Alternative Holiday Gifts
Christmas usually befuddles me. I am lucky enough to own, or have access to, everything that I need and not being a huge consumer, there are very few things I want. So when someone asks me what i want for Christmas, I'm usually at a loss. I'm also at a similar loss when it comes to buying gifts for others.
So here is a list of alternative gift ideas for the non-consumer or friends that have everything, including a few gifts that can cost you next to nothing dollar-wise:
Fair trade food and gifts
www.tenthousandvillages.com
Cooking classes at home or at the restaurant
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/montreal/story.html?id=bf652a35-b3df-4c8e-b2f1-daee852abe9d&k=55770
Part of the TransCanada trail
www.tctrail.ca
A piece of Canada's boreal forest
www.wwf.ca
Protected habitat in Canada for a Yukon wolf, woodland caribou, burrowing owl...
www.gowildgifts.ca
Sport in a Box Kit for children in a developing country
www.unicef .ca
The gift of water... or a mosquito netting for child or pregnant woman in Africa
www.plancanada.ca
A donkey, a chicken or a goat... for a village in a developing country
www.oxfam.ca
Books, a classroom, or even a school for a community in a developing country
www.worldvision.ca
Nutrition gardens for AIDS orphans in Africa
www.giftsthatmatter.ca
Trees for Africa to help improve air and save soil
www.cpar.ca
Food for an elephant for a day
www.elephants.com
Disaster relief for an an area in need
www.msf.ca
www.redcross.ca
Securities (investments) for a Canadian charity (and other ideas)
www.canadahelps.org
Food for a animal shelter
Supply an organic turkey or roast for the centrepiece of your holiday meal with family or friends
www.saint-vincentbio.com
Babysitting, cleaning or home-cooked dinner certificates for a friend
Or a certificate for anything using your own skills (cooking, sewing, drawing, computer, music...)
Or if you have friends who are artists, massage therapists, or offer other services, purchase gift certificates from them to give to your other friends
So here is a list of alternative gift ideas for the non-consumer or friends that have everything, including a few gifts that can cost you next to nothing dollar-wise:
Fair trade food and gifts
www.tenthousandvillages.com
Cooking classes at home or at the restaurant
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/montreal/story.html?id=bf652a35-b3df-4c8e-b2f1-daee852abe9d&k=55770
Part of the TransCanada trail
www.tctrail.ca
A piece of Canada's boreal forest
www.wwf.ca
Protected habitat in Canada for a Yukon wolf, woodland caribou, burrowing owl...
www.gowildgifts.ca
Sport in a Box Kit for children in a developing country
www.unicef .ca
The gift of water... or a mosquito netting for child or pregnant woman in Africa
www.plancanada.ca
A donkey, a chicken or a goat... for a village in a developing country
www.oxfam.ca
Books, a classroom, or even a school for a community in a developing country
www.worldvision.ca
Nutrition gardens for AIDS orphans in Africa
www.giftsthatmatter.ca
Trees for Africa to help improve air and save soil
www.cpar.ca
Food for an elephant for a day
www.elephants.com
Disaster relief for an an area in need
www.msf.ca
www.redcross.ca
Securities (investments) for a Canadian charity (and other ideas)
www.canadahelps.org
Food for a animal shelter
Supply an organic turkey or roast for the centrepiece of your holiday meal with family or friends
www.saint-vincentbio.com
Babysitting, cleaning or home-cooked dinner certificates for a friend
Or a certificate for anything using your own skills (cooking, sewing, drawing, computer, music...)
Or if you have friends who are artists, massage therapists, or offer other services, purchase gift certificates from them to give to your other friends