This holiday season we have our top ten gifts ideas for 2009. Everything for the green geek to the eco baby, see what tops our list:

1. iPhone Solar Skin From NovoThink ($69.95) - Charge your iPhone from the sun with this innovative skin cover from solararcadia.com
2. SIGG Water Bottles ($21.99) - Swiss-made, leach-proof, safe water bottles. SIGG bottles are manufactured in an ecologically-friendly environment and are 100% recyclable after their very long lives.
3. bumGenius 3.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers ($17.95) - It easy to switch to cloth diapers for your baby with washable, reusable diapers from Cotton Babies
4. Cascata Rain Water Collection and Storage System from Algreen ($199) - 65-gallon rain barrel makes saving rain water easy.
5. pb Bamboo Travel Blanket ($39.95) - Perfect for the traveler in your life. Bamboo is a soft and smooth fabric that provides superior ventilation and wicking.
6. El Naturalista Women's Pump ($182) - A vegetable-tanned leather shoe with microfibra lining that is antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-odor.
7. Samsung Reclaim ($29.99 and up with contract) - The eco-friendly cell phone made from 80% recycled materials.
8. Triple Home Recycle Bin from Get Organized ($75.88) - Stainless steel bin with color coded foot petals to keep your paper, plastic and glass separate.
9. Cork Furniture - Cork is a natural, sustainable, renewable, non-toxic material. Check out the designs by Corque
10. Sport Solar Oven ($135) - Solar cooking will roast meats, bake fish and chicken, steam veggies, it can even bake cookies and cooks rice and pasta with only solar energy.

Article © Lisa A Swan, Design Forward
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This holiday season, remember there are more options than just what you can find in the stores. Here are some ideas for the socially conscious person on your list this year.

Offer gifts that don't involve buying anything. For example, time together, a back rub, babysitting, offer to teach something you know how to do (e.g., making candles), donation to charity, seeds from your garden, tickets to an event (musical, lecture series, play, concert, etc.), organic house cleaning service, gift certificates for spas, music downloads, movie downloads, etc.

Other gift ideas:

• Give the gift that keeps on growing -- a tree!
• Buy gifts from Fair Trade Shops.
• Give alternative charity gifts or donate to your favorite charity in honor of someone
• Feed a child in honor of someone you love and support organization for fighting hunger.
• Consider purchasing gifts from companies focused on providing products which use renewable energy sources (i.e., solar powered radio or outdoor lighting).
• Purchase gifts made from reused and natural materials or find ideas for making your own eco gifts.
• Shop for gifts at antique stores, estate sales or flea markets.
• Donate to a local charity that is distributing holiday gifts for underprivileged children.
• Create sustainable gift baskets filled with sustainable gift items (e.g., compact fluorescent light bulbs, plastic bag dryer, organic cotton socks/scarfs/hats/etc., shower head with mist setting for lowest flow showers, organic and/or vegan snack items, organic cotton towels, shade grown coffee, fair trade gifts, solar battery charger, solar radio/flashlight, etc.)

Article © globalstewards.org
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