Inhabitat » 2006 Holiday Gift Guide

PREFAB FRIDAY: Retreat to an Ewok Eco Sphere in the Trees

What if we told you you could own your very own Ewok-meets-Aarnio hanging treehouse? Canada-based Tom Chudleigh creates these bubblicious Free Spirit Eco Spheres that sway amidst the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Available for purchase or for rent, they offer a whimsical new way to experience the outdoors.

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RECYCLING YOUR XMAS TREE

by Jill Fehrenbacher, 12/26/06

As the holidays come to a close, the gifts have been given, the cookies have been eaten, and your Christmas tree is more than likely starting to look a little crisp around the edges. It is at this point in the holiday season that the realities of the Christmas tree dilemma start to sink in. If you have a live cut Christmas tree like the majority of the US population, you are probably beginning to contemplate how to dispose properly of the tree. This point in the cycle always seems so sad, considering this tree probably took at least 10 years to cultivate and grow and was cut down for a just a few weeks of holiday pleasure.

There are better, greener ways to do the Christmas tree thing (and we’ll talk about them in detail below), but if you already have a cut tree, your best option now is to send your little tannenbaum to a better place through Treecycling. These days, most communities have treecycling centers, where you can drop your trees off without hassle and know that they will go on to start a new life providing mulch, landscaping or erosion prevention.

For treecycling locations near you, look here >

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RECYCLED CHRISTMAS

by Jill Fehrenbacher, 12/24/06

As we head into Christmas and a frenzy of gifts and gluttony, try to take a moment to step back and remember what the holidays are really about. We found Brian Smith’s story about Recycled Christmas a while back and thought it an inspiring example of what the holidays could and should really represent: celebration, thoughtfulness, and giving part of yourself.

+ Recycled Christmas

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SUSTAINABLE STYLE SUNDAY: Green Jewelry

by Jill Danyelle, 12/17/06

Jewelry always makes a great gift. Whether you lean bohemian or mod, there are a variety of sustainable yet stylish adornment options to lend that added something to your look. Check out our suggestons below for the perfect eco stocking stuffer…

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STEEL PIPE MAN-ORAH

Last year we got super excited about a recycled steel pipe menorah by Grand Idea studio. While that steel pipe menorah was just a DIY design idea and wasn’t actually for sale – this year we’ve come across a very similar steel pipe menorah that you can actually purchase for $99, from a company called Notschlock

Of course this makes us wonder a bit …

HANUKIT by Reddish

Here’s the most minimalist menorah we’ve ever seen. The Hanukit, by Isreali design duo Reddish, is a tiny Hanukah lamp designed to hold matches instead of candles. Its small stature, combined with the quick-burn of matches allow one to perform traditional Hanukah rituals on the go.

+ Hanukit

LED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

For me, nothing induces a good case of eco-guilt like Christmas tree lights. They may be gaudy, cheesy, blazing examples of over-consumption festooned across our streets, but I love them. But this year, it’s time to break free from this dysfunctional relationship and invest in a few strands of LED lights to twinkle my greenery. Compared to traditional Christmas lights, I’ll be using 1/10th the amount of electricity to light the small LED’s, and 1/160th for the larger bulbs. Beyond the expected energy savings, LED strands also burn brighter so my tree will be more jolly than my neighbors’ tawdry displays. LED’s are also significantly more durable, meaning my holiday cheer will survive the elements and twinkle for years to come.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Kids

Kids love the holidays- for the cheer, the joy, the abundance of cookies, but mostly, for the gifts. This year, why not give green gifts that are healthy, educational, and eco-friendly. The little ones will love them, and you’ll feel great about giving them. Warning: excessive cuteness ahead…

GREEN GADGET GIFT GUIDE

Let’s face it: we live in a gadget culture. And around this time of year, gadget consumption peaks as people head to Best Buy and Sharper Image to pick up shiny new gifts for their friends and families. Since we can’t fight this trend, we thought we’d suggest some cool eco-friendly electronics for your favorite gadget geeks this year.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For her

Today we continue our Green Gift Guide with clever suggestions for the woman in your life: green versions of a girl’s favorite gifts including chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, and jewelry. Indulge your girlfriend, mother, sister, or best friend this holiday season….

