Turn free sunlight into clean electricity without moving parts, heat or sound. The Juice Bag represents the latest in flexible solar technology with an incredible 7 Watt flexible solar panel that’s made up of 52 solar cells. These bags come in a couple different colors and include a built-in Car Lighter Adapter (CLA) to easily charge your portable devices as soon as the sun hits the built in solar panel. The newest version, the ES series, comes in backpack, day pack, or messenger bag styles, and features materials that are fully recycled from soda bottles.

$210

Once you get one of these for yourself, or someone else, make sure to take pictures of where in the world you traveled with your solar powered Juice Bag. See other people’s photos here.

Posted by Lauren in Alternative Energy, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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According to this superfly shirt from Reware, “Biodiesel is made from any recycled COOKING GREASE - like the oil used to make french fries.” What, you didn’t know that? “Any diesel engine can run on the stuff.” Wow, shirt, now that’s a really amazing concept. Could you remind me why that’s a fact that everyone needs to be aware of? “Renewable fuels can directly reduce our messed up dependence on imported oil.” OK, so this biodiesel t-shirt will help you spread the important message about eco-friendly alternative fuel, and it clearly has a cool design, but is it printed on organic cotton and free of sweatshop labor? Oh, don’t you just know it is.

Reware also carries 2 other biodiesel t-shirt designs, as well as 3 wind power and 2 solar power designs. Excellent gift for anyone interested in alternative fuels (who isn’t?), and a must-get for the biodiesel driver in your life.

$24

Posted by Lauren in Useful and Fun, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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Hand made from fresh Mexican papaya, beets, or zucchini, these parchment bowls make an excellent earth friendly gift any time of year. Each veggie parchment bowl is hand shaped by sculptor Margaret Dorfman to resemble large, bright undulating flowers with vivid repeating patterns. With their vibrant translucent colors these bowls can brighten up any room when set near an open window or other bright light source.

$42

For more eco-friendly gift ideas with style check out Viva Terra’s gift ideas. They also offer gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Posted by Sean in Home and Outdoors, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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I’m sure there are things more glorious in life than having succulent, organic fruit and nuts delivered to your door every month, but I can’t think of them right now. The Organic Fruit & Nut Club can be purchased in monthly increments so you can munch on fresh, safe snacks year-round, but it seems like an especially great gift during the winter months. As fruit selection naturally diminishes, so do many peoples’ intake of the sweet, vitamin-loaded treats. Nuts are also a popular and healthy snack, but are sometimes very difficult to find in pesticide-free form. Give the gift of natures most perfect and delicious foods with a subscription of any duration to the Fruit & Nut Club. You can even see the entire years menu, select which month the gifts will start to arrive, and skip on months that don’t look so tasty.

$32.95 per month (buy multiple months for discounts)

Posted by Lauren in Food Gifts, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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Let me begin by saying that these baskets contain lots of chocolate. I was sold after seeing multiple bars of the stuff, but there are other yummy items, too. Try a little of everything with organic Fair Trade coffee, chocolate and tea. Both sizes come in a hand-woven grass basket from Bangladesh, and come with the option of Recycled Gift Packaging. For $3.95 your basket will be wrapped in 100% biodegradable cellophane with a ribbon. For an animal-friendly, vegan-safe, dairy-free version, select the dark chocolate bars. Everything is organic except the Divine Bar. This gift makes sure everyone gets a fair shake.

$30 - $50

Posted by Lauren in Food Gifts, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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Every year you get a new sweater for Christmas and every year you donate it to the thrift store. What happens with all of these soft, yet unwearable cast offs? Some of them may ends up in the hands of a creative New England handicapped artist collective. They reclaim knits and transform them into exceptionally soft stuffed animals. Each creature is gently handcrafted from recycled materials, giving it a unique appearance all its own. I really like the exaggerated scale of the lion’s mane and the elephant’s ears vs. the size of the body, as well as the simple, petite facial features. I think whimsical is really the way to go with baby toys. The ones featured above are cute, but since color and material content will vary, your sweater plushie will be a unique surprise.

$26

Uncommon Goods also offers gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Posted by Sean in Kids and Babies, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Kids
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Retired street signs become reclaimed art with years of continued use, in the hands of Boris Bally. This recycled metal wreath is just one of his unique creations and would make an excellent green gift for yourself or someone else this year. While each of these wreaths are truly unique from one another, you do get the option of selecting certain color combinations during checkout. I noticed on the product page that the wait time for the green and white wreath (shown here) is longer than all the other colors. So I’d recommend reserving your Signs of the Season by Boris Bally now before it’s too late.

$135

View more of Boris Bally’s “Transit Series” at The Guild. For those on your list with an artistic taste check out The Guild’s Holiday Gift Guide. Gift certificates are also available for those with a more peculiar taste than yours.

Posted by Sean in Holiday, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Unique
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Charge almost any portable device on the go with this solar powered battery charger kit. Whether they enjoy hiking with their GPS device, relaxing outside with their iPod, or are always on the go, they can charge their portable device as long as there is some sun out. Made by Coleman this iSun Solar Charger Kit has a built in battery pack plus radio and lantern/flashlight combo. The kit includes plugging accessories that will enable you to run over 90% of all small electronics and what they call a BattPak. When connected, the BattPak enables the iSun to charge AA and AAA rechargeable batteries with only solar energy. The kit also includes a CLA (female cigarette lighter adapter) for anything that has a standard 12 VDC CLA connector (think laptop).

