By Jeanine Behr Getz

Photographs by ChiChi Ubiña

As we fast approach the holiday season of celebration and extraordinary gift giving and receiving we all want to choose the perfect gifts for our loved ones and friends, right? Need some new ideas? FCL asked several women in conservation from Fairfield County what is on the top of their lists.

Be not simply good - be good for something.
-- Henry David Thoreau

Rhonda Sherwood, Darien, CT, is the Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center and a sought after speaker on Reducing Environmental Toxins and their Impact on Children. Rhonda reminds FCL that whatever gift she may buy or give, it never travels inside a plastic nor paper bag. Plastic or paper? Neither!

FCL: Who’s on your green gift giving list this holiday season?

RS: Everyone, I try to make every gift I give a green gift, throughout the year. Whether it is wine for a dinner party, a hostess gift or a gift for a teacher, family member or a friend.

FCL: What makes a gift green for you?

RS: I do have a very specific check list. The top 5 things I check for:

1. I do gift organic
2. I do not gift products with “fragrance” on its ingredient list (it usually appears near the end of the list)
3. I do gift products containing essential or botanical oils
4. I do not gift products wrapped in PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
5. I do gift phthalate free products

FCL: I need some new gift ideas, what do you gift to teachers?

RS: Avalon peppermint scented body butter

FCL: To friends?

RS: John Masters organics or Green & Black’s Organic chocolates in a reusable bag made from recycled materials.

FCL: How about for the teenagers in your life?

RS: The gift of awareness that living a green lifestyle is healthier for them and the environment. ...Geeee Mom!!!

FCL: What’s on your green wish list this year?

RS: A hybrid car

FCL: Hope Santa is listening!

Lin Lavery and Elizabeth Darling are the Chair and Vice Chair of the Conservation Committee for Hortulus, Greenwich, CT. Lin is a respected public leader dedicated to environmental and community minded focuses and Elizabeth is continuously learning and sharing new ways to green her life and her family’s.

FCL: What green Christmas traditions do your families have?

LL: On Christmas morning we leave the mess and take a walk at the Babcock Preserve

ED: We save all the pretty satin/taffeta ribbon that adorns our gifts to reuse next holiday season.

FCL: What green gifts do you like to give?

ED: I love to bake my Grandmother's “Rum cake” to give as Christmas gifts to dear friends. This is a "secret" family recipe that is edible, delicious and therefore doesn't add to the closet clutter of unused gifts.

LL: Before Christmas, I like to bake cookies for my friends so they have a little extra energy on hand. I love to make photo books for my family.

FCL: What do you have on your green gift wish list?

LL: It would great if my children would put some of their music on my iPod and give me a great book they read.

ED: I would like to receive a water filtration system for my home so I don't use water bottled in plastic containers.

FCL: Naughty or nice?

LL & ED: What? We are nice!

FCL: Of course, but do you have any naughty not so green in your holiday gift giving or receiving?

ED: My SUV is "naughty" but necessary as I have 3 children and 2 large dogs that travel in my car. Perhaps there is a hybrid, clean diesel or flex-fuel SUV in my future?

LL: I'm naughty with the wrapping paper but I do a little better each year. With the really special Christmas cards, I make new tags and I also use them to decorate boxes.

Daphne Dixon, Fairfield, CT, is the Executive Director of Conscience Decisions and Director of Green Towns- American Towns. Daphne is an eco-entrepreneur and a trail blazer of gathering like-minded people, companies and towns encouraging learning, sharing and networking of sustainable ideas and community focused events.

FCL: What are your favorite green traditions during this holiday season?

DD: Well I am part Native American, part Norwegian and celebrate Winter Solstice and Christmas. Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. We have a wonderful tradition to watch and celebrate the sunset; it’s almost like celebrating New Year.

FCL: What a peaceful and beautiful way we can all celebrate and give thanks for.

FCL: How do you choose the green gifts you give to family and friends?

DD: I usually pick a theme each year. I make sure the gifts I give are practical, fun and are sustainable and healthier substitutes for items my friends and family are already using, like beauty, body care or household products. I try not to preach “green” but gift green.

FCL: What is on your green gift wish list?

DD: I really enjoy watching the birds in my yard and am asking for a solar bird bath. It’s magic seeing all these birds in the dead of winter enjoying a bath.

FCL: Don’t know if that lipstick, body butter, soap or hand cream you are gifting is healthy? Look it up on http://www.ewg.org/skindeep

I couldn’t help throwing some personal thoughts into this article. A friend sent me an email encouraging me to add buy American on Main Street to my healthy and sustainable green gift giving this holiday season and from now on!

Here are some of his thoughts:

This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.

Skip, reuse or at least cut down on the boxes, wrapping paper and bows.

How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber? A gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed or an oil change for their car? Small detail shops and carwashes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant gift givers? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would appreciate organic lawn service, or their driveway shoveled all winter, or an estate piece of jewelry.

There are many owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. At a loss for family green gifts? What about family memberships or donations to local museums, nature centers and other nonprofit organizations.

Are you in?

I am! I am reworking my green gift giving and wish lists to reflect my commitment to buying American and buy local.

For stocking stuffers: any product from Hugo – Whole Foods

For friends & teachers: Gift certificates to local restaurants

For the hubby: Shhhh, don’t tell him…dance classes with me at Arthur Murray

My daughter – I am most positive to find sustainable toy or two and get her a holiday haircut at Grahams on Greenwich Ave.

For myself…still thinking!

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Send us your local green gift ideas: jeanine@fairfieldcountylook.com.

Jeanine Getz, our Eco Editor, is an author and founder of Kids Think Big, LLC. She is committed to environmental advocacy locally, nationally and abroad. She works with organizations, including National Audubon Society, Mt. Sinai’s Children’s Environmental Health Center, Connecticut Fund for the Environment and Seeds of Green to raise awareness and to improve the health of our children and the natural habitats that teach, inspire and sustain us all.