Eco Mother's Day gifts for any budget

Yes, you can de-gift, re-gift, DIY-gift, or make a simple gift donation in your mother's name to a good enviro-charity. But for those who want to send something a little more tangible, here are some cute new green gifts to consider:

A FREE eco-friendly Mother's Day e-card -- that benefits women's heart health to boot. While I still think a thoughtful paper card -- with post-consumer recycled content, of course -- trumps most e-cards, the Toast To Mom e-cards, created by Clos du Bois, have a cause behind them. For each card sent, Clos du Bois will donate $1 to WomenHeart, a nonprofit that educates and advocates for American women living with heart disease. Cost: FREE -- plus a $1 donation.

Solar-powered glowing flower pot decorations. The Rainforest Site has these cool Glow-in-the-Dark Flower Pot Stickers, made with hand-blown glass and seeded with phosphorescent crystals that store solar energy then glow gently in the dark. Plus, the Rainforest Site will plant a tree with every order. Cost: 3 for $19.95, plus a tree planted on your behalf.

A traditional flower arrangement -- eco-style. Don't buy the pesticide-ridden conventional flowers, many of which have lost most of their scent. Opt for Veriflora or organic certified flowers instead. Organic Style's bouquets begin at a reasonable $39.95

An eco-friendly pampering kit (right). The Lil' Lula bag from Lula Organics includes paraben-free body shampoo and soap, along with a natural wooden brush, pumice foot scrubber and both a lavender mist and lavender bag. Everything comes in a stylish striped reusable tote bag. Cost: $55

An organic wine-pear-pistachio basket. Here's the gift I'd really want to get if I were a mama. Actually, here's a gift I'd like to get, period: The Ceago Sauvignon Blanc Presentation from Organic Style. Organic pistachios, organic pears, and a yummy bottle of 2006 Ceago Sauvignon Blanc, a biodynamic AND organic certified wine by Stellar. Cost: $69.95.

A ticket to the "Celebrate the Farmers' Market" reception and dinner, happening Sunday, May 18 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. Support the Santa Monica Farmers' Market while enjoying a gourmet meal created with farmers' market ingredients by famous local chefs like Josiah Citrin of Melisse and Neal Fraser of Grace and BLD. Proceeds of the event, which also includes a silent auction and raffle, will benefit the Southland Farmers' Market Assn., a nonprofit organization representing the interests of growers in California certified farmers' markets.  Reserve your tickets  -- which are available only in advance -- by calling (310) 455-0181 or emailing howell@sfma.net. Cost: $125 per person.

Gorgeous organic, locally-grown lilies in an eco-friendly reusable bag of Ugly Betty fame. Local floral company Wisteria Lane Flower Shop's offering an arrangement of Oriental lilies, delivered in a tote bag made of repurposed juice boxes. Betty of Ugly Betty is constantly carrying  around this tote, so this gift may prove especially popular with moms who're fans of the show. Plus, 10% of the sales price will be donated to Good Shepherd Shelter and Beyond Shelter, two Los Angeles-based shelters for battered and needy women. Cost: $130 with coupon code WL0408.

Images courtesy of Toast To Mom, Lula Organics, Organic Style, and Wisteria Lane

Comments

[Heather]

You can also check out the artistic, classy, animated ecards for the Mother's day.

http://www.squidoo.com/mother-day-ecards

[Mollie Favour]

I received a Lulu gift basket and loved it.............terrific products in a reusable bag. Great gift!!!!!!!!!

[carrol]

I saw the Gerbera Tote from the same company at Akashas restuarant and it was gorgeous. My mom is getting one. I hope they keep the line going.. nice for graduation gifts - the tote is so cool.

[lesa]

YOU CALL THAT CHEEP?! 130 DOLLARS FOR A THING OF FLOWERS? THE FLOWERS WOULD DIE BEFORE YOU COULD MAKE THAT MONEY BACK I COULD TAKE SOME FLOWERS FROM MY FRONT YARD AND USE THAT MONEY TO BUY A WEEK OF GROCERIES COME ON PEOPLE YOU CAN BE SMARTER THAN THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Siel]

No, I don't call $130 cheap. Where did you get that idea?

If the lilies die before you earn $130 at your job, it sounds like you're not even making minimum wage (or perhaps you're not working full time). I suggest reporting your employer to the govt. or at least alerting a fair labor nonprofit to your plight (if your immigration status doesn't allow you to report things directly to the govt.).

[KateNonymous]

lesa, Siel is definitely not calling that cheap. If you look, the title of the post says "any budget"--and the gifts start at $1 and go up in cost from there. So there are ideas in a variety of price ranges. You know, for "any budget."