Go green this Christmas and give an environmentally friendly gift.

1.  A Plant. Plants not only clean our air, but make great gifts too. The best thing to get is a plant for their garden, selecting one that is suited for their yard space. Fruiting trees are generally one of the most environmentally friendly plants because it provides food for the person that owns it. Giving fruit trees isn't always possible in the winter, but a gift certificate can be given, or even an indoor plant, such as a lemon tree. If you are selecting an indoor plant, pick a clay pot rather than plastic.

photo by authors husband

2.  A gift certificate to their favorite local, vegetarian, restaurant. Many environmentalists have taken the step to becoming vegetarians, others like to enjoy some vegetarian meals on a weekly basis. Eating at local restaurant, ideally ones who use locally grown produce, saves the environment.

3.  Crank Flashlights. There are lots of things that are available in wind-up forms, including flashlights, which are one of the more practical applications of this non-tech technology. Because they do not use batteries they are environmentally friendly. One cautions is that these gifts not be given just for the sake of giving “something”, an environmentalist is usually concerned with manufacturing and packaging and the damage done to the environment for those reasons, as such if you are giving them a gift they cannot, or will not use, you are defeating their beliefs.

4.  Rechargeable batteries and a recharger. Not everything comes in a wind-up form, some things still use batteries, but if we can reduce the number of batteries that end up in the landfill we have helped the environment. Better quality rechargeable batteries will have longer lives on the whole.

5.  For the coffee lover, buy them a bag of shade grown coffee beans. Being shade grown means the forest was not clear cut to grow the coffee beans, making a more sustainable product. To be really environmentally friendly you can include a reusable coffee mug for their take out coffee, ideally one that was made locally by a local potter.

6.  Donate money in their name to a good environmental cause. Ideally a local one, such as having a tree planted in their name at a local park. Not everyone appreciates donations to charity as gifts, but most environmentalists recognize that manufacturing of products does more harm to the planet than most other things, so if you know your recipient does not want a physical gift, they will appreciate something like this. Ultimately a true environmentalist will appreciate these non-gifts more than most people do.

7.  Locally made products, such as items sold at craft sales and farmers markets, often are more environmentally friendly than those made overseas and shipped. Look for items such as woolen mittens made from wool that the knitter produced with their own sheep, and processed themselves. Other items from these places that make excellent gifts, are jarred preserves, and other foods. Anything that is usable and locally produced is a good thing to consider.

8.  There are many products made from renewable resources, such as bamboo, alpaca fiber, wool, and so forth. Try and select those that were responsibly harvested. Products should be stained using natural dyes. One such item that may appeal to an environmentalist is a t-shirt made from bamboo.

9.  Solar powered lights. If needed for outdoor use, solar powered lights recharge in the day and come on automatically at night to light up walk ways or driveways. Some caution should be used here, not to get somebody these lights if they are not needed, because the manufacturing of such is not good for the environment.

10.  Reusable bags. Use these to pack their gifts with to give a true greenie a smile. Similarly if you give a card, be sure it is one made on recycled paper.

Remember for the environmentalist on your list, try to stick to things they can and will use, ideally things local made, and with very little packaging.