrations, and a fantastic cast of characters. This time around, Seuss inserts a resonant message of environmental stewardship.The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Weisman's study in what-ifs imagines a world suddenly depopulated. How would Mother Nature go about mending the environmental wounds inflicted by mankind? Although some might find the premise a bit grim, Weisman signs off on an optimistic note, imagining the earth transforming itself back to Eden.Uno's Garden by Graeme Base
An eco-attitude can never be instilled too early. Base's fantastical, lushly illustrated picture book for children grades two though five is in the grand, green tradition of The Lorax.Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century edited by Alex Steffen
This thick, beautifully conceived volume, a companion to the popular site Worldchanging, is a treasure trove of everything you wanted to know about green but were scared (or hesitant) to ask. Forward written by Al Gore.
Latest Comments Across the Site