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Green Gift Giving

“Living Green in the Lehigh Valley”

Produced by Annie Prince and co-hosted by Annie Prince and Bruce Wilson.

Aired on Tuesdays, Dec. 4 & 11 at 6 p.m. during NPR’s “On the Media” and Wednesdays, Dec. 5 & 12 at 5:45 p.m. during NPR’s “All Things Considered”.

This holiday season giving gifts that are environmentally sound in every way is how we try to spread the message of a green, earth-friendly consciousness to the people we exchange presents with.

Of course, the "greenest" gifts are those that you can make yourself, and are probably the ones that are the most cherished by the recipients.  You can make green gifts from materials easily accessible from nature and your own garden.

Supporting the Buy Fresh, Buy Local theme is a focus for us year-round and you can still take advantage of going to the local farmers markets by shopping at the indoor Allentown Farmers Market all year long and at the newly opened indoor Easton Farmers Market open only on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nurture Nature Center in Easton. Their website is: eastonfarmersmarket.com  
You can find all kinds of tasty treats made from locally grown produce, as well as the produce itself at both markets which also have bakeries.  The Easton market has some local craftspeople with their handmade products. 

Go to the website:  buylocalgreaterlehighvalley.org to find a map of local farmers and craftspeople who sell their wares directly from farms or studios.

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council has a directory of artists from whom you can purchase their work, arts organization which you can support by becoming a member or buying tickets to their productions and schools and artists who offer classes in arts education, all of which make great gifts.  Visit their website at:  lvartscouncil.org

A new gallery in the Lehigh Valley is FloreAnt Projects Gallery which is in Emmaus and specializes in "Sustainability through the Art of Photography".  The extraordinary photographs by Florence and Anthony Rodale are complemented by the work of renowned photographers showing scenes locally and from around the world.  Beautiful gifts made of lavender grown on their own local farm and jewelry by local artisans as well as stationary and photography books complete their product line.  Visit: floreantprojects.com for their hours and directions to the gallery.

One of my favorite local shops is Home and Planet on Third Street on the Southside of Bethlehem, which specializes in high style, earth-friendly products made locally and around the world.  During this holiday season, 12 unique Pop-up shops are selling their wares at Home & Planet, including the renowned Blue Fish Clothing Co.   This green and sustainable gift emporium is open 7 days a week. 
The website is: homeandplanet.com
 

The mission of the "Ten Thousand Villages" stores is to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships.  Their local store is at the outdoor shops at the Lehigh Valley Mall and is open seven days a week. This store is a non-profit organization, a program of the Mennonite Central Committee exemplifying the slogan "Think globally, Act Locally" in the true spirit of this holiday season.

Their website is: lehighvalley.tenthousandvillages.com

Please support your local musicians by buying their CDs and going to Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse and other local venues.

Support your local National Public Radio station for the Lehigh Valley WDIY which plays the music of local singer-songwriters.  Go to WDIY.org to become a member and to buy memberships for gifts.

When choosing your gifts for this holiday season, make the decision to buy green and buy local while supporting Planet Earth and those in need.
Happy Holidays! 

Alison DelRe is the Director of Community Relations and Account Associate at WDIY.