My Eco-Friendly Valentine

It’s the month of another holiday filled with paper, sugar and imported goodies, also known as: Valentine’s Day.

Personally, I’m of the mindset that the romance and sparkle of Valentine’s faded ago, but I’d be fibbing if I didn’t admit I’d be a smidge disappointed if I ended the day without a token of affection or three.

Then again, if someone shows me the love and doesn’t show Mother Nature the love too, I’ll be even more disappointed than if I’d left the holiday empty handed.

So, what’s a green Valentine to do?

• If you’ve got to go for flowers, go for local. Or, since many flowers aren’t yet in bloom, go for non-plastic fake ones. One of the cutest gifts I ever received was a pair of flowers made out of tissue paper, but you can also find wooden and paper ones already pre-made. Another option is a seed packet and/or kit, or a plant–they’ll last a lot longer than those roses imported from overseas, and give your beau some blooms to enjoy for months!

• Make your own valentines. Yes, those ones in boxes at your neighborhood get-it-all-in-one-place are cute and quick and easy for you, but they aren’t so easy on the earth, and most of them will end up in the trash. Make your own from recycled paper or look for recycled cards. Or find some paper with seeds inside to share your “be mines.”

• Get chocolate that does more than just satisfy your sweet tooth. Find a local chocolatier to get your sweet their treat. Or, if you aren’t so lucky to have one nearby, hit up your local source for organic food and check out their candy aisle. They’ll have a plethora of options that taste delicious, are fair trade, and offset their carbon, too.

• Last, but certainly not least, be mindful of the bling. If you’re going to get your baby a bauble this V-day, be sure and ask the important questions: where it came from, how it was made, and the practices of the jeweler. If you take a few extra minutes (and purchase it ahead of time) you can even find jewelry made with recycled metal! Check out your local craft fair or visit etsy.com for handmade eco-friendly alternatives!

These are just a few of the options for greening your Valentines–there are many, many more (make a meal from local food, celebrate by candle-light, volunteer together), so get creative!

I hope you and yours have a fantastic green Valentine’s Day!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Want to know more about Carrie and her photo-taking, engineering, pun-loving, greener-every-day ways? Check out her photos and blog.