$88

A similar and more compact option is the Solio Solar Charger. The Solio is available at UnbeatableSale and comes in many different colors, but our favorite is pink.

Posted by Sean in Alternative Energy, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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These Root of the Earth bowls are reclaimed by artisans who hand carve them into magnificent eco-friendly gifts. Hand made from discarded root balls of Chinese fir trees these bowls are as close to zero impact as possible. Available from stylish and earth conscious VivaTerra these bowls can be used as centerpieces, fruit bowls, or just natural sculptures to help bring a rustic earthy feel indoors. They come in 3 separate sizes and each one is as unique as it’s hand crafted origin. I recently saw bowls like these at my local farmers market and the pictures here just don’t do them justice. You really have to see and touch their smooth and earthy feel to appreciate them 100%.

Small, Medium, Large; $35, $49, $95

For more eco-friendly gift ideas with style check out Viva Terra’s gift ideas. They also offer gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Posted by Sean in Home and Outdoors, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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Shopping for a fan of snowboarding or skiing? Help reduce waste in our landfills and find the gift you’re looking for by utilizing old snowboards and skis as new furniture. Pictured here is a recycled snowboard bench, but that’s not all. Other items of recycled furniture available are: bookshelves, coat racks, picnic table, outdoor chairs, DVD rack, trash cans, clocks, and more. The time to buy these is now due to the fact that they are made when ordered and they take weeks to be delivered. Actual time depends on the product selected.

Clock, Coat Rack, & Trash Can $30-85
Book Case, Tables, Chairs $150-400

PatioandYard.com has some similar recycled snowboard furniture worth taking a look at as well.

Posted by Sean in Home and Outdoors, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Outdoors
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In the heirarchy of green products, those that cleverly solve two problems at once reign supreme. Not only is this wreath made from recycled plastic, but the lights are powered by a solar cell. To make a smart idea even smarter, it’s daylight-sensing and automatically turns the lights on or off so you don’t waste your solar charge. I’m not sure if it’s just proves that the manufacturer really knows their target market, or to play up the “hippie” allure, but you can choose from the traditional style or a peace sign shaped wreath.

$89

Gaiam also offers gift certificates so recipients can find their own perfect present.

Posted by Lauren in Holiday, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Outdoors
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Hippocrates was right on the money when he said “let food be thy medicine”. We know that what we put in our bodies is responsible (at least in part) for how we feel, and that how we raise and prepare our food is responsible for the state of the environment. But how do we go about lessening our “global footprint” on the earth while eating foods that are both nourishing and satisfying?

Increasing your intake of organic fruits and veggies with vegetarian, vegan, or raw meals is a great way to start. You don’t have to be a full-time vegetarian to reap the benefits either. Reducing the amount of pre-packaged foods and animal products that you eat is far easier on the earth and your body. The only question left then is, will I enjoy the taste? You better believe it! In a hands-on cooking class designed for beginners and budding chefs alike, you’ll learn to make delicious plant-based meals that will impress and satiate everyone. After the courses you will understand the basics of creating fast, healthy, yummy recipes, allowing you to align your diet with your green ideals. An excellent gift for yourself or anyone who wants to eat better and feel better.

Raw Cuisine (L.A. or Miami) $270-370
Vegetarian Cooking (L.A.or O.C.) $305

Posted by Lauren in Food Gifts, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Fun
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Here is a nice green stocking stuffer for the computer nerd who’s always traveling. A set of 3 recycled circuit board luggage tags complete with blank card in cardholder. These would also make unique, reusable gift tags to place atop technology or eco-friendly gifts.

$12.97

You can complete the theme with these recycled circuit board stocking stuffers as well: Circuit Board Business Card Case ($19.99) and “Circuit Board Coasters In Tin, Set Of 6″ ($17.99).

Posted by Sean in Holiday, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Nerd
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From the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s, tin ceilings were a popular alternative to expensive, artistic plaster. These tin plates are embossed with ornate designs and have a beautiful Victorian look. Artist Margaret Taylor has reclaimed some of these tiles and handcrafts them into recycled picture frames worthy of becoming an “instant heirloom”. The look, with sturdy tin background and muted shades of slightly chipping paint, gives a rustic feel to any room.

$45

Uncommon Goods also offers gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Posted by Sean in Home and Outdoors, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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During a visit to my family’s house this year I noticed that the water felt… extra slippery. That was my first impression, but after taking several filtered and softened showers, what I really noticed was how much softer my hair and skin were and how nice the water smelled. As one reviewer of the Bath Tub Filter Ball said, after using this product pretty much every other bathtub or shower is going to smell like a pool! That’s because chlorine is filtered out as well as lime scale, mold, mildew, dirt, sediment, and odors. Most water filters for bathing are designed to work with your shower head, but this one rests below your faucet and filters water to fill your tub for a bath. Many people take baths for soothing and detoxing purposes (just add a little epsom salt or essential oils), and adding the Bath Ball Tub Filter into the equation is an easy way to create a more pleasant bath experience. With a lifespan of 1 year, that’s just $4 month for clean, soft water.

$49.95

Acacia also offers gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

Posted by Lauren in Natural Living, Holiday Green Gift Guide, Green Living
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