HOME |
MUSIC EVENTS |
FAMILY EVENTS |
ART EVENTS
THEATRE |
MOVIES |
UPCOMING EVENTS
ARCHIVES |
ABOUT |
ADVERTISE |
CONTACT |
DISTRIBUTION
entertaining u newspaper: your monthly guide to entertainment
<<
A Better U
|
Main
|
The Jock by Tom Weppel
>>
|
|
By Aaron Gottlieb
They say every boy’s first Valentine is his mother. I say, as humans, our first Valentine is Mother Earth. She’s always been there for us providing food, shelter and all the resources we need to live a happy and healthy lifestyle – and yet we’ve neglected her in so many ways over the years. So this Valentine’s Day, say thank you to Mother Earth by saying I Love You with gifts that make a difference. Here are a few tips on earth-friendly alternatives to get you started:
|
|
Cards. Second only to Christmas, over one billion paper cards are exchanged on Valentine’s Day.* That costs us more than 350,000 trees each year! Try making your own Valentine by using items you already have lying around the house – construction paper, paper bags, doilies, markers, etc. If arts and crafts are not your thing, choose cards that are made from 100% recycled paper, “tree free” cards from sustainably harvested sources or better yet an e-Card! Online sources like nature.org or americangreetings.com let you choose a design, type in your own message and deliver it for you via email. Some even have music!
Flowers. Roses are the most commonly received gift on Valentine’s Day. According to a number of recent studies, roses are also shown to contain up to 50 times the amount of pesticides that are allowed on the food we eat! Choosing organic roses, grown without the use of chemicals, pesticides or other harmful additives, not only ensures a clean product, it helps support organic growers who work year-long to provide you with the best product while also protecting the environment. More and more sources are making organic roses available. Try Kabloom of Jacksonville on Baymeadows Road or California Organic Flowers online.
Chocolate. Another increasingly easy-to-find product that is sure to make your Valentine’s greener is organic, fair trade chocolate! From hearts to truffles, this all-natural alternative to the holiday classic can be found in almost any shape, size, flavor and price at your local health food store. Dagoba Organic Chocolate, available at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, offers solid bars, baking bricks, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, drinks, samplers and more.
Now, I’m sure many of you are wondering how your loved one will react to these new takes on the tried and true. Well, considering most Valentine’s gifts are purchased at the last second, I believe your kind thoughts and sincere efforts to be unique and make a difference will not go unnoticed.
Plus, it’s the special moments together that your partner will remember most. Save gas and whip up a romantic dinner at home or take an evening stroll around your neighborhood hand-in-hand. Also try to focus on the little things like finishing chores your partner is usually burdened with, drawing them a bath or dancing in the living room to “your song.”
If you need more ideas, a quick search online for “Green Valentine Gifts” will bring you plenty. Happy Green Valentine’s Day!
This article was written by Native Sun Natural Foods Market owner Aaron Gottlieb. Find a Native Sun (Certified Organic supermarket) near you: Southside at 11030 Baymeadows Road or Mandarin at 10000 San Jose Blvd. Visit nativesunjax.com or call 260-2791 for more information.
*Figure taken from www.greetingcard.org
Article Published in the 2-14-08 Issue of EU Jacksonville
|
|
