The 2009 Long Island Press Green Holiday Gift Guide

This is really our grown-up Christmas List, but for the sake of keeping our job and not having to take a gig as a mall elf, let’s just call it ‘The 2009 Long Island Press Green Holiday Gift Guide.’

Sorted by price from low to high:

Hand-Dyed Rainbow Journal—$2

There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh paper. Well, to us anyway. This 50-page Fair Trade journal is produced in Kathmandu by Third World Craft, an organization working to connect home-based artisans with the global market. Each journal is made from rice paper hand-produced from plants grown 8000 feet above sea level that quickly regenerate once cut–which is a lot to say about something that only costs two bucks. Available at: Third World Craft

All Zippers Handbags—$7+

Leather is boring. Zippers? Now those are unique. My Zip It decided to forgo the leather, canvas, etc. and focus on the pièce de résistance. These bags start out as one long, flat zipper. Just start zipping it up and your bag will form before your eyes. They come in more than 140 different sizes, styles and colors. Available at: My Zip It

Star-Shaped Reincarnated Crayons—$8

These star-shaped wax crayons are made from used broken crayon pieces collected from elementary schools. The result:  fabulous 5-pointed, star-shaped crayons. Available at: Red Apple Supply

Rubber Ducky Retro Bath Toy—$8

Most rubber ducky toys aren’t actually made from rubber. This one is. Why does it matter? Plastics are laced with chemicals. This all-natural tub toy is squeaky clean. Available at: Tiny Birds Organics

Twilight-Inspired Pop-Tab Bracelet—$9

Kristen Stewart has been flaunting these things everywhere. And although just hearing the word ‘Twilight’ sends us into full body convulsions at this point, this is still a pretty cool bracelet, especially for avid R-Patz and K-Stew stalkers. Each one is made with black hemp, sanitized Swine-free pop tabs, and wooden beads. Available at: Etsy

‘Strange What Love Does’ Heart Planter— $10

Just follow four simple instructions, and in five to seven days, this heart-shaped planter will sprout beans. And not just any beans. These baby beans are born with “I love you” printed on their shell. Available at: Mod Cloth.

Guitar String Bracelets—$10

Guitar strings may not be the biggest villains when it comes to landfill space, but waste is waste. With that in mind, Wear Your Music is raising money for national charities by selling bracelets made from used guitar strings for $10. They also carry bracelets made from the  guitar strings of more than 150 artists, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, Metallica, Phish, The Allman Brothers Band, Death Cab for Cutie, Social Distortion, Marley, Jack Johnson, Carrie Underwood, Zakk Wylde and Ani DiFranco, starting at $50. Available at: Wear Your Music

Paper Pearls—$10

These paper bead bracelets and necklaces are handmade by women in the internal refugee camps of Northern Uganda. The sale of these pearl-free pearls helps buy food, medicine, and school supplies for their children. Available at: Greener Country

Rescued Paper Notebook—$11+

These notebooks are made entirely from discarded paper collected and assembled by hand in India. Various used papers are folded and bound, and you write on the reverse side. Available at: Green Depot

Naughty Bits Recycled Romance Novel Jewelry—$12

Recycled passages of romance novels and other interesting books—well, only the naughty bits— are decoupaged onto a lightweight wood base. No photocopies are used, only the pages of original, second-hand books. Available at: Zibbet

5-Piece Bamboo Makeup Brush Set—$12

These makeup brushes and tools are made of renewable, naturally antimicrobial bamboo and they work great with mineral-based makeup. Available at: Walgreens

The Jimi Wallet—$12

The Jimi is a keychain and wallet all rolled into one. Inside, a money clip will hold your cash and a card holder will store up to four cards. It’s perfect for working out, a day at the beach, the city and anywhere else you want to go without lugging a bag around. It’s made out of recycled and recyclable low-impact materials and comes in a variety of colors. Available at: BTC Elements

Recycled Cassette Tape Cosmetic Bag—$13

Ever wonder what happened to your old Milli Vanilli “Girl You Know It’s True” single? Well, here you go. The body of these bags is made from brown and black cassette tapes all hand woven together. The inside lining is made from recycled, repurposed fabric. Available at: Go Green Items

