Greener (Christmas) Gift Ideas

Christmas is a-comin' and the retailers are getting' fat! What do you get for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list? One idea is to put together your own gift basket, with things they'd really like. Here are just a few suggestions. Use your own imagination to add other items. Remember, if you put in gifts of your time or other coupons for entertainment instead of "stuff", there's less packaging to recycle or (worse still!) throw away.

1. For the gardener: Use a large terra cotta plant pot for a "basket". If you like, you can personalize the pot by painting it. Fill the pot with:

• gardening gloves
• hand trowel & rake
• a selection of vegetable and/or flower seeds (go for something unusual)
• a bag of compost
• a gardening and/or composting book or a subscription for a gardening magazine

2. For the pasta lover, use a large pasta bowl for a "basket". Fill the bowl with:

• a package or two of (organic) gourmet pasta
• tongs
• a package of sun-dried tomatoes
• extra-virgin olive oil
• spices: oregano, basil, garlic powder
• your favorite pasta recipes hand-printed on recipe cards and/or a pasta cookbook

3. For the sports enthusiast, use a sports helmet or hat as a "basket" (e.g. baseball cap, football helmet, etc.). Fill the helmet or hat with:

• sports cards
• baseball, puck, etc.
• shoe, boot or skate laces
• for the hockey player, add: lace tightener and some tape
• for the baseball player, add: mineral oil, batting glove and gum
• a sports video
• a subscription to a sports magazine
• a poster of their favorite player
• tickets to an event

4. For the new home owner, use a tool box as a "basket".Fill the box with:

• screw drivers, wrench, hammer, pliers
• assorted nails, screws, washers
• gift certificate for the local hardware store
• do-it-yourself book
• assorted odds and ends like: light switch covers, CFL light bulbs, duct tape, paint brushes, etc

5. For grandparents who are far away, fill a basket with:

• children's artwork
• gifts made by the kids
• framed family pictures (let the kids buy plain wooden frames and decorate them)
• videos of the family
• a long-distance calling card

Extras: fill out the basket with candy, coffee, tea, biscuits, Christmas ornaments, candles, etc.

6. For the hiker, use hiking boots as a "basket". Fill with:

• maps
• rain poncho
• bear bells or repellant
• trail mix
• compass
• first aid kit for hikers

7. For the vegetarian, fill a basket, pot or large bowl with:

• your favorite recipes hand-printed on recipe cards
• assorted dried beans
• brown rice
• sun dried tomatoes
• spices: oregano, thyme, basil, garlic powder
• mixing spoons
• pot holders

8. For cyclists use a cycling helmet or bike basket as a "basket". Fill it with:

• cycling gloves
• reflectors
• sunglasses
• odometer
• patch kit

9. For campers, use a backpack as a "basket". Fill the backpack with:

• tent pegs
• compass
• sharpening stone
• mosquito repellant
• tent patch kit
• campers' cook set
• utility knife or Swiss army knife
• campground guides

10. For the naturalist, fill a knapsack with:

• binoculars
• bird watching guide or wildlife or wildflower guide
• log book and pen
• maps
• trail mix

11. For the movie buff, fill a basket with:

• pre-recorded movies
• movie soundtracks on CD
• rechargeable batteries for the remote control
• movie tickets or gift certificates
• popcorn

12. For someone who bakes use a cake pan as a "basket". Fill the pan with:

• assorted sprinkles and nuts
• baking recipes
• cake server
• pot holders
• decorative frosting set

13. For the dog lover, fill a large dog bowl with:

• squeaky toy
• rawhide bone
• dog biscuits
• dog brush
• dog collar
• leash

Finishing Touches

Finishing touches actually come into play when you begin to assemble your basket. You can enhance the presentation of baskets, boxes, tins, hats, etc. by first filling them with:

• a piece of fabric (try something with a Christmas print)
• shredded newspaper (try using the coloured funnies) or coloured paper
• straw
• raffia
• crumpled tissue paper

Then carefully arrange your items over top of the filler.

Finish up by tucking in:

• small pine cones
• a bunch of cinnamon sticks tied with red ribbon
• Christmas greenery like the tips of spruce and pine branches
• Christmas ornaments
• mandarin oranges
• nuts in the shell
• small scented candles
• Christmas baking
• candy canes

Don't feel you have to wrap the whole thing in cellophane -- it will be lovely as is. Tie a big bow on it if you like.

Modified from www.angelfire.com/biz5/marlene/GiftBaskets.htm. There are many more basket ideas here -- and you can adjust them to make them more eco-friendly! Think fewer single-use items, more organics, less packaging, more home-made.

And althought these are listed as Christmas gift baskets, obviously they can be used any time. Just use your imagination on the finishing touches to make the basket appropriate to the occasion!

(Source: November 2010 WasteWatch)

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