According to the Clean Air Council, disposable wrapping paper and gift bags create nearly 4 million additional tons of garbage in the U.S. during the holiday season alone. Makes me feel dirty just thinking about it. So, how do we wrap responsibly?

The best way to keep things green and simple also happens to be thrifty: simply DIY … work with materials you already have around the house. I’m not kidding – I’ve been doing this for years, and I sometimes pull things from the recycle bin in order to re-use it as wrap.

• Glass jars. Jewelry boxes. Tins.
• Newspaper, magazines, comics, outdated road or subway maps, children’s artwork, brown paper bags, spare wall-paper, and pretty/ heavy stock store-provided shopping bags all can be reused, cut-up and transformed into great gift wrap.
• Extra large items can be wrapped in household linens: tablecloths, sheets, tea towels, bath towels, curtains, scarves and shawls, or extra fabric from your last sewing project.
• Reusable cloth bags. Just tie the handles together with some found ribbon or yarn.
• For the finishing touch on packages – forget the bows. Think outside the box and step outside your home: pretty pine cones in the yard, small branches with sweet colored berries, acorns and touches of greenery.
• A mini-ornament, spare buttons or lonely single earring can adorn a package and add a little sparkle.

For pretty and reusable fabric wrap – step away from the tape and scissors – instead, try:

• BOBO Wrap (photo at top of post; made in the USA; inspired by the ancient Korean tradition of wrapping with fabric, Bojagi)
• ewrapz.com holiday prints fabric gift wraps (photo: fabric with white ribbon, just above)
• shrapps.com
• fraps.com felt envelopes for cds, books, dvds & photo frames (photo above: felt envelopes with hearts)

For whatever reason, if you’re compelled to opt for shiny new wrapping paper make sure it’s made from recycled material … we like: shopECOsaurus.com, where everything is 50% off right now, (photo just above).

above (via Martha Stewart.com) If you need to give packages a little extra cushioning – forgo the extra tissue and Styrofoam – use natural materials like real peanuts, popcorn and evergreen.

Now that the gifts have been gathered, be sure to relax a little. Put on some tunes, have a sip of wine … start wrapping presents in novel, pretty, eco-conscious ways. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes in the gift-unwrapping experience. Imagine looking around the room once all the gifts have been opened and suddenly realizing how clean it is. No waste and discarded material headed for the landfills. It reminds me of how good it feels to shop with reusable bags at the grocery store … no crappy plastic bags to contend with after unpacking groceries. cheers!

Related: gift wrap the eco way – Furoshiki

Alternative Consumer featured in USA Today Guide to Green Living

Great little stocking stuffer … Now I know what to get my biking, boarding, kayaking, camping loving niece … the Joe-2-Go by Origin8 … attaches via screw to the handlebars and you’re good to pedal, sip and go. No more messy spills. Bronze colored aluminum. Comes in 2 sizes – see below; $13 @ amazon.com

specs:
Standard size fits most standards cups – inside diameter tapers from 78mm to 75mm.
XL size fits larger cups – inside diameter tapers from 83mm to 78mm.
Made of durable 6061-T aluminum alloy, with a 25.4mm (1-inch) clamp to fit most common handlebars.

suggestion: measure your reusable drink cup before purchasing.

Related: more outdoor gear on The Alternative Consumer.

Santa’s on his way and he’ll be on time if you hook-up now at fine etailer, Vickerey:

• Enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a FREE $50 Vickerey Gift Card, (enter by 11:59p Wednesday, Dec 21)
• Shop for him, her or your home with their Gift Guides … (ladies, you’ll love their organic cotton & Lycra Leda pants)
• If you buy any Prana item and your total purchase is at least $100, you’ll receive a free Beanie (retail value, $26) when you enter code FREEHAT at checkout
• Order by 2p Tuesday, Dec 20 and for a flat rate of $9.95 delivery by Christmas is guaranteed.

Related: more green gift ideas from The Alternative Consumer.

• Get in the mood…White Christmas: Images of Beautiful Snowy Landscapes – livescience
• What does a pipeline have to do with a tax deal? Pipeline Decision Tied to Tax Cut by Senate – msnbc
• Nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilizer runoff pollute waterways…Putting Farmland on a Fertilizer Diet – npr
• Climate Change May Bring Big Ecosystem Shifts, NASA Says – sciencedaily
• Another reason to get out of your cave…Sun ‘Stops Chickenpox Spreading’ – bbc
• Yikes! Neti pot warning…Brain-Eating Amoeba Fatalities Linked to Common Cold Remedy – yahoo! news

Related: more green news on The Alternative Consumer.

For the apple of your eye … iPad, iPhone and Macbook cases, skins and covers made of easily renewable, 100% Moso bamboo. Beautifully handcrafted and finished in Portland, Oregon. Order a custom design … details and purchase @ grovemade.com

Related: more green gadgets on The Alternative Consumer.

