December 15, 2022
Thoughtful gift giving with an eye toward environmentally sustainable choices is a great option this holiday season, even at the last minute. Here are a few suggestions to consider finding at local markets, craft fairs, nearby farm stands or even on a bookshelf or in your closet at home.
Free to $20:
- Take a friend on a Michigan Sierra Club Group outing and provide the snacks and transportation. Check MeetUp listings for the Southeast Michigan Group, Crossroads Group and Huron Valley Group outings here.
- Turn a worn out pair of pants or wool sweater into a bag or slippers.
- Give a treasured book or find another copy at a local used book store and include a thoughtful inscription or bookplate explaining its importance.
- Visit local secondhand children’s stores to find games, toys or costumes.
- Give homemade jams or jellies, baked goods or dehydrated fruits and vegetables. Include recipes so the recipient can make these themselves.
- Gardeners can share seeds, or use a card to promise delivery of homegrown seedlings when it is time to plant them outdoors, as well as offer to do the gardening work for those who need help.
- Give an IOU to do some cleaning or cooking for overwhelmed young parents, seniors or others who can use some help.
$20 to $50:
- Give a gift membership to the Sierra Club to support protection of the Great Lakes and Michigan’s communities.
- Support pollinators by giving a jar of locally produced honey.
- Find a sugarbush nearby to purchase Michigan maple syrup.
- Build a simple bird feeder from materials on hand and give a bag of bird seed to get them started.
- Give a Michigan State Recreation Pass for 2023 for free access to state parks and recreation areas.
- Give a gift certificate for a sustainable business nearby such as a refillery, food cooperative or responsible grocer that sells bulk products in reused containers to reduce waste.
$50 to $100:
- Give a membership to a local botanical garden, zoo or science museum. Examples include:
Variable prices:
- Make a donation in a friend or family member’s name to the Michigan Chapter.
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions will keep a family in fresh, locally produced foods.
- Give a national Sierra Club outing or service outing.
- Native plant seeds or nursery gift certificates.
- Find locally produced artwork and crafts made from recycled or natural materials at art galleries and craft sales and shows.
- Pre-owned camping equipment and bicycles can be found in many local stores statewide.
And plan to wrap presents in an environmentally sound way, with newspaper comics, reused wrapping paper or in reusable cloth bags. The gift recipients will get both a thoughtful gift showing a commitment to protect the future and a lesson in sustainable giving.