With just a little over a week to go before the day of cupids and arrows is upon us, even the most love-struck, eco-inspired individuals may run out steam in the gift department. While the traditional go-to-gift, a bouquet of flowers, is what many of us reach for when grand plans or creative gift hunting aspirations go astray, a simple cluster of twelve blooms can take quite a bite out of the wallet. Even if you seek out organic varieties in an effort to stay the green course, your minimum $50 investment does nothing to impact the reality that they will eventually still wither away and die. Hmmm, that’s not so sustainable for your finances or the planet.
Instead, why not consider offering the object of your affection flora and/or greenery that will thrive well beyond the holiday? A real, live houseplant will not only beautify their surroundings but also filter out common toxins like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene that circulate within their interior environment (the result of synthetic building materials, carpeting and decorative elements). Plant varieties like the Chinese evergreen, ivy, peace lily, dracaena, pothos, mother-in-law’s tongue, ficus and split-leaf philodendron have been proven to be more effective at cleaning air than HEPA filter appliances and they’re certainly more energy efficient – no wall outlet required!
In a 1989 study, NASA found that a plant taking up residence in a 6 – 8 inch diameter pot is quite effective at filtering 90 square feet of space, which means that you’d need to purchase approximately 20 plants of the same size to filter the air in an average 1,800 square foot house. Imagine what a grand Valentine’s Day gesture that would be for a green squeeze!
Still, you might want to rely on a back-up plan that still has the heart necessary to dazzle your love without depleting you of your 401(k). Go to your local landscaping nursery and assemble a homemade ‘sunshine’ kit consisting of a packet of cheerful organic flower seeds nestled in an attractive flower pot, paired with a bag of organic potting soil. Or, seek out culinary herb seeds that work well on a kitchen windowsill. You can get as inventive with your presentation as you desire (using reclaimed wrapping materials, etc.) or you might want to cut to the chase and assemble all of the elements in the pot ahead of time prior to Valentine’s Day. Then let your potentially underwhelmed recipient, flummoxed by the sight of a pile of dirt in a container, know that each time they water the soil, they will be reminded that your love grows stronger as the days pass. In fact, write some sort of variation of that theme on a bit of recycled cardstock and tape it to the pot, or paint your sentiment on the pot itself for an enduringly sweet message that stands the test of time. Now that’s romantic, heart-felt and as green as it gets!
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Have you done anything for your valentine that breaks the convention of flowers and bouquets? Has it been especially eco-responsible and green?? Would you like to tell us what your grand gesture was and how your sweetheart reacted??? Then you know what to do...work that keyboard! :)
http://agricultureguide.org/v-day-cometh-consider-breaking-free-from-the-bouquet-straightjacket/
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