Looking to give your loved ones the gift of going green this season? We have it all. Cool home accessories and eco-friendly toys. Half-price deals on clothes and green events. Free green makeovers and killer deals at the greatest sustainable restaurants. We scoured the Twin Cities to find the coolest and most affordable green gifts for him, her, and baby, too. Now your holiday shopping just got simple---and green.

HOME AND GARDEN

Twin Cities Green store in Uptown has everything a green home’s heart desires: lighting, rugs, candles, sculptures, linens, bowls, plates, cups, cookware, and everything that can fit under one roof is made with recycled, reclaimed, and sustainable and natural materials. For that hard-to-please college kid, put together a gift set from this great, green shop —featuring great green products like stone cookware, compostable trash bags, organic cotton linens. And for a gift that's sure to please anyone, pick up a soul-pleasing candle (featuring all-natural ingredients and essential oils), decorative napkins and dishtowels, and locally made artful home accents and jewelry.

Give your loved ones the gift of time—and home cleanliness—this season with a gift certificate for a green home cleaning from Green Darlene. Green Darlene uses safe, toxic-free cleaning products that are kind to your home, health, and the environment. The eco-friendly cleaning company can do a one-time cleaning for your holiday party or as a gift to a busy friend. And a home can be scrubbed green clean in as little as a couple of hours, since a team of two people clean and shine every inch of the home using only the safest and most-natural cleaning products around.

The creators behind this cool teardrop bowl ($9.50) from the Bibelot Shop have found inspiration in the old magazines cluttering up offices, living rooms, and bathrooms. Made with re-purposed and coiled magazine pages, this artful and Earth-friendly bowl is perfect for storing keys, candies, jewelry, and more. It’s a great little that adds color—and an eco-conscious reminder---to any room. Not only is it cool to look at and a great conversation piece, it means that at least few more of those catalogs and magazines that fill mailboxes every day didn't wind up tossed into a landfill.

Let’s face it: Cleaning would be way more fun if the products were cool, non-toxic, and smelled so good that every wipe, scrub, and spray was turned into a meditative aromatherapy session. Enter Simply Neutral, a locally based company dedicated to making cleaning products that not only work, but are non-toxic, all-natural, and Earth-friendly, too. Simply Neutral’s all-purpose cleaner ($5.99) is made with tea tree and citrus oil, which leave a house smelling like relaxation and summer—the perfect thing to come home to during the cold winter days. The cleaning value-pack ($14.99) includes the cleaner, a non-abrasive cleanser, and a no-VOC glass cleaner, which help everyone’s home become a little healthier.

Specializing in organic gardening, Mother Earth Gardens is a little flower-filled haven in South Minneapolis during the summer months. In winter, the shop sells sustainable “Grown Green” wreaths, tress, tree toppers, live decorations, and more that are locally grown and assembled. Stop in to the studio to watch the gardening experts at Mother Earth whip up your very own living centerpiece, using the boldest and brightest colors found growing in the Upper Midwest. And pick up a gift certificate or two for the perfect stocking stuffer. Mother Earth Gardens also carries bird feeders, lawn decorations, wind chimes, and more to turn any drab winter scene into a thing of green beauty.

Here’s a startling fact: More than 22 billion plastic water bottles are tossed out every year. So instead of letting another plastic bottle go to waste, give someone the gift of consciousness, ease, and style this year with one of the many adorable aluminum water bottles ($16) available at Patina.The eco-friendly bottles come in floral patterns like rose, daisy, and anemone, making it the perfect fashionable daily accessory. And one gift of an aluminum water bottle can keep literally hundreds of plastic bottles out of the landfill every year.

Give your family and friends the gift of a little winter retreat with a gift certificate to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. With the Half-Price Deals web site from FM 107.1 and KS95, you can pick up a six-pack of certificates for $27 (normally $54), which are good for all Arboretum events and seasonal exhibits, including the fantastic “Waterosity,” a celebration of people, plants, and water that's fun for kids and adults alike.

Looking for green gifts that can help pals go greener every day of the year? Look no further than Natural Built Home, a South Minneapolis warehouse of all things good to the earth. Along with offering an endless supply of eco-friendly building materials, paints, and finishes, Natural Built Home also sells a fantastic green gift pack (starting at $100) anyone on your list would love. It comes with denim insulation, an electricity-usage monitor, a low-flow showerhead, kitchen and bathroom sink aerators, a lead surface test kit, Do It Green magazine, and more goodies to help your friends go green and save money every day of the year.