Survival Kit In A Sardine Can—$13

This lightweight waterproof tin puts an entire survival kit in your pocket. It holds a compass, whistle, matches, first aid instructions, razor blade, pencil, non-aspirin pain reliever, fire starter cube, adhesive bandage, energy nugget, reflective signal surface, fish hook & line, duct tape, wire clip, note paper, tea, sugar, salt, gum, watertight bag, safety pin, antibiotic ointment, alcohol prep pad and most importantly—a Tootsie Roll. Available at: Gaiam

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Make Your Own Gum—$13

Glee Gum is an all-natural alternative to synthetic chewing gum, and is made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle–the sap of the Sapodilla tree. Each kit contains natural chicle, confectioner’s sugar, corn syrup, natural cinnamon and cherry flavors, a pan, instructions and the story of chicle. The only thing you need is a microwave or a stove and your fingers. Available at: Glee Gum

Recycled Book Cover Journals—$15

Handmade from recycled book covers, these journals are filled with white paper along with some cover pages and illustrations from the original book mixed in. Covers include Dr. Seuss, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, popular cookbooks, technical manuals and classics. Each journal contains 75 to 100 sheets of acid-free, unlined paper. Available at: Etsy

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Burnt Out Light Bulb Ornaments—$15

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These burnt out light bulbs aren’t recycled, they are ‘upcycled.’ Each light bulb ornament is hand-painted and dolled up for your Christmas tree. Available at: Etsy

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Spoon Ring—$15

Spoons are not just for eating and balancing on your nose. Artist Linda Taylor uses vintage spoons to create whimsical jewelry that can be sized to fit any finger. Available at: Lovli

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The Love Bottle— $16

It’s a water bottle you can accessorize, a reusable glass bottle you can write on, wrap thick colorful rubber bands inscribed with uplifting words around, add waterproof stickers to, and it has a ceramic swing-top lid that creates a water-tight seal—which also gives it a vintage message-in-a-bottle look that makes us really happy. You can even add a hot pink or black shoulder carrier/cooler to make it extra fancy. The bottles come in 14 designs or blank. Available at: The Love Bottle

The Lorax—$15

First published as a response to deforestation and environmental indifference in 1971, Dr. Suess’ classic The Lorax is probably the most eco-oriented, controversial Seuss book ever written, especially among those in the California logging industry in the late ’80s. The line “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie” was removed more than a decade after the book was published, after researchers told Seuss the lake had been cleaned up. Available at: Barnes & Noble

Water (And Beer) Powered Clock—$16

Dhaka Photo Album—$17

The Dhaka Photo Album is made from handmade rice paper in Nepal. Proceeds help empower artisans and disadvantaged women by equipping them with marketable skills and Internet training. Available at: Third World Craft

All The Better To Kiss You With Lip Balm Kit—$18

These USDA-certified, 100% natural, cruelty-free, organic lip balms are long-lasting and sweet-tasting. Flavors include pepperminty, lavender vanilla, and chai mandarin and come in vintage recyclable tins. Available at: Baby Bear Shop

Cookies For Me Vegan Bakery Treats—$18

If you’re looking for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and vegan cookies that don’t taste like baked cardboard, this will probably be your final stop. Specializing in tasty sugar cookies, brownies, and giant cookie cakes, Cookies For Me will satisfy the sweet tooth of those with special dietary needs, and even those without. Available at: Cookies For Me

Secret Storage Recycled Books—$18+

You may not have read War and Peace, but now you can stash all your important stuff in it. Secret Storage Books sells personal hiding places handmade from recycled books. Available at: Secret Storage Books

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Vegan Cupcakes—$20+

Green Goodies by Tiffany is a peanut-free cupcakery specializing in organic cupcakes made from scratch and baked in small batches. They offer delicious and all natural cupcakes for those with special dietary concerns (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, sugar-free, egg-free and vegan). Available at: Green Goods By Tiffany

