Gifts of Experiences - Green Holiday Gift Guide 2008

Instead of giving more stuff that clutters up the house, give gifts your loved ones can experience. Maybe you can enjoy the gift together.

Cooking Classes $50 and up Why it's green: Cooking meals from scratch helps us appreciate fresh ingredients and reminds us to slow down and enjoy our food. Help someone learn to cook a new style of cuisine or brush up on old skills at one of Sur La Table's 25 locations across the U.S. Recommended by: Green Picks
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Service Varies Why it's green: Harsh chemicals aren't the only way to banish grime from the baseboards. For busy professionals and parents who don't have natural cleaning products on hand, hire them eco-maid services, like those listed in Co-Op America's Green Pages. Recommended by: Green Picks

Massage Gift Certificate $40 per hour and up Why it's green: For relaxation or pain relief, massage is a natural and effective option. Pamper someone special with an hour of healing bodywork, and you'll get a big "thank you." Look for a licensed therapist who's a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Recommended by: Green Picks
National Parks Pass $80 per year Why it's green: There are lots of beautiful national parks in the U.S. -- why not explore them and support them? Recommended by: Green Home Huddle

Netflix Subscription $17 per month to $204 per year Why it's green: Using mail delivery to get a movie fix is more efficient and sustainable than renting DVDs from a store, according to WorldChanging.org. Some titles can even be streamed online. Recommended by: Green Picks
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscription $500 per year Why it's green: Joining a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, means investing in a local farm then sharing in the bounty. Members get regular deliveries of seasonal produce. A pre-paid subscription makes a wonderful gift for next growing season. Recommended by: TreeHugger

The Good Card $10 and up Why it's green: Give the experience of changing the world. The Good Card is a gift card for charity where recipients get to donate to their charities of choice. It's a personalized gift that can help make a difference. Recommended by: Network for Good
Eco-Friendly Date Night $20 and up Why it's green: Pick up your significant other in something other than a car (who doesn't love rollerblades?) and head off for an organic picnic with real plates and silverware. If you want to give flowers, try something from your garden. Recommended by: Green Home Huddle

Carbon Offsets $36 and up Why it's green: We can reduce much of the energy we use, but some things just can't be eliminated. So let's offset the greenhouse gases our activities create by purchasing carbon offsets from verified business like TerraPass. Recommended by: Green Picks
The Great Backyard Bird Count Free! Why it's green: From Feb. 13-16, 2009, be part of the Audubon Society's annual count of birds across America. Print a data sheet, then get friends and family together to count local birds on as many days as you like. Send your list in by March 1. Recommended by: Green Picks

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