| i gave my wife nothing at all - talk about creating a memory! The 'experience' conversation did mitigate the transition from 'complete disappointment in me' to a better understanding of how I despise pointless merchandise. I trust that the fun of our local day trips will eventually win her over to the 'green side'! Alex C |
| I gave my husband a membership to an ancestry site. He's having hours of entertainment growing his family tree. Capryce |
| instead of buying my teachers Christmas presents I made them paper snowflakes. Nicole |
| I took my great nieces to MacDonalds for a happy meal and playtime, while their parents had two hours of free time. Brenda |
| I wrap the Christmas gifts in pretty tea towels. I have used re-used fabric "Santa Sacks" for many years, avoiding the need for wrapping paper. Elaine |
| I'm giving as many disposable items away as possible, and I am going to use extra wrapping paper. Real Christmas Fan |
| This year my potted Christmas tree will get a whole new life, going back outside after the holidays to be planted. Krystal |
| We are supporting not giving garbage by offering gift certificates for employee incentives, friend and family gifts ... and we encourage our guests to support local shops, restaurants, spa services and activity rentals, like snowshoes & X country skis. Come to Davis Bay on the Sunshine Coast for some R&R and beautiful sunsets! www.beachsidebythebay.com Linda |
| We made a peace crane tree this year .... Snipped 4 branches from locally growing red willow and decoarated it with 100 folded origami peace cranes ... Its beautiful ! Karen Clarker |
| i am going to stop buying happy planet soup products that come come in a plastic bag!! works both ways |
| jill |
| I just saw your video on artificial vs real trees and I would like to suggest a better alternative that wasn't even considered. We reuse our real tree by keeping it alive in a pot in our backyard. We have reused it for several years now. Darlene |
| My extended family and I will be spending the weekend together downtown for Breakfast with Santa and Bright Nights instead of exchanging gifts! |
| I am giving my partner an underwater portrait with Hawaii’s #1 “Mermaid Photographer”! http://tinyurl.com/dy2hzfr Christine |
| I'm donating to charity and giving everyone cookies with a cute tag that says I've donated to the David Suzuki Foundation. Because they don't need more stuff! Tovah |
| I'm giving hugs to anyone who wants them. Sammy |
| I'm telling everyone I'm helping the environment by giving absolutely nothing apart from one hour of my time every week in my area to pick up litter for recycling. Joshua |
| A Photo Scavenger Hunt! My family was all in different cities last year, so we each took turns coming up with "clues" (e.g., comforts of home), then everyone would go take pictures to "answer the clue". We then put all the pictures in an album to share and enjoy :) Meara |
| Give cultural experiences (not trash) and support the Van Folk Fest! http://ow.ly/fPuNI Pippa |
| Last year my boyfriend got me snowshoes for Christmas. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! Sliding down Hollyburn peak after a great workout on the way up was one of the highlights of last winter. Can't wait to make more great memories in 2013. Krista |
| As a family of four we decide which charity to support every year, two local and two abroad. For a unique gift: bake dog treats for your friends who are dog owners, arrange a walk in local parks or at local mountains to enjoy the snow and scenery. For young families - if you can afford it- give them a family pass to educational venues such as the Aquarium or Science World or just visit (no charge) your local ecology centre, park, library or community centre. As a gift: buy admission to a class for all ages to the one hard to please on your list. Go by their interests- like a cooking class for your spouse/child/friend who wants to get more proficient in the kitchen.then there are home-made jams, paintings, haircuts to offer, crafts galore that can be made as a not-store bought gift. Enjoy the process!and the feeling of gift-giving. Extend your gift-giving beyond your own family and give to needy folks who are not as fortunate as you and count your blessings. Andrea Winterbottom |
| I'm giving an experience to my brother: a session at an awesome music rehearsal studio (Soundhouse Studios) to make him feel like a total rock star!! Chris |
| I'm buying all the foodies I know a container from The Tiffin Project - so that they can reduce their takeout waste in 2013! Ashley |
| Every year I give my friends a basket of homemade, organic preserves. They return the jars and baskets for filling up again the following year. No waste, no wrapping, no garbage! Chris |
| My young son and I go walking daily and gather acorns and other gifts of nature, choose some (local) aromatherapy scents, deocrate a jar and give holiday potpourri. Son and I spend time together on lots of walks, our friends and loves ones get homemade gifts. Leah |
| Don't give anything cuz it wastes resources
