How to Go Green: Give a Green Gift

If you have a friend who is a certified recycling, non-leather-wearing, vegan-loving environmentalist, selecting a gift for him or her can be difficult since, chances are, he or she is probably not materialistic. Here are some ideas of how to choose a gift that's right for your green friend.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Currency

1. Arbor Day Foundation #1 Arbor Day Foundation. The old adage of "tree hugger" is appropriate here, but I will refrain from lecturing on how trees improve our air quality. There are many organizations that claim they plant trees out there, but the Arbor Day Foundation is one of the oldest and most reputable charitable organizations that you can trust. For $10, you can choose "Trees in Celebration" which plants 10 trees in someone's honor and receive a certificate of your donation. Or, if you are feeling more generous, you can buy a gift membership which starts at $10 and includes 10 free trees for your friend to plant (he or she can also plant these trees at another address, such as a place of worship) and also a free book, newsletter subscription and future discounts on more than a 100 varieties of trees.
2. Save the Whales #2 Save the Whales. Again, I will spare you the lecture of the extraordinary intelligence of these aquatic giants. While they have memberships and take donations, the organization also has the option of letting one "Adopt a Whale." The site indicates that all the whales "up" for adoption are orcas, aka Shamu (killer whales). The package includes a photograph of an orca, a personalized certificate, an "Orca box" to color, cut out, and assemble, a newsletter and a "Save The Whales" window decal. It costs $15 per whale.
3. Herb garden #3 If a more tangible gift is your style, then why an indoor herb garden? This is both helpful for those who live in urban areas and/or don't have a lot of time to tend to a vegetable garden. Herbs are also known to improve both the taste and nutritional value of cooking. But fresh herbs can be very expensive to buy, so growing one's own slash costs, not to mention knowing where your food comes from!
4. Adopt a Puffin #4 If all else fails, consider the unusual: Adopting a Puffin from Project Puffin. Puffins are amazingly cute birds that are often mistaken for penguins, but can fly. The Project Puffin website is loaded with information on all things puffin, with a concentration on Atlantic puffins who live on Main's coastlines. You can either make a donation, or for $100, choose a premium yearly membership that includes a gift, as well information about taking "A Puffin Cruise."

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you know your friend's needs before buying (for example, if he or she lives in an apartment in the city, having trees delivered straight to their door is not the best idea!)
• Stick with known foundations and beware of scams!