In honor of Earth Day, we’ve compiled a list of unique eco-friendly gifts that will allow you to celebrate and remember this Earth we all share. Even though the Earth only gets one day of the year dedicated to its grand existence, we’re pretty convinced that Mother Earth deserves to be celebrated every day. So we hope you keep these great sustainable gifts in mind for that next special occasion.
1. Adopt a coral reef in the Bahamas, adopt an acre in Australia, give the gift of clean water, or plant trees in Brazil. All this and more can be done through The Nature Conservancy for $50.
National Park Service, copyright Dr. Caroline Rogers
2. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) through Local Harvest has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Consumers can purchase a share from a farmer and in return receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. This provides local farmers with cash flow early in the season, while providing you with ultra-fresh food straight from the farm. You or the gift recipient will gain exposure to new vegetables and new ways of cooking, and even get to visit the farm and develop a relationship with the farmer who grows your food!
3. Know a frequent traveler and nature lover? Buy them an annual pass to explore all the beautiful national parks and wildlife refuges in the United States through the National Park Service. An $80 membership pass covers entrance for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle. Visit the coral reefs of Florida or the US Virgin Islands, experience the starry night skies and natural darkness of the Natural Bridges National Monument or watch meteor showers in the Mojave National Preserve.
National Park Service, photo by Wally Pacholka
4. Give the gift of recycled art. Stuart Haygarth’s Drop is a chandelier which was created using empty plastic water bottles which were confiscated and donated from the Stansted Airport in London. Optical, which uses over 4,500 prescription spectacle lenses forms a disco mirror ball of sorts, creating a magical explosion of light. Explore your local street fairs or art galleries, or if you’re feeling extra creative – make your own!
photo courtesy of Stuart Haygarth
photo courtesy of Stuart Haygarth
5. Photography tours and expeditions for the photo enthusiasts in your life. Explore the glaciers of Alaska in the company of expert photographers, experience Morocco’s mystique with a National Geographic photographer and capture ancient villages or the sun setting on the dunes in the Sahara, or choose a local US city such as New Orleans, New York City, or Santa Fe.
photo courtesy of National Geographic Expeditions
6. If you know someone with an outdoor space, help them transform it into a landscaped oasis. Gift the services of a landscape designer to provide creative vision and receive a consultation to see which types of plants or trees will do best in their outdoor space. Perfect for anyone with a terrace, roof deck, courtyard or back yard. You can also jump-start an indoor or outdoor garden with GIVE’s Garden of Luck kit.
designed by landscape designer Charlotte Rowe
Happy Earth Day from GIVE!
