Posted on: Monday, December 1, 2008
Give a gift that gives back to the Earth
By Jennifer Forker
For The Associated Press
Kermit the Frog only had it half right: It may not be easy to be green, but it's certainly easy to give "green." With "green" the hot buzzword these days, it's not hard to find gifts in every price range. Some ideas:
The "Adela" Recycled Tire Tube Handbag ($42.95, http://www.TheHungerSite.com), which is sold on several Web sites run by http://www.GreaterGood.org, is created by El Salvadoran artists. There are other sizes and styles available, including a toiletry bag for men.
The Acai Rainforest Beaded Bracelet ($12, http://www.TheRainForestSite.com) is made from the nut of a palm plant native to rainforests throughout Central and South America. The seeds are colored with organic vegetable dyes. Purchases at this site, also managed by http://www.GreaterGood.org, help fund land preservation. The sale of this bracelet includes a $1 donation to the World Wildlife Fund.
The Recycled Car Part Earrings ($35, http://www.WorldofGood.com) are crafted by Trillium Artisans of Portland, Ore., which is a community economic development program. Available in black or antique gold.
The brightly colored Patchwork Kalamkari Pillow ($24, http://www.WorldofGood.com) is made in India for Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit retailer with more than 155 stores in the United States and Canada. The naturally dyed and painted cotton pillows also are available via this Web site, an online marketplace launched by eBay in September.
I Am Not a Paper Cup ($20, http://www.momastore.org), from the gift shop at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is an amusing reminder to bring your own mug to a meeting. The porcelain cup has a pliable, silicone lid to keep drinks hot, and it's dishwasher-safe.
The Desk Pendulum Clock ($86, http://www.Eco-Artware.com and other Web sites) is artist-crafted from recycled tire rubber and bicycle parts for this online company that sells eco-friendly gifts.
The Green Toys Tea Set ($24.99, http://www.greentoys.com), above, is made from recycled, plastic milk jugs by Green Toys, a California company that prides itself on making toys locally.
The Optibike 800 Li, ($8,995, http://www.optibike.com) is a best-selling, hybridized electric bicycle hand-built by this Boulder, Colo., company. Great for commuters or recreational cyclists in search of a kick, the bike can travel 30 miles on one charge, but that distance is doubled with an optional battery. It uses about 9 cents of electricity to travel 50 miles, according to the company.
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