Pamper and protect your baby’s soft skin with this luxurious, heirloom quality Swaddle Blanket – also makes a very fine baby gift.

The leaf pattern and seed stitch trim are beautifully handknit.

Design features a snug hood, foldover bottom flap and wood buttons to keep your bundle snug and comfy whether in the crib, car seat or stroller.

• fiber comprised of 70% yak down, 30% bamboo
• one size
• choice of 3 colors: alpine white, strawberry pink or indigo blue
• handknitted in Shanghai China by the Catalyst Foundation
• made to order (allow 3 weeks for delivery)
• $220 @ supermarkethq.com

Related: more finds for eco kids on The Alternative Consumer

As old growth forests shrink and our natural resources become more precious, many designers have turned to reclaimed, upcycled and recycled raw materials as key components in their work. One shining example of this trend is New York City based furniture design company Hudson Furniture, which creates fabulous organic home furnishings from the remains of domestically sourced salvaged and wind/storm damaged trees.

None of the woods (which have an average life span of 250-300 years) utilized by the company in its designs is harvested from old growth forests. The designer’s furniture retains the reclaimed wood’s timeless grain, organic lines and natural geometric forms – using only traditional joinery techniques and hand rubbed oil finishes.

All Hudson furniture is available in custom dimensions, custom finishes and a variety of wood species such as Claro Walnut, Black Walnut, Myrtle, Jasmine, Acacia, Satinwood and Ebonized Pine.

Related: more furnishings made from reclaimed wood

Are you listening, Santa? Winter wonderland fashion finds for the sustainably chic …

(above L to R) Great silhouettes: Urbane Jacket, waterproof & breathable $206.50 and 3/4 Cocoon Trench $300 @ nau.com

(above L to R) Chili Red Asymmetrical Zip $99 and Rose Hooded Serape $125 @ faieriesdance.com

(above L to R) Organic wool pullover V-neck and Lightweight Crewneck sweater from gaiam.com -  use code Friends11 to receive 20% off + free shipping.

(above) Made in San Francisco … scarves for lovers who can’t keep their hands off each other come rain, wind, snow … playful Tug Ties, Hug Ties and Connect styles for hand-holding types – all made from recycled bottles @ boditecture.com also available in color reverse – black scarf & red mitts. $39

(above) Oh, yes! Versatile and available in a smart array of colors – NFP Sleeve Shrug $143 from NYC-based eco-boutique, kaightshop.com – limited time discount: use coupon code 12days at checkout for 25% off.

Related: more eco-fashion finds on The Alternative Consumer

About 12 years ago, I wrapped up a business trip in San Francisco and headed north on a 4-day wine tasting trip through Napa and the surrounding area with 3 girlfriends. It was May … the land and sky were springtime fresh … and so were we. Needless to say it was a trip like none other.

Because of that vineyard touring experience I have a greater appreciation for not only wine tasting, but also what it takes to grow and harvest grapes, and make fine wine. Coupled with a cursory knowledge Rudolf Steiner’s biodynamic farming – I’m pretty much in awe of anyone who has a reputation for producing world-class organic wine. Which brings me to the topic of today’s Tried and True Review: Beckmen Vineyards - a California based biodynamic wine producer.

Last night the hub and I had the pleasure of dipping into a new bottle of Syrah: Beckmen Vineyards 2009 Estate Syrah from Santa Ynez Valley.

Our taste buds were treated to a warm, rich blast of deliciousness. Lush, wonderful berry flavors. Topped with a beautiful finish. Neither too sweet nor tart.

Unlike some other reds, there’s no accompanying dry-mouth or parched throat sensation. Just a desire to relax and sip more.

(retails for $25)

backstory: Tom Beckmen purchased a 365 acre hillside property overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley in 1996. This land soon became Purisima Mountain Vineyard, producing world-class Rhone varietals.

In 2006, Tom’s son, Steve Beckmen, began farming Purisima Mountain Vineyard 100 percent biodynamically. “Our goal,” says Steve, “is to always get better and better. Biodynamics allows us to achieve the purest possible expression of our Purisima Mountain Vineyard terroir, which is at the very heart of our winegrowing philosophy. Since we’ve gone biodynamic, we have produced some of our best wines ever.”

Based on the pioneering 1920s work of scientist Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic farming offers a proactive and holistic approach to farming. By treating vineyards as complete and self-replenishing systems, biodynamic farming naturally builds soil life and vitality, while defending against pests and disease. Often confused with both organic and sustainable farming practices, biodynamic farming meets the criteria of both, while focusing on a unique set of eight naturally derived non-chemical soil and plant treatments. (more…)