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For some of us, Valentine's Day is a nice reason to show someone you love how much you care for them. It isn't about extravagant gifts or outlandish plans; there are no pink packages or candy hearts involved. But that doesn't mean that you can't be romantic and celebrate your love; just don't do it without over-wrapped chocolates and red bows everywhere. Here's how to skip all the Valentine's Day rigmarole and still keep your lover happy.
- Celebrate the planet.
If worshiping a flying baby archer in the middle of winter has ever left you feeling a little strange, or if you're at all put off by the deluge of red and pink retail junk that shows up shortly after Christmas, then this one's easy: Celebrate the planet instead. You're in luck this year -- Valentine's Day happens to be on a Saturday -- which makes it easy to take your lover on a great green adventure that has nothing to do with a diaper-wearing cherub or this nonsense. We have a few suggestions: get outside and hike or snowshoe y'know, getting a little sun in the winter makes you happier, volunteer with your favorite green organization, get ready to plant your garden, or just get out and celebrate your local community.
- Cook dinner at home.
Because Valentine's Day falls on the weekend this year, we think you'd be nutty to head out and fight the crowds to get a table at your favorite green restaurant. Instead, light some candles and make your own food. Kelly has a delicious sounding three-course meal, complete with salad, entree, and dessert, all picked out. Uncork some champagne and you'll have all the fixins for a delightful, romantic evening at home. Just think of it as a nice Saturday, not Valentine's Day, and nobody will be disappointed when there isn't a teddy bear the size of a small child presented as a gift.
- Give a gift of yourself, not of stuff.
Speaking of gifts, remember that the greenest gift is the one that hasn't been manufactured, shipped, purchased, and brought home. Despite the best efforts of some shrewd marketers out there, Valentine's Day is not a good enough reason in itself to break out the check book and start buying up jewelry, stuffed animals of any kind, or heart-shaped anything. If you have your heart set on showing your love through a gift, make it an experience. Like to cook? Refer to tip #1 above, enjoy a fabulous home-cooked meal, and thank Kelly later. But if cooking isn't your thing, no sweat; if you fancy yourself a musician, write a song, or just play for your lover; if the written word is your thing, then perhaps prose or poetry can help you express your amore. Nothing is sexier than you giving of yourself, and, besides, being green is sexy, too.
- Skip the fancy imported flowers.
As we learned last year, between 60 and 80 percent of the cut flowers in the U.S. are imported; 90 percent of the roses sold for Valentine's Day are from Colombia and Ecuador, and their carbon footprint is no small matter -- about six pounds of carbon emissions per delivery. Add to that the suspect health conditions that flowers are often grown under -- unlike food, flower growers are not required to stick to health safety standards -- and those pretty flowers can have an ugly past. While organic flower options do exist for those who insist on equating love with blooming members of the Plantae kingdom, finding something through Local Harvest is your best green bet. You'll get something grown near you, and you may even be able to meet the folks who grew your flowers (or flowering potted plant, which is a longer-lasting version) when you buy them.
More green Valentine's Day alternatives:
No Fuss Valentine's Meals to Impress Your Sweetheart
Craft Your Valentine's Day Around Compassion
DIY: Give Paperless Valentine's
How to Go Green: Sex
Whether it's DIY green renovation tips you're looking for or 5 ways to reuse nearly everything you can think of, learn how with Planet Green Home & Garden.
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