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Things that are hand-made have a special
significance. Along with the items themselves, they carry a message of
thoughtfulness and care, which is what gift-giving is really all about:
significance. Along with the items themselves, they carry a message of
thoughtfulness and care, which is what gift-giving is really all about:
- Recipe Book: Gather favourite recipes from your friends and family, and put them
together into a recipe book. By adding photos, drawings or a line or two about
each contributor, you can make the book even more personal. Binding can be as
simple as a three-ring binder. Or you can use heavier card stock to make front
and back covers, and finish the book with cerlox or coil binding available at a
print shop or quick copy centre. - Edibles: Baking
will always be appreciated, especially if it contains chocolate! Home-baked
holiday goodies are a tasty gift. Cookies, fudge, jam, relish, pasta sauce –
things that are literally consumable will be well received at any time of year.
And who wouldn’t appreciate a pan of lasagne, a pot of stew or a favourite
casserole? One thing – if you are doing munchable gifts, make sure you know the
tastes (and allergies, if any) of the recipients. - Plant Cuttings:
Cuttings from plants that you have around your home make for a great personal
gift. Look in second-hand stores for unique containers like teapots, mugs and
bowls to use as planters. Alternatively, a package of seeds will be a pleasant
reminder of friendship during next year’s gardening season. - Arts and Crafts: Use
your time and skills to make something unique. For example: Make a wooden toy,
paint a watercolour, personalize a towel. Decorate photo frames, T-shirts,
candles or a container for pens. Knit a scarf, crochet a hat, sew potholders.
Make book ends, a storage box or letter holder. Make an ornament, a sock
monkey, a hemp necklace, table centrepiece or wreath.
Giving an item an extra life helps reduce our use of new resources. And
as any antique-hunter can tell you, browsing through vintage shops, consignment
stores and goodwill outlets looking for treasures can be a lot of fun!
as any antique-hunter can tell you, browsing through vintage shops, consignment
stores and goodwill outlets looking for treasures can be a lot of fun!
- Books, Music and Movies: Find newer releases at a fraction of the cost, or go for time-tested
and familiar classics. - Clothing: Comfy
sweaters, flashy silk scarves, or a funky hat or bag … with a bit of effort,
you’re bound to find a new favourite. - Housewares and More: Thrift
shops can be an ideal place to find a wide range of unique items in very
serviceable condition – vases, platters, trays, fancy cups, candleholders, and
much else. Or you might run across a musical instrument, garden tools,
cross-country skis, binoculars, art supplies or retro-style furniture!
Giving a gift of service requires the use of little or no natural
resources. Whether you buy a gift certificate from a professional, or give a
coupon offering your own time, it will be a welcome treat.
resources. Whether you buy a gift certificate from a professional, or give a
coupon offering your own time, it will be a welcome treat.
- Time: Instead of giving a
physical thing, invite family and neighbours to a seasonal-themed party. Have a
pot luck dinner. Sing songs, play games, tell stories. Make people the focus of
your holiday time. - Services: Creating
coupons that offer free babysitting or housecleaning, snow shovelling, a neck
massage or a special treat can mean more than a stocking stuffer. - Skill-sharing/Lessons: Music,
cooking, languages, pottery, knitting, sewing, yoga, home-repair, bike
maintenance.
Consider giving a gift that will keep on giving… to the environment.
Check out some of these items which will save energy, resources and money. Your
friends and the environment will thank you!
Check out some of these items which will save energy, resources and money. Your
friends and the environment will thank you!
- LED Night Lights: They
provide the right amount of light, run cool, and use a fraction of the
electricity that conventional incandescent bulbs use. - Stapleless Stapler: It’s
a small piece of office equipment that attaches pages to each other
without using any staples. - Wind-Up Radio or Flashlight: You never need to replace the battery! A hand crank provides the
power. - Solar-Powered Battery Charger: Uses freely available sunlight to re-charge batteries.
Good luck creating your
sustainable holiday, and have fun!
We wish all of you a wonderful, peaceful season. And remember that the
best gift is to be grateful for those we love and to tell them we love them –
Happy Holidays from the YNC!
sustainable holiday, and have fun!
We wish all of you a wonderful, peaceful season. And remember that the
best gift is to be grateful for those we love and to tell them we love them –
Happy Holidays from the YNC!