50 - 40 = 10 Gifts to Green the Earth

Its Future is in our Hands - Live Earth by Aussiegall

Say “No” to gifts which cost the Earth and “Yes” to gifts which make our homes, families, communities and planet a better, and more sustainable, place, a greener Earth. The future is in your hands.

This list of gifts to green the Earth currently contains 10 ideas – I have a list of 50 ideas to publish here. Please bookmark this page and check back as I add more information. I’ve put in the section titles to give you an idea of what I’ll be sharing – there will be 5 gifts in each section.

50 Gifts to Green the Earth

I’ve put together a list of gifts which have a positive impact in our homes, gardens, and communities. I hope you find something here for everyone on your gift list. Choose wisely; the time taken to choose a suitable gift is as precious as the gift itself. You may want to bookmark this page, or subscribe to my RSS feed – I will be adding links to bring this up to 50 and updating as time goes on.

The Gift of Knowledge

Many of our wasteful habits come from a lack of knowledge of how to do things differently. Give the gift of knowledge with a training course or apprenticeship for your loved one. Don’t forget to offer babysitting services too if necessary.

These 5 suggestions for the gift of knowledge are just a starting point:

#50 – Permaculture Training – permaculture training transforms both thinking and understanding. It’s about design and how we can live sustainably at the home and community level, completing the cycle, and allowing nature to provide for us in both home and garden.

#49 – Nature Gardening Course – check county extension offices, local nature organizations or gardening centers for classes on wildlife gardening, garden water conservation, and gardening with native plants.

#48 – Fruit and Vegetable Gardening Know-How – fruit and vegetable gardening and edible landscaping are growing in popularity. These are great ways to re-connect with the Earth and bring your family fresh, healthy food. Check with community gardening organizations as well as arboretums and extension offices for suitable classes.

#47 – Home Cooking, Canning and Preserving – cooking a meal from scratch is the best way to reduce the need for food processing and packaging. Canning and preserving are how you save the local harvest from garden and farm. Both are ways to increase your consumption of locally produced foods. Find courses at local community colleges and extension service offices.

# 46 – Home Maintenance and DIY – many home and garden projects can result in energy savings. Look for training in weatherproofing, home maintenance, and DIY. Check community colleges, extension services, and local home improvement stores for suitable classes. A new skill could be just the ticket as a gift.

The Tools of Independence

In an industrialized society many tasks become specialized and removed from the average person in the community. Yet there is satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment to be gained from owning and using basic tools and taking care of some of our own needs.

These 5 suggestions for the gift of independence are just a starting point:

#45 – All I need is a spade and a hoe – people-powered gardening tools are re-usable, require little maintenance, no fossil fuels, and can last a life-time or more. Basic wood and metal spades, trowels, hoes, and rakes never go out of fashion; every gardener needs a basic collection.

#44 – Cook with the sun – for those living with an abundance of sunlight many days of the year are good for sun oven cooking. You can purchase a pre-made summer alternative to your indoor oven, build a DIY oven, take a collapsible one with you for camping, or cook for a whole neighborhood.

#43 – Do the Can-Can – while many consider a freezer indispensable, low-tech food storage techniques, such as canning, have been around for much longer. They’ve stood the test of time. Robust and proven canning equipment is a re-usable way to store the local harvest.

#42 – Grind Your Own – depending on where you live local, organic whole grains such as wheat, corn and oats may be available, but they won’t be much use to you without a way to grind them. Whole grains have a long shelf life, as opposed to whole flours which spoil after a fairly limited period. A grain mill, preferably hand-powered, is a great tool of independence.

#41 – How-to Book – while much information is available online, books remain wonderful tools for learning a new skill toward independent local living. Consider books on topics such as homesteading, cooking, canning, gardening, and home maintenance.

Conservation Begins at Home

Conserving our native plants and animals requires commitment, effort, and funding. Whether you are funding conservation in the backyard, county, state, or country of your loved one, a gift toward conservation will make a difference.

The Gift of Labor

Share a Skill

The Gift of Life

Fair Trade = Respect

Give Time to Volunteer

A Local Gift is a Double Gift

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Be sure to attach a tag or note which says, “I love you. Together we can make the Earth a better place for our children and grandchildren.”

Related posts:

1. Garden gifts for Green Gift Monday
2. Green Earth
3. Green Earth News