CHEAP GREEN GIFTS UNDER $30

It’s that time of year again, and today marks the start of our Holiday Gift Guide here at Inhabitat. Our first installment is Cheap Gifts Under $30- wallet-friendly green gifts that are great for co-workers, stocking stuffers, or the yearly white elephant party. Read on for the best cheap gift suggestions, and stay tuned in the next few days for more gift ideas for her, him, pets, and more!

CHEAP GREEN GIFTS – under $50

SUSTAINABLE STYLE GIFT-GUIDE: Eco-friendly bags

UM FELT BAGS- $38-$114
We love these UM felt clutches, totes, and wallets from Branch Home. The 100% industrial felt accessories are handmade in Oakland, California, and are perfect for your style-savvy and environmentally conscious girl friend.

SUSTAINABLE STYLE WARM UP: The best knit gifts

Its hard to buy gifts for certain people in your life, but you can never go wrong with knit accessories like gloves, hats and scarves. Everyone likes to keep their appendages warm in the winter: men, women, young and old – and you’ll be hard pressed to find something that will be more appreciated than a cozy scarf on chilly winter days. Happily there are a lot of stylish and sustainable options out there in the realm of knit accessories. Here are our top picks:

2005 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Her

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Him

UNDER $50

TOM DIXON ECOWARE – ?14.95 ? ?69.99
(Sarah)

Everyone needs dishes, and while the floral frippery of classic china may not appeal to the most masculine types, dishware can’t be written off as girly. Maverick design star Tom Dixon, has been experimenting with biodegradable plastics made from compressed natural materials such as byproducts of coconut, rice and bamboo processing. He has created a line of biodegradable plates, bowls and cups dubbed Eco Ware. This line of sustainable tableware is 85% bamboo bound with a water-soluble polymer. The best part is that after a long functional life (5 years give or take), the Eco Ware objects can be recycled into plant pots or simply composted back to the earth.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Kids

EGGLING – $8.95
(Jill)

Want to turn your little one into a green thumb? The adorable ceramic Eggling looks like Japanese lovechild of a Kinder Egg and Garden In a Bag. Crack one open, add water, and within no time, a little plant will pop up. Each comes with a terra cotta tray and seed pack. Growing is simple ? plants thrive for months in their shell and can be replanted in soil. Fun for kids and adults alike.
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RECYCLED LACE HANDBAG

If you are still at a loss for holiday gifts, have a look at the MoMA Store. It’s a great place to find one-of-a-kind items sure to please any design lovers. Here’s a little gem I discovered on the MoMA Store website.

Seizing upon the wasted remnants of fabric generated by Milan’s textile industry, Italian designer Luisa Cevese developed a technique that sandwiches lace scraps between layers of translucent plastic. The random nature …

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Dads

You know your Dad is tired of the usual socks, ties and spy novels, so why not get him something really memorable this year? I mean – the man changed your diapers, put up with your tantrums and endured endless soccer games – the least you can do is get him a thoughtful gift.

We know its hard to find something that will both make him happy and make you proud of your fabulous taste (we’re in the same boat here). So we decided it was time to delve back into the Inhabitat vaults to see if we could find any Dad-worthy gems from the past year. Here’s what we came up with:

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For your quirky uncle

UNDER $50

JULARP CANDELABRA from IKEA PS – $10
(Nicki & Kyle)

Yet another item from the IKEA PS line, the Jularp Candelabra takes its cues from the flat-pack mantra that has helped make IKEA what it is today. Similar to some of the high end (and highly elaborate) acrylic versions you may have seen, this simpler form by Ola Whilborg is made from sheet steel, and folds flat for storage. It’s tongue-in-cheek appeal is a great way to let someone know how seriously you take them.

$10 at IKEA