The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Lisa Kaas Boyle, an environmental attorney and member of the zero waste committee of Resilient Palisades.
When I was a child with no money of my own, I was forced to get creative with gifts for my family. This led me to some thoughtful coupon books and crafts of questionable merit.
My own children inherited this handmade gift wizardry, resulting in coupons for good behavior, no-sewing-required clothing made of strips of old sheets, and fabulous earrings made from paper clips and beads that I really would have worn but for my allergies to anything but gold posts.
Now that the holiday season is upon us, I think back to these gifting practices with a chuckle and a smile. Even adult gift-givers can enjoy a break from costly consumerism and waste by focusing on meaning, practicality and sustainability. Here are a few idea sparks for this holiday season:
Make Some Dates. We live in a city of incredible cultural resources. Why not make a list of things to do that your friends and family would enjoy? Make coupons redeemable on any given day for theater, symphony, sporting events, opera, zoo, ice skating, museums or concerts. You can email the season for our wonderful arts institutions to the recipient and ask them to advise you of their selection by a certain date so you can set your calendar with them and purchase the tickets if necessary.
Pass Along an Heirloom. Why hold on to things we don’t use if someone else in your family has expressed an interest or need for that item? Just make sure through subtle means that this gift will be appreciated.
Be of Service. What are you able to do well? Organize? Cook? Clean? Babysit? Paint? Garden? Make a certificate for service for so many hours. Include when it is redeemable. Make sure to follow up with your recipient, as they may be shy to take the offer.
Gifts in a Jar. Do you have some good recipes for cookies, granola, spiced tea, etc. that you can artfully present in mason jars? No waste and all taste. You could also make your own salt baths or sugar scrubs to gift in mason jars. Spend some time online for ideas.
Be an Exercise Buddy. Offer a regular meeting time and place to be agreed upon for an exercise class or outdoor activity.
Do you have a Gift Garden? A gift of fruit or produce from your garden is thoughtful and can be presented in a ceramic bowl that will be reused over the years.
Memberships. How about a membership to a local cultural institution with an offer to arrange transportation and accompany the recipient for the first visit?
Classes. If you know the special interests of your recipient, you can gift them a class that will nurture that interest. Research local classes in art, exercise, cooking, etc.
Sustain an Independent Bookstore. Give a gift certificate from a nearby bookstore like DIESEL, A Bookstore in the Brentwood Country Mart or Zibby’s Bookshop, owned and operated by Palisadian Zibby Owens, in Santa Monica.
Music. Make some mix CDs with specific themes, moods or genres of music that your recipient can enjoy in their cars or home. Include liner notes and cool art for the case. Google how to make a mix CD if you haven’t done this before. It’s a lot easier today than in the old mix-tape days. Enjoy the gift-giving season.
For additional tips on how to have an environmentally sustainable holiday, check out the most recent edition of 90272 Magazine.
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