@dannyboy This is a great thread. Many of us don't need more stuff, but experiences are irreplaceable.
@jeanne-mayell @dannyboy My Pops got me tickets to the Picasso/ Alexander Calder exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. These are two of my most favorite artists, and i am beyond excited!
in case you haven't seen it yet, this little video is a Christmas present to the world, from Norway
❤️
A sustainability group in my town just sent out these holiday gift ideas for gifts that reduce the carbon footprint.
By Eliza Letteney. This year, instead of letting the shopping rush make you feel like a frenzied consumer, discover ways to shrink your ecological footprint and calmly prepare for remaining festivities. Here are a few tips for locating and wrapping gifts in a stress-free and sustainable way.
- First, do a little brand research. Identify items that will last, are produced and packaged sustainably, that offer refills and are made out of reused materials so that when you are out shopping you can locate them.
- Gently used is au courant. Consider a vintage or pristine second-hand item. Wellesley has a number of Facebook groups including Give & Take that post some extraordinary finds for free. Sometimes the best gift is something practical that a sibling or friend really needs. There are a range of home furnishing and clothing consignment shops in and around town.
- Avoid products that have to travel far by air, sea or highway. Pollution generated by that voyage should be factored into a gift’s footprint. If you order from a distance, consider buying in bulk. A favorite bath salt packaged in pretty cardboard containers may be the perfect present for a number of people on your list.
- Shop local to not only support your area's businesses but also to save on the packaging and carbon emissions to ship. In addition to the usual retail offerings, Wellesley has several holiday-specific pop-up stores worth browsing. Remember that locally made specialty food items like jams, maple syrup, cheeses, homemade crafts, candles, soaps, and art make terrific gifts.
- Better yet, make your own. A tin of cookies or handmade candies, apple butter, pickles, a simple hand-knit hat, tie-dyed cotton socks, a bulb planted in a reused planter, or a gift certificate to offer a helping hand on a project are heartfelt gifts and sure to be well-received. (See Jeanne's incredible holiday cookie recipe in earlier post!)
- Experiences, like a cooking class or a gift certificate for a massage, make wonderful gifts. Many nonprofits also offer opportunities to give in someone’s name to plant trees, fund a shoreline cleanup or support efforts to speak out on environmental justice issues.
@unk-p That exhibit is going to be fastasmic. And I found the Christmas video very moving (and totally unexpected). The final words moved me to tears - In 2022 Norway marks 50 years of being able to love whoever we want.