grrlTravels

it's easy buying green

If you know that you will not have the time, talent, or inclination to make stuff this year to give as gifts why not consider buying handmade or eco-friendly? Support small businesses, find unique goodies, perhaps save a bit of the planet.

• Local craft shows abound near the holidays. Some are good, some are so-so and some are...well, there doesn't seem to be a kind way to say it. Craft fairs are all over the board. Check them out for local talent and items.
• Etsy: The Mothership of Handcrafting. Etsy now rivals Amazon for hours spent browsing things I didn't even know I wanted until I saw them. Let's see some random Favorite Items: kids clothes, luggage tags, letterpressed card, art, jewelry, recycle love, tree octopus
• Green With Glamour has gorgeous, pricey, environmentally friendly gift ideas. Perhaps you need something glamorous and green.
• Check the recycled collection of Uncommon Goods, recycled goods on Karma Market, fair trade items from A Greater Gift
• Consider supporting established organizations which have a global consciousness: Oxfam America, search "recycle" on NOVICA, Heifer International, find a way to support a cause that's important to you—many charities have online shops or other fundraising efforts
• Let's get specific and practical: reusable shopping bags from Basura Bags. The counter at the top of the page makes me nervous, but there are 4 or 5 bags on this site which I LOVE PASSIONATELY. Helping your friends use less paper AND plastic is a double green whammy, and we all love those.
• Google "green gifts", "eco-friendly", "fair trade gifts", "organic", "handmade", "handcrafted"

[I didn't take the handmade pledge—I don't really like signing petitions and I'm not sure I see the point of taking the pledge. I suppose it is just to further the idea of buying and giving handmade, and clearly I can support that. I'm supporting it, I'm just not signing up.]