The ReUse Center (with locations in South Minneapolis and Maplewood) offers reclaimed building materials like wood flooring, light fixtures, cabinetry, counter tops, and more, all of which have been salvaged from homes and commercial sites. Purchase a membership ($50) for a friend or family member, and they get instant access to the newest pieces, member-only sales, and member-only specials. If you know anyone who’s in the process of remodeling, or even thinking about just redoing a tiny corner in their home, membership offers great deals on beautiful reclaimed and green items, from antiques to modern pieces to everything in between.

KIDS AND FAMILY

Eco-friendly toys get top at Green Goober in South Minneapolis, and for many of this green store’s favored brands, environmental consciousness doesn’t stop once the product hits the shelf. Colorado-based Sprig is a particularly green brand you’ll find here, offering toy vehicles that are built with a special bio-composite material made from recycled wood and plastic. Better yet, the electronic models don’t require batteries, instead running on an internal generator that’s charged up every time a child rolls it forward. At Green Goober, you can find Sprig’s pump-action Rally Racer for $25 and the safari-styled Discover Rig jeep for just under $50. For smaller budgets, consider a range of kid-friendly indoor gardening kits ($5-$20) that can get youngsters thinking about the earth long before that junior high science fair.

Talk about a zero-waste gift. Children as young as six weeks are welcome at the MacPhail Center for Music, which has spent the past century evolving into one of the Twin Cities’ most respected nonprofits. Instead of a toy instrument that could easily be outgrown or buried under a pile of competing tchotchkes, consider the gift of musical immersion and appreciation. MacPhail’s Early Childhood Music program includes the Musical Discoveries program for kids aged 2 to 4—accompanied by a parent, grandparent or other caregiver—providing them with a noncompetitive, hands-on introduction to melody, rhythm and song. At $278 for a 16-week session, that’s less than you’d pay most babysitters to simply sit your young’un down in front of an Elmo video.

The kid on your list may be too young to appreciate the neo-Dadaist nuance of Jasper Johns or the bold photorealism of Chuck Close, but the Walker Art Center’s one-site gift shop has plenty of cool gifts for growing minds. Future green-living geeks might dig the 6-in-1 Educational Solar Kit ($22), which teaches kids about solar power as they assemble a toy airboat, windmill, airplane and more. The Automoblox line of wood-based car-building kits ($10-$38) casts a creative eye on the classic toy racer. Speaking of wood, the Walker also carries a wide range of Soopsori-brand wooden toys that are sure to please parents with a distaste for landfill-bound plastics.

The Red Balloon Bookshop has been a mainstay on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue for 25 years running. As any librarian can tell you, books are among the easiest gifts to “recycle” by donating to a local library or simply passing them on to the nearest friend. But the green options run deeper here. Red Balloon staffers tipped us off to the Little Green Books series from Simon and Schuster, which engages environmental issues both on the page and at the presses. For example, author Lara Bergen’s Don’t Throw That Away! tells the tale of an eco-minded superhero who teaches children about recycling and reusing everyday stuff, and the book itself is made from 100% recycled material.

If you’re a stranger to Once Upon a Child, don’t let visions of laborious digging through mounds of thrift-store fodder cloud your impression. This formidable chain maintains a higher standard than the average Salvation Army repository, offering a clean, smartly filtered, quality-controlled selection of recycled kids’ items—from toys and books to clothing, furniture and accessories. As it is with most used retailers, the actual inventory is ever-changing, but a well-timed visit could land you a gently worn designer jumper for $10 or a high-end Bugaboo stroller for just $200. Starting Dec. 2, the Half-Price Deals website will offer consumers the chance to purchase two $25 gift certificates—redeemable at 11 area locations—for the price of one.

Like Once Upon a Child, Bella Bambino gives a second—or third, or fourth, etc.—life to gently used clothing, toys and kids’ equipment, with an eye that’s more focused on top-level brands. Unlike Once Upon a Child, it’s a small consignment-based operation with a single Burnsville location that’s only open to shoppers Thursday through Saturday. What the business lacks in scale is made up for in the effort it makes to keep fresh inventory cycling through its doors, offering free pickup services in some areas and donating unwanted or unsold items to appropriate charities. A discount on the Half-Price Deals website allows the purchase of a $25 gift certificate for $12.50.

