In a season that's all about spreading goodwill, shopping with a conscience makes perfect sense, says Pamela Allardice.
Give green
Take your pick from these sustainable and healthy ideas:
- The Booja Booja sampler ($33.95; www.biome.com.au) contains organic chocolates in luscious flavours like Cognac Flambeed Banana.
- Who could resist the Starchild slippers ($39.50) from Ibu (www.ibutrade.com.au)? And any princess will adore the pastel tutus at Mini Eco ($41.95; www.minieco.com.au).
- Laura Dash’s bamboo nighties ($45.95; www.home-body.com.au) are soft and cool; bamboo fabric does not require pesticides and fertilisers.
- Check out the funky fair-trade jewellery made with eco-friendly materials like quartz at The Little Shop of Fair Trade (www.globalconduct.com.au).
- Adorius (www.adorius.com.au) uses organic goat’s milk in their handmade soaps, which are delectably scented with coconut, lavender and vanilla.
- L’Artiste pencils ($16.00 for 10; http://ecodepot.com.au) are made from reused newspapers, thus doing away with the need for milling new timber.
- Eco meets retro in the fabulous Hoop bags from Byron Bay’s Slingfings ($50.00; www.slingfings.com.au), sewn using solar power, and guaranteed to impress.
- Pure Linen’s eye-catching and eco-chic pillows partner certified organic cotton fabric with non-toxic, water-based dyes (http://pure-linen.com.au).
- Queen B (www.queenb.com.au) beeswax candles are individually hand-rolled and have a light, honey aroma, plus they burn for 10 times longer than paraffin wax candles.
- Huck Tough recycled plastic dog toys ($22.00 to $28.00; www.snootypaws.com.au) are strong and durable; they can handle anything your dog can dish out.
- Zhena's Gypsy Tea gift box (http://shop.oway.com.au) contains organic Mango Ginger, Pineapple Green Tea and Goji Berry and Pomegranate ‘tea-pillows’ made from GMO-free natural cornsilk.
- A stocking-stuffer to suit everyone is the HYmini ($79.00; www.todae.com.au), a handheld charger/adapter that harnesses wind or solar power to charge gadgets.
Give to others
A gift of planetary aid is just a mouse-click away. At the Oxfam catalogue (www.oxfam.org.au), you can donate a fruit tree or pig ($35.00) to a needy village. Through Heifer International (www.heifer.org), you can clear mines from a Cambodian farm; Seva (www.seva.org) lets you sponsor a cataract operation in Tibet. Or, visit the Greenpeace site (www.greenpeacegiving.org.au) and protect the home of a Bird of Paradise ($30.00), or donate a safety kit for an inflatable raft to help stop whaling ($78.00).
Give of yourself
As the Grinch realised - Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas means a little bit more – the best gifts are from the heart.
- Give away something of your own that you love, such as book or a family heirloom.
- Frame a favourite photograph of you and a friend; or, pick 12 and have them made into a calendar at a photo shop.
- Write a letter or poem about your relationship with that person and how it has enhanced your life.
- Your skills - e.g. clutter-clearing, baby-sitting, cooking a pasta sauce or giving a foot massage – can translate into great gifts. Write your offer on a lovely piece of stationery and commit to doing it.
YOUR SAY: Do you have any other great tips or ideas for giving at Christmas? Tell us below.
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