Dallas - Fort Worth Holiday Green Gift Guide

By Julie Thibodeaux    

Are you planning a green Christmas this year? Eco-friendly shopping is easier than ever. Many environmental groups like the Sierra Club offer holiday packages. For example, for $25, you can encourage a budding naturalist when you Sponsor a Wild Place, one of 12 national parks, in their name. In return, the recipient receives a backpack or plush toy representing one of the park’s native animals, such as a mountain lion, black bear or tarantula. [Photo: Sponsor a Wild Place in a loved one’s name through the Sierra Club.]

Meanwhile, local green retailers like the Greener Good thegreenergood.com in Fort Worth, Green Living green-living.com and Green Pet  greenpetdallas.com
in Dallas have loaded their shelves with everything from earth-friendly stocking stuffers to big tag green items. Following is a list of green gift ideas gathered from the east and west sides of the Metroplex.


For Women
Put a green twist on a classic holiday gift for women by wrapping up an eco-chic accessory. The Greener Good in Fort Worth features a great selection of organic cotton and bamboo women’s apparel -- everything from leggings to cardigans to scarves in fun colors.

 

The eco-conscious woman in your life will also love finding one of these plush bamboo bath robes under the tree. For a little green bling, the store also carries a variety of stunningeco-friendly jewelry, including these cork necklaces, made in Portugal, with bracelets and earrings to match.


    
Pampering or home decor gifts are always welcome, too. With that in mind, Green Living in Dallas has assembled environmentally friendly holiday baskets for $100 each. A bath-themed basket is packed with bamboo and organic cotton bath towels, all natural soap and a beeswax candle. Theglassware gift baskets showcase gorgeous recycled glassware from Fire and Light and the Green Glass Company.   [Photos: Bamboo bath robes. Cork necklace. Both from the Greener Good.Bath-themed basket. Glassware gift baskets. Both baskets from Green Living.]

For Men
    
The Greener Good keeps plenty of eco-gifts on hand for men. Guys will love these retro-looking organic cotton T-shirts that boast the phrase “Locally Grown.” Key chains made from old bike chains sport a handy bottle opener. You’ll also find iPad covers, money clips and wallets, made from all natural cork. Photos: Organic cotton T-shirt. Bicycle chain key chain. Both from the Greener Good.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: No-VOC Mythic paint. Gardener’s basket. Both from Green Living.

For the eco-conscious home improvement buff, pick up a gallon of no-VOC Mythic paint from Green Living and throw in a color fan deck and paintbrush. Or grab Green Living’s gardener gift basket, which includes a copy of Howard Garret’s Texas Gardening the Natural Way and a 25-foot hose for $100.
  

For Kids, Teens and Young Adults

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re shopping for kids, you’ve got a lot of green choices. The Greener Good carries a variety of children’s apparel made from organic cotton and bamboo as well as eco-friendly toys and board games. Consider picking up a pack of soy crayons or soy markers and a recycled paperboard rocket playhouse to draw on as they play. Mittens and scarves by Cate and Levi are handmade from reclaimed felted wool and come in cute animal patterns. Also kids love the Oomfy stuffed animals, especially knowing each one replicates a real rescued wild animal. Photos: Soy crayons. Handmade scarf. Oomfy elephant.from The Greener Good
 
For teens and young adults, snap up this unique handmade jewelry created from old guitar strings by Eye on the Sparrow Designs. The Dallas-based artist who makes the jewelry scrawls the name of the local musicians who donated their used strings on the tags. Also, keep the young person in your life charged up sustainably with the Powermonkey solar-powered phone charger and solar-powered blue tooth stereo speakers. 
Guitar string necklace. Powermonkey solar-powered phone charger. All from the Greener Good]

For Pets

 

 

Pick up a Bottle Bud for your dog at Green Pet in Oak Cliff. These cute sleeves in holiday designs turn an empty water bottle into a toy. And look for the Eco-Luck collars from Dublin Dog made from recycled plastic. The Greener Good also carries fun pet gifts, including dog toys made from recycled rubber and healthy natural cat treats.  Photos: Penguin Bottle Bud dog toy. Eco-Luck collar. Both from Green Pet. Natural treats for cats.  from the Greener Good.

Here are some more eco-friendly gift ideas:
Little green gifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Organic artisinal candy drops. This delicious all natural candy by Yummy Earth makes a great stocking stuffer and comes in a variety of yummy flavors: cinnamon, strawberry smash, butterscotch, pomegranate pucker, wild peppermint and very very cherry. Available at the Greener Good.

• Cotton string shopping bags. Show someone you care about them and the Earth with these reusable natural cotton grocery bags. These are easy to tuck in a purse or glove compartment.

 • Elephant PooPoo Paper. This outrageous eco-gift, made from recycled elephant refuse, is sure to be a conversation starter. The whimsical stationary also supports a good cause -- a portion of proceeds go to elephant conservation. Available at the Greener Good.
Photos: Yummy Earth organic candy. Elephant PooPoo Paper. Both from the Greener Good. Cotton string bags from Green Living.


Big green gifts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Natural pillows. Green Living sells premium pillows made from environmentally friendly materials, including organic cotton, wool, natural latex and buckwheat. Here’s your chance to snag a luxury green gift for a bargain. Buy a pair of wool pillows for $100, now until New Year’s.
• Composter’s dream. For the holidays, Green Living has bundled some popular composting items, including a Spin Bin composter, a stainless steel countertop compost keeper and a package of Compost Thrive for a special price of $200.

Bodhi
electric bike. If you’re looking for a wow item to put under tree, this
may be the year to splurge on this innovative electric bike. Geared to
commuters, the Bodhi bike can be peddled or ridden up to 20 mph. The
founders of the Fort Worth-based bicycle company named it after the
bodhi tree, which symbolizes Buddhist spiritual enlightenment. The
e-bikes are sold at the Greener Good for $2,500.

Photos: Organic wool pillow from Green Living. Spin bin from Green Living. Bodhi bike from the Greener Good.

 

 


The Greener Good
925 Foch Street
Ft. Worth, TX 76107
Phone: 817-877-4767
http://thegreenergood.com/

 
 

 

Green Living - Design District
1130 Dragon St, Suite 140
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 214-821-8444
http://www.green-living.com/

 

 

 

Green Pets - Dallas
315 North Bishop Avenue 
Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 942-6042
http://www.greenpetdallas.com/


Julie
Thibodeaux is a Fort Worth-based writer covering green trends,
sustainable living and environmental issues. Previously she worked as a
writer and editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Contact her at
julie@jthibodeaux.com.