Pacifier, an independent, forward-thinking baby boutique in Northeast Minneapolis has won a loyal following since opening in 2004, offering many cool gifts and green-minded gear that you may not find on most chain-store registries. For new parents, there’s practical stuff like the Natursutten natural rubber pacifier (priced from $8.95 and containing absolutely no chemical softeners, phthalates, BPAs or allergy-causing elements) and all-natural Dapple products designed specially for cleaning babies’ bottles, dishes, toys and surfaces (biodegradable and made without animal testing). On the sweetly frivolous side, there’s the Thymes’ nursery diffuser ($37), a flameless alternative to incense that uses bamboo reeds to scent baby’s room with natural fragrances like sandalwood and jasmine.

The Science Museum of Minnesota is a popular family destination in downtown St. Paul, catering to green gift-seekers in more ways than one. The inventory at the Science Museum’s Explore Store, including a selection of wooden toys and natural artifacts, packs an obvious appeal. But an actual museum membership represents an even greener option. On every visit throughout the year, kids can accumulate useful lessons about the environment, whether learning about climate issues or getting involved in conservation. Membership also includes free admission to Omnitheater screenings and discounts on special exhibitions. Thanks to a special promotion via the Half-Price Deals website, a single yearlong membership costs only $47.50.

Edina’s Bebe Babble is a haven for fashionable kids’ fare that combines creativity and style with a worldly sensibility. Among the boutique brands you’ll find featured at Bebe Babble is Giddy Giddy, a maker of handmade felt hairclips and pouches ($9 and up) that also supports microlending efforts to support women entrepreneurs around the world. Another worthy label is 3 Sprouts, whose charming, animal-themed canvas storage bins ($39) are made from 100% organic cotton. The store also carries wooden toys made by German company Selecta, known for using natural beeswax and food-grade coloring agents on items such as the classic Pedella duck push toy ($34). For an extra touch of green, leave your car engine turned off and shop the store’s well-tended website.

In its own words, Peapods in St. Paul rules out products made with “plastic, batteries, petroleum byproducts or cartoon characters.” While some kids may not let go of their animated heroes without a fuss, there are loads of fun, Disney-free alternatives at Peapods. Stylish toy cars made from Asian bamboo ($20), natural beeswax crayons by Stockmar ($12), and fair-trade knit hacky sacks from Guatemala ($5) are just a few of the eco-conscious playthings you’ll find. For aspiring sculptors aged 3 and up, there’s Mary’s Softdough ($10), an all-natural, Oregon-made alternative to Play-Doh that “doesn’t make your whole house smell weird.” Recent arrivals might prefer an organic, handmade cherry wood rattle by Arkansas-based Mossy Creek Woodworks ($23).

BEAUTY AND FASHION

The gift of cozy mittens might seem like a no-brainer for a fellow Minnesotan, but the unique and colorful ones at Birch Clothing are extra special: made in the USA from “upcycled” wool sweaters, these fashionable and warm little mittens are lined with recycled polar fleece. Looking to give some extra warmth? Check out Birch's arm warmers, also made from old wool sweaters, that come in solids and stripes. Both of these Birch Clothing favorites and priced at less than $40 each. And if you’re looking for something a little more personal than practical, Birch also carries a beautiful line of handcrafted Tessoro earrings, created by Minnetonka artist Deborah Bushinski. Made from natural birch bark and hand-hammered sterling silver, the earrings come in several unique styles and are less than $45 a pair.

Old Man Winter is never kind to skin or hair, so why not treat a friend to some rejuvenation with all-natural Scalp Rescue products by Max Green Alchemy of San Francisco, available locally at Twin Cities Green. Among its many great gifts, Twin Cities Green in Uptown offers shampoo, conditioner, texture paste, and styling gels that are all 100 percent natural, petrochemical- and cruelty-free, and approved by vegan.org. Pair the haircare products with a bamboo towel or a natural hairbrush and you have the perfect affordable gift; the Scalp Rescue line ranges from $12.95-$14.95.

A recycled cotton peaceful scarf from the Bibelot Shop will keep the message of "goodwill to all" going all winter long. The Bibelot Shop scarf, which is as equally lovely and artful as it is comfortable and cozy, is made from recycled cotton that would normally go to waste during the spinning, weaving, and cutting process. It's great gift for anyone on your list, and it sells for under $25.

There’s nothing like a rich body cream to soothe winter-weary skin, and this season StormSister Spatique in St. Paul is featuring Wildcrafted Shea Cream from Minneapolis-based Galen Labs. This and all the other creams and lotions in the line are natural, plant-based, and preservative- and chemical-free. Or pick up the gift of youth with affordable products from the Intelligent Nutrients Anti-Aging skin care line, created by Horst, a line StormSister owner Becky Sturm calls "absolutely fantastic" and perfect for all ages and phases, from acne-prone to mature skin. Everything in the line is USDA certified organic, gentle, and plant-based. We’re really raving about this," says Sturm.

