Add a Little Eco-Chic to Your Valentine’s Day: Green Up V-Day
Improve your love life, and protect your mother (Earth).
Img cred: RefineDesigner.Wordpress.com
As I’ve mentioned before, I choose not to celebrate Valentine’s Day to a various number of reasons. Namely, I don’t like the combinations of pink and red. And the overabundance of hearts and shiny red and pink things induces bile. Lastly, my dating anniversary with my husband is a mere 10 days away, and it seems pointless when the most important day of our lives is round the corner.
However, don’t let my non-celebratory mood deter you from having a fete of your own! But let’s try to have a better, more wonderful holiday of love, by showing some love for our planet at the same time! what can be better than celebrating a day with your tasty-treat of the moment, your soulmate or your life-long companion than giving back to the life-giving world you live on? It’s a pretty romantic ideal, I think!
This year, you need not get lost in a sea of stale candy hearts, red plastic packaging and wilted white flowers. Instead of a blizzard of unsatisfying consumerism, follow these suggestions to enjoy a more meaningful, and planet friendly, holiday.
The average consumer spends just over $100 on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation, with total sales approaching $14 billion. That buys nearly 214 million roses, $2.5 billion in jewelry, 180 million cards, 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, tons of stuffed animals and more. All those resources can really add up, especially when you consider that conventional flowers are raised with tons of toxic pesticides, the mining industry has left open scars and polluted water across the planet, logging has created barren wastelands, and chocolate harvesting has resulted in toxic, substandard working conditions.
Here are some suggestions to keep the fun in Valentine’s Day, and go a little greener:
- Give her sexy green lingerie, and she’ll enjoy the comfort of organic and natural materials all year long.
- Give organic and fair trade flowers, the latter of which are now even available at Sam’s Club!
- Savor organic and fair trade chocolates.
- Pour organic and biodynamic wines.
- Consider eco-friendly jewelry.
- Send an e-card or greeting on recycled paper.
- The way to most hearts is through the stomach: Make your lover a home-cooked meal with local or organic produce from your neighborhood grocery store, or if you can’t boil water, take him or her out to a restaurant that focuses on local, seasonal, sustainable or vegetarian foods.
- Drink wine. Not too much. Mostly Californian.
- Get an organic couple’s massage or spa treatment.
- Staycate or vacate (with style).
- Give Eco-Lux gifts for the more “STYLISH” Valentine.
More ideas here:
Share your green heart with friends and loved ones. Also get Everything You Need for a Green Valentine’s Day
Creative Ideas for Valentine’s Day Gifts
Organic flowers
5 Greener Ways to Say “I love you”.
Green Your Love Life
Tips, images credit: Refinedesigner.wordpress.com, The Daily Green, Ingle & Rhode Ethical Jewellers
Nice tips! The fiance is cooking dinner for us on Sunday, which is a rare thing, trust me. So we’re being fairly conservative this year. =)
Happy New Year and Vday!
These are genius, Maeko! My bf and I don’t really do a big Valentine’s day blowout either, but I’m actually encouraged too now that you listed all these green ideas.
Keep them coming, Maeko- we love them!
I used to really hate Valentines Day. Mostly because of all the pressure it puts on couples and WORSE the stigma it gives to singles. Who needs it?!?! I think I’ve become more fond of it because I’ve found someone to love. Now it’s a day where all I want to do is be lazy and chill with my boys (can’t leave out Bandit). This year we kept really mellow. He gave me a beautiful book, I baked him a pie. Then later we put on shoes and wandered out for pizza. All in all a good day!! I can’t like the idea of buying expensive candy or stuffed teddy bears that go straight to the back of the closet the next day. On the other hand my mom and I used to really love raiding the discounted candy isle the following day!
I love how you are always promoting green practices. I try to be green whenever possible and I wish more people would too. Go you!