Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday. There is a certain totemic heft to traditional Mother's Day gifts that even the most eco-conscious child wants to respect. So here are some suggestions for tweaking your Mother's Day shopping list, to reflect your love of both the woman who raised you, and your Mother Earth.
Len Busch roses Flowers--roses especially-- are practically expected on Mother's Day, but what about the nasty carbon footprint of flown-in stems, or the substandard labor practices of some growers? The Busch family has been growing flowers for generations, and maintain a large complex of greenhouses just up the road in Plymouth. Here are locally-grown stems to delight, not guilt--and the short travel time means they last that much longer. Available at the
Wedge Co-Op and other locations, listed on the Len Busch website.
Batik Products from Global MamasGlobal Mamas is a remarkable local nonprofit that connects women in Ghana with a consumer base for their baby clothes, batik garments, and shea butter products. Global Mamas itself sells only to wholesalers--like the Smithsonian Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago, but also, the Midtown Global Market!--but they do open their warehouse in Minneapolis to the public on the second Saturday of every month. You can get your mom a bright, crisp, batik-print apron or fresh summer frock, and help an mom a half-world away on her path towards economic independence.
Natural Nail Manicure at Fusion LifespaDone nails are so posh and ladylike, but the foul chemicals used in many polishes have no place on our mothers' hardworking hands. At Deephaven's Fusian Lifespa, they'll give Mom a "natural nail" manicure, without the phalates and formaldehyde. Best of all, it comes with a hand massage, sure to be appreciated.
Wild Food Foraging Walk Thursday May 20 6:30-8:30
Your mom wants to spend time with you, and this
Seward Co-Op foraging class, led by naturalist Martha Zemur, is a great way to get some fresh air together while learning about edible plants that have been growing under your nose the whole time. The two-hour walk isn't overly taxing, and you might actually get your mother to try a nettle.
Brunch at the Red Stag Nothing is more traditional than taking Mom out for mimosas and omelets on the morning of her special day. There are a lot of Twin Cities restaurants serving sustainable food, but the Red Stag Supperclub in Northeast Minneapolis has LEED certification, making it a tip-to-toe green-restaurant effort--one that takes itself seriously enough to feel like a destination.
Gift Card to Mother Earth Gardens City Pages recently named this Longfellow shop the Best Gardening Center of 2010. With its commitment to organic gardening, sustainable plants, and community education, this is a great place to send your mom to find for something more adventurous for her yard than her good old hostas. Or her impatiens. When you buy the gift card, try to stipulate, "Not to be used for impatiens."
Blue Sky Guide She belongs to what will probably be the last generation of Americans to use paper coupons, so why not buy her a Blue Sky Guide? It's packed with deals on eco-friendly businesses and experiences, and most of the coupons are good through this October. You could even snap a picture of her presenting the coupon to a merchant, to show your children when they come across the archaic concept in a book a decade from now.