#swag
#merry Christmas
#trolling Mortimer |
| I run a kids art school called Crafty in Victoria, and I"m selling 'Crafty Kits' for kids! DIY kits for sewing, felt-making and more..super cute experiences to try on their own or do with a parent! http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftySchoolofArt René Sala |
| MONEY richard st.amour |
| Instead of exchanging presents, 5 of us are going to a cheap cabin where there's snow. Sam |
| I'm knitting scarves and toques and painting boats and feathers onto rocks! Caitlin |
| I'm giving friends and family handmade babysitting punch cards...hoping the kids won't punch the babysitter. Dana |
| Buy a piece of original art. They appreciate in value and support local economies. Gregory |
| ban wrapping paper . I DID Russ |
| Instead of buying any gifts, I made my family & closest friends a fabulous dinner from scratch using only local ingredients that I got from the Winter Farmers Markets around the Lower Mainland. Everyone loved it! Christine Barham |
| The tech guy I work with came over and hooked up all our stereo equipment and tv all together so that it finally works properly. The kids are totally thrilled. Lea C |
| This year our friends came over and hung new curtain rods and sewed the curtains. It was the first time in 2 years that we had curtains on our windows. It was the BEST present. Lea C |
| This year I got my boyfriend French cooking lessons at The Dirty Apron. Alicia P. |
| The Stanley Park Ecology Society offers memberships for $15-$40 to connect you with nature in Stanely Park for an entire year! Also adopting an Eagle or Heron Nest for $48-$100 could inspire Green Angels. www.stanleyparkecology.ca Ann Marie |
| We'll be wrapping gifts in newspaper and giving 'gifts in a jar' (layered cookie mixes, soup mixes, etc. with recipes attached). I'll give homemade baked goods and some special experiences too! Elyse |
| Vancouver Giants tickets for the whole family. Beth |
| a pet that kid get in christ mas
myo |
| We are taking our best friends to a holiday buffet brunch instead of buying more "things". Bobbi |
| I am giving my husband an IOU for a water taxi trip in False Creek and a trip to Granville Island to shop for dinner one night! Binky |
| one of the best gift that i bought me was an ipad!!! kkkkkkkk |
| If you want "green" gift, have a look at this really cool website ;-)
http://www.toutallantvert.com/ Dianne |
| im going to start studying next year!! because i need to enter university. However, i dont know if i would be able to do it Pedro |
| Here's a yummy idea: homemade scone mix made out of organic spelt and hand-ground organic oatmeal. Julie |
| One of the greatest gifts I have ever received was a Kiva.org gift card from my brother. Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva works with microfinance institutions to lend money to people in underdeveloped country to futher their businesses such as farming, cloth making, etc. The people pay back the loan so you get your money back over time so you can lend the same money over and over again to different people in need. It's fantastic! Cheryl |
| I'm giving my sister a wild killer whale adoption from the Vancouver Aquarium. She just moved from BC to Ontario so this will be a little reminder of home. Even better the packages are made with recycled material and the money supports wild killer whale research. Meghan |
| I'm going let my car run for 3 hours in the driveway with the heat on and the windows down to help warm up the neighbourhood. And then I'm going to take my plastic bag collection and set it free in the wild, because I don't know any better. Thank goodness Metro Vancouver was here to set me straight :) So Tired |
| What an annoying campaign.. what infant came up with this? As a child, I used to be "instructed" on how I should live my life... and thank goodness I'm now a conscious adult who does NOT need some "green" campaign to help me think. And guess what.. everything on planet earth comes from planet earth. There really is no such thing as "garbage" It's simply a transfer of energy. Still A Free Country |
| We are giving my nephew and son two animal encounters (beluga and sea turtle) at the Vancouver Aquarium. Ann-Marie |
| Last year I bought everything second hand. It was so much fun visiting used book stores and thrift stores, and I could afford to get so many more clothes for my sister that way. Ann |
| For the "hostess with the most-ess", I'm bringing a gift of meaning from www.imaginegifts.ca to the party instead of candles, chocolates, more wine, etc. Lauren |
| How about giving a gift certificate for horse riding lessons for adults or kids,or for the kids, a summer riding or farm camp. Maynards Pony Meadows |
| I give my seat to elderly people if I go with the Sky train or Translink, Make some hot tea and cookies and bring it to the the people in need,hug a stranger on the street and wish Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year. No garbage this way. Edit |
| Save the comic section of the newspaper and wrap the gifts in that!