Give the gift of a brand-new look for 2010, and keep your pocketbook happy at the same time. For a limited time you can purchase a $50 gift certificate to green-friendly Aveda Institute for only $25 via Half-Price Deals. The half-priced gift certificate is good for hair services only, all provided by supervised students. And while you're there, check out some of the organic and green beauty products, all made from all-natural ingredients and essential oils.

Wish you could afford to give the fashionista some designer duds? At Elite Repeat in St. Paul, you can. Like new, up-to-date clothing by Ralph Lauren, Jones New York, Ann Taylor and Dana Buchman frequently fill the racks at this popular consignment shop. Clothes, shoes, accessories and purses are marked down by 10 percent if they’ve been at the store for 31 days, 20 percent for 41 days and 30 percent for 51 days. Give loved one a gift certificate, an instant pass to an like-new wardrobe that's stylish and earth-friendly, too.

A pair of eye-catching wristlets from Aster and Sage available at Fast and Furless in Minneapolis make for great gifts and stocking stuffers. The fashionable and green items can be used as a wrist wallet or a change purse, or easily snapped onto a tote bag, purse, or stroller. Crafted from 100 percent recycled polyester and reclaimed soda bottles or pieces of fabric, the wristlet wallets are an affordable and eco-freindly token at $20. Fast and Furless also carries "vegan leather" wallets made from distressed polyurethane in fun colors like apple green, teal, and orange, as well as the traditional brown and black. It will be at least 10 years before you need to buy the fashionista a new wallet – the material will naturally decompose by then.

Along with a great eco-friendly and vegan wallet, how about giving the gift of a goes-with-everything basic black bag that’s not so basic? At Patina, you’ll find a sporty and simple eco-friendly “re-tired” purse that’s made of recycled tire inner tubes. Silver grommets add style along the sides and top of the bag that measures 9.5” by 12.5”. Perfect for a night on the town. $38.00, available online and at all Patina locations.

At Ecotique and The Nature of Beauty on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, affordable and natural indulgences abound. There are gift sets for moms (and babies) from ErbaOrganics, featuring stretch-mark cream and a soothing foot/leg refresher for new mom, as well as soothing creams and lotions for the wee one. Make-up gift sets by Jane Iredale are also perfect for holiday gift giving. "We offer free makeovers," says store owner Terri Bly, "which would pair perfectly with a gift certificate"Other popular items include natural perfume and room diffusers by Florascent-- a favorite for people with fragrance sensitivity-- and beautiful one-of-a kind feathered headbands by local designer Bethany Lorelle, which are made with fallen feathers found in nature.

If you find yourself at the Mall of America during the holiday shopping season (which can sometimes be hard to avoid), you can still find some great organic cotton tees and hoodies for both men and women at Sundog Trading Company, starting at around $20 apiece. Sundog carries clothing brands like Holy Cow, which makes all their shirts from sustainable fabrics, working with organic farming partners that meet or exceed Global Organic Textile Standards. Sundog also features a weekly "Sweet Deal O’Mine" on its website every week--recent finds included half-priced multi-sport shoes from Patagonia.

FOOD AND RESTAURANTS

Give the gift of green (money!) to friends and loved ones this season. The 2010 Twin Cities Blue Sky Guide from Eco Metro is only $20 and loaded with more than $3,000 worth of coupons and savings. All of the businesses must meet Blue Sky Guide’s environmental and community criteria, including defining environmental impact. The guide includes coupons for entertainment, travel, groceries, and more, and offers great discounts on food at green restaurants like Barbette, Café Brenda, Blackbird, Common Roots, Lucia’s, May Day Café, and at least two dozen others.

An interest in local, sustainable food is rising. And so are co-op memberships, which promise an investment in organic farming, sustainable foods, and a healthy community. Eleven stores with 14 locations make up Twin Cities Food Co-ops, where annual investments of about $75 include such benefits as member-only specials, 10 percent discounts on one shopping trip per quarter, and classroom discounts, among other things. Chip in and buy a membership for mom and dad, a co-worker, or a neighbor. They advantages are endless—and the fresh, local food is always delicious.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, the Birchwood Café in South Minneapolis features half-priced wines, along with a menu of organic, locally sourced, and sustainable food. Known for its dedication to local farmers, the Birchwood is also known for its unique, seasonal dishes, like roasted pumpkin risotto ($14) and a locavore cheese and crostini plate ($13). Grab a gift certificate for a pal or loved one, and while you’re at it, pick up some of Birchwood’s homemade granola to use as ingredients in your holiday cookies.

