Presents that encourage eco-friendly living can keep giving long after they are unwrapped.
Consider a few of these garden, planting and outdoor living items for a more environmentally conscious approach to gift giving.
Gardening indoors and out
Living gardens are ideal gifts for the green-conscious friends, family and co-workers. The Succulent Wall Planter Kit, found at Uncommongoods.com, holds soil and succulents in a reclaimed wood frame. Created by Heather Auchter, who owns the Succulents Galore shop on Etsy, this box garden can grow indoors or outdoors, vertically or horizontally. Moss and light mesh hold in the soil and succulent clippings. Made in San Diego, the frame is 11 inches square and 3.5 inches tall. $110.
For a twist on a traditional herb garden, the Water Garden at Uncommongoods.com is a mini-ecosystem unto itself. It uses live fish as a key ingredient to create a symbiotic countertop water garden. Plants such as basil, mint, spinach and baby greens thrive in nutrient-rich water that circulates underneath and purify the water for a healthy beta fish habitat. The kit comes with organic herb seeds, a chemical-free dechlorinator and fish food sample packet. Made in Union City, California, the tank is 12 inches long, 8 inches wide and 12 inches tall. $60.
Send the beauty of a redwood forest to family and friends no matter where they live with the Bonsai Redwood Forest from Windandweather.com. This bonsai grove sprouts within a few weeks and grows the Dawn Redwood, known only as a fossil until 1946 when a forester in China discovered a living plant. The kit includes tree and moss seed, seedling pots, seed starting wafers, growing medium, bonsai scissors, a rake with spade, river stone and a recycled growing box. The planter is 9 inches by 3 inches. $75.
Go solar
You don’t have to install solar panels on your friends’ and family’s houses to give an eco-friendly present. Start small, by giving them beautiful outdoor lighting and decor that’s off the grid.
They can enjoy relaxing fountain sounds on their patio, deck, balcony or garden with a solar-on-demand fountain by Smart Solar USA. The solar-on-demand feature allows users to program when the fountain operates. The battery fully charges in one or two sunny days and runs up to six hours when fully charged, even in cloudy conditions. The fountain holds 2.5 gallons and uses an underwater solar panel and pump system to run. Styles vary and prices generally range from $100 to $250 at retailers such as HomeDepot.com and Hayneedle.com.
Brighten an outdoor garden or tabletop with Smart Solar's LED Candle Lantern. This LED lantern highlights the latest developments in "solar" gardens that emphasize light and eco-friendly electricity use. Run with two C batteries, the lantern features a six-hour timer and can be programmed to turn on at the same time each day. Constructed with real wood, glass windowpanes and a weathered tin top, the lantern is 16 inches tall. Priced at $45 from online retailers such as PatioFurniture.com and ATGstores.com.
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