We do it every christmas plus if your present can't be used right away you can always read the comics to fill the time! Rachel H |
| Wrap your gifts in tea towels, seasonal guest towels or lovely fabric napkins. Diane |
| For the foodie who has everything send them iPhone app Tip This, the interactive master-class in fine dining crowning users Restaurant Royalty. Send it directly from the App Store to their iPhone/iPad and leave exhausting mal trips and litter to the Walmartyrs! Patrick Malone |
| My family is buying experiences while vacationing ie spa, hotel, dinners and golf! No shopping needed! Jordan |
| One of the best gifts I ever received was from my best friend, Andrea. Knowing that I'm always rushing around with little time to cook, she made me a month's worth of delicious homecooked meals. I came home to a freezer and fridge filled with lasagnas, stuffed chicken breasts, and shepherds pies! All I had to do was pop them in the oven. Yum! Eddy Tan |
| If you know someone that loves to ski or snowboard what about a HitchWhistler Membership Card? Gives them loads of local discounts here and up the hill! Anne-Marie |
| An avid gardener might appreciate the gift of a community garden plot to a vulnerable family or senior, on their behalf. For gift ideas for artists, coaches, outdoor fans, foodies, and others on your list, check out:
www.imaginegifts.ca
Esther Berube |
| I sew. I love to give coupons to friends for one hour of mending or sewing. It's amazing what you can get done in a hour. People love this gift. NOt only are you giving time, but you are often extending the life of a garment! It's a double green gift! Jean Prescott |
| I'm taking my mum and mother-in-law for a fabulous dinner on a Carol Ship! I'm also giving my sister home made babysitting coupons. Claudia |
| Each member of my family choses a charity and the others make cash donations in their name. That way we help others and get tax receipts in return! Laurie |
| I give babysitting coupons to my briother-in-law every year. Not only does he get free babysitting but i get to spend some quality time with my nieces-without their parental units Judith Wheeler |
| My grandchildren are each receiving gift certificates to the North Van Rec. centre programme of their choice. Donna |
| Gifts expertly custom made from from scratch are my favourite. That way I can tangibly express feelings of appreciation for my loved ones. Greg |
| I love to make my own Christmas cards. It's my chance to really connect with my heart to wish peace and happiness for all my friends and
family.
Marianne |
| Don't forget to make a donation in the spirit of giving and philanthropy to a charitable ogranization, especially a Community Foundation. David Spence of Port Moody |
| My bestt friends and I normally exchange Christmas gifts, but instead, this year we are skipping the gift-giving and celebrating by having a pot luck dinner and festive drinks together with our husbands. Cheryl |
| I'm going to be sponsoring a pair of rescued turkeys at Farm Sanctuary for my grandmother, who loves animals. Becci |
| Save a Tree rent a live Christmas tree
At Tri-Star Nurseries,5047 184th Street, Surrey BC, we have been promoting this idea for four years I can email you a flyer with more details if you like.
Call us at (604) 576-6732 Ghada / Manager |
| Each year since leaving home, my mother has sent me “presents” of things I left behind or “things she’s found around the house”. Small things, from books and photos to accessories and dishes. It started off as a joke; but has turned into something very special. I look forward to receiving the mementos of our past but more importantly, hearing the stories that go with them. Sarah |
| This year im taking my girl friend that i've been with for 4 years to the daminican republic and proposing to her on the beach over some shampain ;) Ashton |
| I'm getting snowshoes for my husband, son and daughter as a gift that will keep on giving as we take our dog Beowulf on lots of fluffy snow hikes!
Ann |
| I'm treating my family to a night at the Symphony of Fire. Peter |
| This year I'm giving a pair of pigs to a third world family - in my brother's name (tax deductible and easily done online through Plan Canada or World Vision)
Mary |
| For the past few years my family has agreed to exchange only "consumable" gifts - i.e. gourmet treats, wine,restaurant gift certificates, etc. Minimal waste, maximum enjoyment. Lynne |
| My wife will be thrilled that I thought ahead, this year I’m taking her to the Prince concert. Dan |
| A few of us are pitching in to buy my niece a snowboard and lift tickets – and I’m going to teach her how to board! Judy |
| I think I’ll paint winter scenes for my friends. Glenn |
| I’m low on funds this year, but my friends always say they love my baking. So I’m making each of them a package of cookies. I hope they enjoy them with their families. Kalinda |
| My dad always talks about adventure, so I’m going to surprise him with bungee jumping. Ha! Lena |
| I’m giving my boss a case of locally brewed beer! Lisa |