Environmentally Friendly Gift Baskets

"How to Make Environmentally Friendly Gift Baskets"                                             

By Helen Hecker 

Giving an environmentally friendly gift basket is a great way to help the environment. Whether you buy the gift basket or make it yourself, the environment will be better off for it.  Think recycled paper (100% post-consumer, waste/process, chlorine-free paper,) organic where possible, living foods, recycling and composting.  Just follow these simple instructions for making your gift basket.

Types of Environmentally Friendly Gift Baskets

Organic food:  A gift basket of food, at least partly filled with organic foods.

Fruit:  Preferably hardy organic.

Fair Trade: Using fair-trade items. Fair-trade companies do not use exploitative labor practices. Includes fair-trade coffee, chocolates and soaps.

Recycled: Clothing including socks made from recycled cotton.

Environmentally Friendly Gift Baskets - Themes

Organic Fruit Gift Basket -- You'll want to use organic, hardy fruits that will hold up well like: apples, pears, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, persimmons, pineapples, pomegranates, kiwis, baby kiwis, mango, papaya, nasturtiums, pansies or other flowers.  These fruits will eventually decompose so take that into consideration. I've bought many fruit gift baskets for friends and family living in other parts of the U.S. When shipping to  other cities it's a good idea to use professionals who know how to best pack and preserve fruit for shipment. You can always make your own local gift baskets.  The company I've had good luck with is  www.AAAfruitbaskets.com

Organic Foods Gift Basket -- Hardy fruits, vegetables, herbal teas, specialty teas, shade-grown fair trade coffees, fair trade cocoas, fair trade chocolate, fair trade Belgian chocolate,  trail mix, packaged raw nuts, nuts in the shell, a quality nutcracker, healthy snacks, organic popcorn, homemade foods, homemade jams, cinnamon sticks, vegan, vegetarian or raw food cookbooks, your favorite vegan, vegetarian or raw food recipe printed neatly on a 3x5 card made of recycled paper, books about organic foods, the great ebook (saves trees-easy download) "The Ultimate Organic Lifestyle"--for information Click Here!  small bamboo cutting boards, bamboo skewers, non-plastic cooking tools, non-plastic, wooden eating utensils, edible nasturtiums or other flowers for decoration and for my favorite place to order nutrition bars, energy bars, and healthy supplements up to 50% off click here:

Organic and Vegan Spa or Bath Gift Basket -- Natural fiber sponges, towels, scrubs, organic and vegan soaps, all natural toothpaste, organic lotions and shampoos without hormone-disrupting methylparabens or other preservatives, natural hair brushes, natural foot brushes, candles, aromatherapy goods, organic cotton socks, CD of nature sounds, handwritten poem, birthday poem, inspirational book, book of poetry, Zen alarm clock, terry cloth bath pillow see: Bath Pillows For Gift Baskets , spa pillow, gift certificate to a heath food store. If you're going to buy a spa gift basket consider the one I've ordered and like -- the Spa Delights Aromatherapy Bath Gift Basket.  Take a look at: Gift Baskets

Organic or All Natural Baby or New Baby Gift Basket -- Organic baby foods, organic teething chews, all natural or organic baby lotions, shampoos, diaper powders, baby toys made with natural fiber and/or safe recycled materials , organic clothing.  Or buy the special Baby Carriage Gift Basket at Gift Baskets

Organic or All Natural Pet Gift Basket -- Organic or all natural pet foods, pet treats, toys made from organic, all natural or recycled fiber materials. I like to buy my  natural pet products for gift basket items (and for my pets) from a great natural pet products online catalog that carries natural pet foods, treats, toys and hundreds of other pet items from hundreds of companies.  Click here: Only Natural Pet Store

Wheatgrass Gift Basket -- Wheatgrass growing supplies , organic soil, wheatgrass seeds, books about wheatgrass or wheatgrass growing, or books by Ann Wigmore.

Organic Living Foods Gift Basket -- Raw food 'uncookbooks,' your favorite raw food recipe printed neatly on a 3x5 card made of recycled paper, packaged raw food crackers, raw food cookies, homemade or pre-packaged raw food brownies, jar of raw organic tahini , jar of raw organic almond butter or cashew butter or macadamia butter, jar of  raw sauerkraut, jar of raw dressing, jar of raw salsa, or a jar of raw, unfiltered farm honey (some raw food vegans don't eat honey).

Organic Gardener's Gift Basket -- Organic soil, favorite vegetable or flower seeds, small potted plant, book or tip sheet on non-toxic pesticide alternatives, wind chimes, Japanese wind bells, books on food preserving or sustainable living or gardening or growing organic vegetables. I order my environmentally friendly garden products and get great discounts for my lawn and garden from a reliable quality company. Just click on this button to view their catalog:

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning & Household Supplies Gift basket --Kitchen cleaners, grapeseed extract cleaners, castile bath soaps, laundry soaps, dishwashing soaps, an energy-efficient light bulb, water-efficient shower head, low-flow faucet aerator or water filter.

Environmentally Friendly Containers, Liner and  Wrap

For a gift container you can use: fair trade baskets, wooden baskets,  wooden bowls, fiber baskets, straw baskets,  locally made pottery, buckets, non-aluminum, non-Teflon cooking pots and pans, large tea pots, potted plant holders, wire baskets, large pasta bowls, large popcorn bowls, clay pots, colanders, fabric gift bags, used baskets and containers from Goodwill Industries and Salvation Army stores or anything recyclable.

For gift basket liner you can use: shredded newspaper, organic cotton tea towels, organic cotton dish towels, organic cotton hand towels, colored recyclable napkins or organic cloth napkins, fabric pieces, organic cotton receiving blankets.

For gift basket filler you can use: crumpled newspaper comics, straw or use your imagination. 

For gift basket wrap  and tie you can you can use: recyclable paper, butcher paper, newspaper, newspaper comics, or reusable brown paper bags.  Also check with the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries stores for inexpensive recyclable wrapping paper.   Tie with jute or raffia twine for a simple rustic look or leave the gift basket unwrapped. 

Finally to make the gift basket:

Start with your chosen container.  Place the liner inside and add  the basket filler.  Arrange the items with the tallest in back.  If needed, fill any holes with organic wrapped candies or crumpled shredded recycled paper.  Cover with wrap and tie with jute or raffia twine. Don't forget the pesonalized, recycled card. If you're using a homemade card include a great, happy, positive uplifting, spine-tingling favorite quote or saying.  That's it! You should have a fine looking eco- friendly, environmentally friendly gift basket! 

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." --Aesop

copyright©2005-2006 Helen Hecker  All rights reserved.