A New Earth Day Tradition: Gift Giving
I definitely think less is more. As someone who's an anti-consumer what I'm about to say sounds sacrilegious, especially on Earth Day, but what about starting a new Earth Day tradition--of gift giving? In addition to the many eco ways Earth Day is already celebrated, why not also celebrate with green gift giving? Not just any gift. Not more useless stuff. Sustainable gifts!
It's the one a day a year people acknowledge the earth. It would be great to give gifts that honor the people and groups that work year round to protect and preserve the planet. It's a chance to create awareness and/or give back to a group you feel offers a valuable service and let them know you appreciate the work they're doing.
Give what you have.
If you have money............give a gift.
It's said that we really give gifts we'd like to receive....well in this case, it would literally be true. An Earth Day gift doesn't have to be just for eco friends. You can give this to someone who doesn't yet know about the importance of being litter-free and reuse. Give a butt bucket to the smoker you know for their car. Or a personal ashtray. You can give someone who brings home purchases in plastic bags a pretty reusable fabric shopping bag. Or, how about a copy of the book Plastic Free by Beth Terry? Or a spork for meals on the go. Or glass straws to replace single use plastic straws from the awesome Strawsome. Or a wonderful reusable bottle for someone who usually buys single use plastic water bottles. Or a water filter so they can fill their reusable bottles with healthy clean water. Or art made from litter by somebody around the globe, like me, who ARTiculates the need for litter-prevention. Visit the Museum of Litter GIFT SHOP. Your gift purchase or donation is an acknowledgement of someone practicing good environmental practices or an opportunity to make someone more ecologically aware.
You could also make a donation in their name to an eco organization and have that company provide a gift notice, for example: A donation has been made in your name to the Museum of Litter to support litter ongoing litter prevention education. It's especially important to support small groups working on a shoestring where you know the money will actually go towards furthering a cause and not just to huge overhead. The Museum of Litter's goal is to go out of business because there's no more litter but each year it struggles to stay in business. I'm sure there are lots of small eco groups in the same situation. So your purchase or donation is not only a gift, it educates someone who might be unaware and supports a green business as it works towards sustainable solutions.
If you have time..............volunteer.
You can always pick up litter. Get a group together or go solo. You can do this in honor of someone, or her or his kids who will inherit the planet, and document it via Instagram and Litterati. They will see exactly what and where you did your cleanup. Approach your neighbors, coworkers or friends and sign up as a group for Adopt a Street. Volunteer at a local eco organization in your community. You can even volunteer in someone's honor and tell the person you're doing this in their name.
If you have a creative streak ...............make something.
Make a reusable bag. Make a portable ashtray. Cover an old plastic prescription bottle with attractive fabric, then fill it with baking soda and you have a wonderful small personal ashtray. Make cloth bags for holiday gift-giving. You get the idea. Get creative. What other ideas do you have?
So, what do you think of the idea of giving gifts on Earth Day? How will you celebrate this year? Will you be giving green?
