'Tis the season to be eco-friendly!
Gifts given with an eye toward reducing waste and consumption can still be festive and generous. Check out a few of
metromode's ideas for a waste-reduced holiday season.
A great gift to share with family and friends is
41pounds.org, so named for the weight of the average amount of junk mail the average adult receives per year. The Ferndale-based company offers customers a one-stop shop to stop each and every piece of junk mail and unwanted catalog from arriving in their mail box for five years -- for just $41 per household.
Another waste-free gift is a membership to the
Friends of Eastern Market. The recipient will get a discount at nine Eastern Market stores and a cotton tote bag for shopping. If the membership route is not for you, check out some of the local merchants. You can pick up a case of honey, maple syrup or preserves to pass out to friends and neighbors.
On the same note, a membership to any of our terrific cultural institutions could be just what family members need to get them away from the television and out of the house. Consider the
Detroit Institute of Arts, the
Detroit Zoo, the
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum or
Michigan Theater; gifts that can be used and appreciated for an entire year. Or how about a commemorative brick at the
Detroit RiverWalk?
It used to work when you were a kid and it still will: the gift of time. Offer to babysit or cook a meal or buy tickets for a show or game. Bonus: it's also a gift for yourself.
A membership in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) operation is perfect for a foodie. Having locally-grown organic produce delivered weekly is the gift that keeps giving. Check out
Maple Creek Farm -- you might want to buy your own membership while you are at it since the farm is only selling 500 slots this year.
Bottom line: sometimes the best presents are not boxed, wrapped and bowed.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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