Forget a gift basket from Pepperidge Farm. Create your own handpicked wine and cheese basket from France 44, featuring organic and fair-trade wines, sustainable cheeses, and local brews. France 44 carries all kinds of great and affordable sustainable and organic wines, like Bonterra Chardonnay ($16.99), Red Truck Petit Syrah ($12.99), and Frey Zinfandel ($14.99). France 44 also carries and American Farmstead cheese sampler—along with artisan samplers from around the world—and ciders, and organic vodkas, and craftsman beers, and locally produced wines and beers to round out your basket. Not feeling inspired? Pick up a gift card and let the receiver pick their own poison. The cards come in denominations of $10, $25, $50, and $100.

The Southern-inspired menu at Brasa—featuring creole-style chicken and red beans and corn bread—doesn’t exactly scream “local.” But the ingredients do. Brasa, with a Minneapolis and St. Paul location, gets nearly 100 percent of its meat, dairy, eggs, flour, and corn meal from family-owned Minnesota farms and co-ops. Not only can Brasa cater your holiday parties for up to 200 people, but a $25 gift certificate will easily treat two people to a great, locally sourced meal.

The perfect gift for coffee drinkers on your list (the boss; the neighbor; the client; dare we say everyone?) is a gift basket from Minneapolis-based Peace Coffee ($29.99). Included in it are fair-trade Guatemalan and Ethiopian coffees, an artisan-created basket, and two glass Peace Coffee mugs. Peace Coffee is dedicated to the environment, both social and ecological, only selling sustainable, fair-trade coffees and delivering their roasted goodness on bicycles whenever possible. Looking for a stocking stuffer? A bag of roasted Peace Coffee beans warms up anyone’s heart and soul.

For some of the best locally sourced and artisan goodies, Local D’Lish is your one-stop shop. Featuring locally made spices, jams, cheeses, spreads, oils and more—all perfect items for that gift basket—Local D’Lish is like a little general store overflowing with artisan-made food and ingredients. Everything comes pre-packaged (in sustainable and reusable jars and packages, of course), making it the perfect small gift of stocking stuffer. And Local D’Lish also serves fresh produce, hosts cooking classes, and sells ready-made hot lunches featuring fresh, local ingredients. So whoever is on your list, a gift certificate or a jar of locally made honey is sure to tickle the heart and the taste buds.

For the truly good boy or girl in your life, reward them with a CSA (community-supported agriculture) membership. More than 50 small, family-owned Minnesota farms sell member shares, which promise weekly delivery of sustainably grown produce and more to members throughout the growing season. Shares can range from about $300 to $600 for the growing season, depending on what you want, and include delivery of things such as eggs, meat, milk, swiss chard, broccoli, honey, jam, pickles, cheese, heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, and did we mention the delicious sweet corn and raspberries? The list of sustainably grown goodies is endless. Deliveries are weekly and can be ordered in half-bushels (enough for two adults) or whole bushels (enough for a family of four or more).

One of the Midwest’s premier restaurants is also hailed for its menu of locally sourced food. Spoonriver owner and chef Brenda Langton, who also owns Cafe Brenda (which recently announced it will close in December) and helped launch the oft-praised Mill City Farmer’s Market, is an expert in all things local, natural, and sustainable, and her award-winning dishes at Spoonriver are proof. Entrees include Wild Acres duck confit and toe-warming slow-roasted Minnesota lamb and vegetable stew. And the lunch specials offer the perfect epicurean break for downtown workers and destination diners. Bring in mom, dad, the in-laws, or the boss for dinner and a bottle of wine before or after a show at the Guthrie next door, or give them a gift certificate that’s sure to promise an evening of award-winning, sustainable foodstuffs that they can feel good about eating, too.

The beer lovers in your life will get positively giddy over a gift of Flat Earth brews. The hand-crafted artisan ales and lagers, produced in St. Paul, are served at sustainable restaurants like Common Roots, Brasa, the Strip Club, Trotters, and others. But you can also bring home an assortment of Flat Earth brews, all served in 22 oz. bottles decorated with witty and whimsical labels, for your holiday party or for that joy-giving gift basket. More than 35 liquor stores around the Twin Cities carry the locally brewed and lip-smacking ales and lagers, such as the Winter Warlock, Black Helicopter Coffee Stout, and Northwest Passage IPA.