If you don't have mad skillz or time on your hands to make your own Christmas gifts, you have to check out the
GreenHeartShop website. I clipped an article out of a magazine a few months ago and just ran across it this weekend when I was cleaning out our "throw-everything-that-doesn't-have-a place-to-go-in-here" basket.
Here are just a few of the things I loved, and a few of the stocking stuffers I might be buying for family~
Organic Soy Votives: $2.50
This candle goes a step beyond. It is the only organic soy candle on the market - not made from genetically modified soy! Soy wax comes from sustainable agriculture and emits no harmful chemicals. It cleans up with warm soap and water and is a healthy alternative for both your home and the environment. These votives are one of our most popular organic products!
Raffia Wallet: $10.00
This 100% raffia wallet was crafted by native women artisans living near the rainforest area of Ranomafana, Madagascar. They work with the Naturary organization that helps provide sustainable, alternative sources of income to people living in the region while ensuring the preservation of the rainforest. These wallets are very popular at our eco fair trade shop!
Pencil Sharpeners: $5.00
These pencil sharpeners are made through Shilpa Trust, an organization in India. Shilpa works with economically disadvantaged artisans in Bangalore. The artisans create these sharpeners from local "hale" wood, a fast-growing soft wood that thrives on the banks of the Cauvery River. By purchasing these eco friendly and fair trade pencil sharpeners, you are supporting the artisans of Shilpa.
Blooming Lotus Tealight Holder: $24.00
This tealight holder was created through SAFFY, Social Action for Filipino Youth, which works with a community development organization to provide employment for women and young people in the Philippines. Besides income generation programs, the group has been involved in nutrition education, emergency medical care, and helping to organize farmers and fishermen. This tealight holder sells quickly at our fair trade shop in Chicago!
Small Heirloom scissors: $12.00
Fair trade small scissors are handmade of made of brass and steel. They are perfect scissors for cutting threads, strings, and paper. Road side hair dressers in India also use these scissors to cut hair.
These fair trade scissors are made by artisan Mukesh in India, through the fair trade company Rupalee. Rupalee works directly with artisans, ensuring they are paid a fair wage for their products and that they have healthy and safe working conditions. What a useful fair trade gift!
Divine dark chocolate bar: $2.00
Fair trade dark chocolate bar is 1.5 ounces (45g). Divine chocolate is made with the finest quality Fair Trade cocoa beans, where the cocoa is grown in the shade of the tropical rainforest, and slowly fermented and dried in the sun by the farmers.
This fair trade chocolate bar is made by Divine Chocolate through the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana. Kuapa Kokoo represents 45,000 cocoa farmers and has a stake in the first farmer-owned chocolate company in the world: Divine Chocolate Limited. Because of the company's unique partnership model, the cocoa farmers participate directly in the decisions made by the organization and share in any potential profits. Kuapa's cocoa farmers receive above-market Fair Trade premiums for their cocoa beans which are used to fund community development projects like wells and schools.
More with Less Cookbook: $22.00
Written to challenge North Americans to consume less so others can eat enough, this cookbook contains up to 500 recipes, reflections and practical tidbits to eat more simply.
There were also several other interesting cookbooks like
The World of Streetfood, which my husband would love since he insists on eating only food made from street vendors when we travel.
The Better World Shopping Guide: $9.95
The Better World Shopping Guide book is the only comprehensive, up-to-date, user-friendly guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers. By ranking every product on the shelf from A to F, you can quickly tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys". Thereby turning your grocery and shopping lists into powerful tools to change the world.
Every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you want to live in! Check out: www.betterworldshopper.com if you would like to learn more about the research that went into making the book.
Ginkgo pot holder: $8.00
This fair trade ginkgo pot holder was made through Zen Zen, fair trade company dedicated to bringing their customers the best made natural handcrafted gifts while keeping the traditional crafts and lifestyles of the peoples of Bali, Indonesia. The name Zen Zen comes from a Japanese expression which loosely translates to "but of course" - that natural serendipity which occurs when you’re doing something positive for the planet.
Nomadic dress: $64.00
This fair trade halter dress was made through Mata Traders, a Chicago-based fair trade company that strives to provide high fashion, fairly traded clothing and accessories to a growing network of socially conscious consumers. The dress was made exclusively in India by women's cooperatives who pay their employees a living wage, provide safe working conditions, and offer services like on-site daycare, overtime compensation, and retirement benefits.
In addition, Mata Traders supports small fair trade certified cotton family farms that follow environmental standards that restrict the use of agrochemicals and encourage sustainability. Most of the fabrics are handwoven, and are colored by environmentally safe vegetable dyes and traditional print blocking processes.
Jungle leaf wooden handle bag: $24.00
This bag was lovingly made by artisans in India through Teddy Exports, an organization that has made a commitment to social welfare. Started in 1990, it employs artisans to produce fair trade and eco friendly products by adapting traditional skills and using sustainable local resources and raw materials. Employees accrue benefits such as a fair wage, bonuses, pensions, subsidized meals, maternity pay, and medical services.
Aprons: $20.00
This fair trade short apron was made in a house fair trade workshop in Bali, Indonesia, through Zen Zen, a fair trade company dedicated to bringing their customers the best handmade products while keeping the traditional crafts and lifestyles of the peoples of Bali. The name Zen Zen comes from a Japanese expression which loosely translates to "but of course" - that natural serendipity which occurs when you are doing something positive for the planet and people. This apron makes a great socially responsible gift!
They also sell gift packages:
fair trade tea with honey and a mug, or
fair trade coffee with a mug and chocolate,
bath sets, baskets with
soup and cookie mixes, a recycled newspaper trivet, tea and chocolate, and many more.
Enjoy!
I just realized that I've been remiss in picking a winner for this giveaway. I'll blame it on the mad rush of the holidays and having had sick kids. If you haven't yet left a comment, please do so this week. I'll pick a winner this Friday so you can sit at home and relax on Black Friday and still possible win something!
A year or so ago I "met" (online that is) a woman named Jeska on the Living Simple & Green board that I lead over at iVillage. Since then, she and her family have downsized their belongings, bought an RV, and they're currently making their way around the US while unschooling their kids and exploring all that America has to offer.
I'm trying to make as many gifts as possible this year because I think that gifts made by hand with thoughtfulness and love mean so much more. But there are some gifts I found online last year that put mine to shame and those are the Gifts that Give More by Global Girlfriend.
Organic Soy Votives: $2.50
Raffia Wallet: $10.00
Pencil Sharpeners: $5.00
Small Heirloom scissors: $12.00
Divine dark chocolate bar: $2.00
More with Less Cookbook: $22.00
The Better World Shopping Guide: $9.95
Ginkgo pot holder: $8.00
Jungle leaf wooden handle bag: $24.00
Aprons: $20.00
Terra Cotta Foot Scrubber - $7.49 - These are handmade by women in Pakistan and supposedly never wear out.
Bamboo utensils - $1.99 - $6.95 - The kids are getting the fork/spoon combo for their lunchboxes. Some of the grown ups are getting the three piece set. I plan to make a carry-case for them and, if I have time, a little cloth napkin that will tuck inside too.
Take advantage of free shipping on orders over $50 and get some holiday shopping done today. Just enter coupon code FRSHIP50 at checkout. (Valid through Sunday, Nov. 15 at midnight CST.)
