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by Jessica Wilson
Every May, children all over the world scramble to come up with another great gift idea for Mother's Day. It's never easy to find a special gift for moms, and this year is no exception. With gas prices so high, many people will be looking to save some money — but what if your present could also help save the Earth?
Having a “green” Mother’s Day is easier than some might think. It could be as simple as not wrapping her present to something more challenging, like finding an eco-friendly gift.
An easy way to go green for Mother's Day is to buy mom flowers. Try to avoid buying flowers from one of those online websites — but if you have to buy flowers online, consider a place such as “Organic Flowers.” All the flowers and plants sold on their website are organically grown — which means they're all grown on organic farms where the use of herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals are reduced, if not eliminated. Also, look for flowers that are grown locally which will help cut down on the amount of gas used to transport the flowers.
To be even more green, consider buying mom a small tree that she can plant in her backyard. A tree will help improve the air quality and — when it gets bigger — offers climate control to her home. If mom doesn't have a green thumb, consider planting a tree in her name through one of many organizations that do so. That will not only help the environment, but also help whatever charity is planting the tree.
Check out www.arborday.com, www.treesforchildren.org or www.trees fortheholyland.com. There's even a website called “Tree Greetings,” that not only plants a tree in your mother's name, but even sends mom an e-certificate — which cuts down on paper used to mail the certificate and the gas needed for the mailman to deliver the certificate.
In addition to planting a tree in your mom's name, you can also adopt an animal at the St. Louis Zoo for her, or adopt an endangered animal through the Wildlife Adoption Center. There’s also the “Nature Conservatory” that allows you to “Rescue the Reef” or “Adopt an Acre” in someone’s name. What a great way to honor mom and protect some of nature's most precious assets!
Food is always a good idea for a gift. As with the flowers, consider buying organically grown food. Also, look for food that comes in “green” or limited packaging. Wherever you buy the food, bring your own bag so there's no need to use the plastic or paper bags the grocery store provides.
If you plan on going to the store to buy something for mom — do your research before heading out. Make a list of the stores you want to hit and consider calling ahead to see if they have exactly what you want. That will cut down on the driving you need to do which cuts back on the pollutants put into the air.
There are also tons of “green” stores online at which you can buy eco-friendly gifts. Look for items made from recycled materials. Almost anything can be made from recycled goods — from clothes to jewelry. Even eco-friendly makeup and perfume are available if you want to help mom feel prettier than she already is. Check out eco-friendly soy candles to further light up her life!
If you have the money to drop on a big, expensive gift, it's best to try to avoid the electronics. If you're going to purchase something like a washing machine or refrigerator for mom, then make sure to look for appliances with the Energy Star label, and check out the consumer report ratings to determine how eco-friendly your big-ticket gift really is.
If you’re short on cash, try cleaning your mother's home as a present. And to help cut back on those toxins, use “green” cleaners such as Simple Green. That way, you’re helping the environment and helping mom, too.
Want to take your mom somewhere for Mother's Day? How about a bike ride or a hike through a local park? Spend the day at a local farmer's market or do something else outdoors that doesn't require electricity or a car to get there. There's always the MetroLink that can take you to Forest Park.
Once you have your gift picked out, you can still be environmentally friendly. Reduce the packaging used to wrap your mom's gift. Instead of using boxes, bags and wrapping paper, find unique ways to wrap the gift. Consider using the newspaper or other paper goods already in your house — the ultimate in recycling and a fitting gift for Mother Earth as well!
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