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Smencils Smelly Pencils Gift Set—$20

Smencils are made entirely from recycled newspapers and can be sharpened just like regular pencils—but these smell just like candy. Available at: Smencils

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Recycled Cotton Beanies— $20

Made from leftover material collected from upholstery factories, these hats will keep you warm and comfortable through winter, while keeping clothing scraps out of the trash. Available at: Uncommon Goods

Menorah Puzzle—$20

These colorful non-toxic Menorah Puzzles have the ABC’s on one side and 123’s on the other. They are made in Sri Lanka out of rubber trees that have been cut down at the end of their productive life, to make way for newly planted ones. Proceeds help those in Sri Lanka recovering from the impact of the tsunami. Available at: Eco Express

Kidzsack—$22

What’s a Kidzsack? It’s an eco-friendly, designable and reusable bag for kids that can be used as a toy holder, sports bag, beach bag and anything else they can think of. It’s made of washable, durable, and 100% recycled fabric. But the best part is that it can be colored—over and over again. The Kidzsack comes with eight washable non-toxic markers. Available at: Fat Brain Toys

Oh-Sew-Cute Sewing Kit—$23

This is a great gift for the crafty person in your life who doesn’t exactly fit the crafty person stereotype. This little polka dot mushroom provides all the essentials for patching up old jeans, stitching up holes and creating new designs. It contains three reams of multicolored thread, scissors, needles, a thimble, safety pins, buttons, and a 25-inch measuring tape and a plush pin cushion. Available at: Mod Cloth

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Yule Tree To Be!—$24

This kit includes everything you need to grow your own Yule tree—Scotch pine seeds, coir seedling pot, stratification wafer, terra cotta plant saucer, aluminum ID tag and a handy reference guide. Your tree will grow up to 60-feet tall, just shy of the 65-foot minimum for the gig at Rockefeller Center, and will reach 7-8 feet in 6-8 years. Available at: Eco Express

Tired Old Ass Exhaustion Survival Kit—$24

With all natural lotion, bath salt, after shave energizing mist, and Ass Kisser Salve for sore muscles, this eucalyptus, lemon scented kit is great for someone with a good sense of humor–or a tired old ass. Available at: Rapunzel Gifts

The Jug Truck—$24

This non-toxic recycling play truck is for kids ages three and up and is made entirely from recycled milk jugs. Available at: The MoMA Store

Earth Fairy—$26

Made from natural and unprocessed cotton, the Earth fairy makes a safe and cuddly friend for little ones. Available at: Tottini

Target Reusable Tote Bag Gift Card—$25+

If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to pick out something personal, Target is making it easy to still manage a quick gift geared toward the green-minded. Their new gift card comes with a reusable tote bag to haul your goodies home in. Available at: Target

Story Book Wristlets, Purses & Diaper Bags— $27+

Amelia Bedelia, Curious George, The Cat In The Hat, and The Little Mermaid are only a few of the stars in this eco-friendly line of purses made from the pages of recycled children’s books stitched to vinyl. Each bag is one-of-a-kind. Available at: Repurposed For You

Rock Star Vinyl Record Drink Charms— $28

A set of six colorful charms in blue, red, black, pink, green, purple, and pink is made from old vinyl records. Available at: BTC Elements

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Play & Freeze Ice Cream Ball—$29

With the unique Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker, you can make ice cream and have a catch at the same time. You don’t need electricity, just add ice and rock salt in one end and ice cream mix in the other end. Try flavors from the included recipe list or make up your own. It makes a pint of ice cream in about 20 minutes. Available at: Mega Ice Cream Ball

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The Original Buddha Board—$30

Buddha Board is based on the Zen concept of living in the moment. Just paint on the surface with water and see your creation come to life. As the water slowly evaporates, your art will disappear and hopefully, take your worries away with it. Available at: Rapunzel Gifts

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Kill-A-Watt—$30

The Kill-A-Watt will show you where energy is being wasted. Plug it into your outlet, then plug your appliance into the device and you’ll get a digital measurement of energy use to monitor consumption patterns. Available at: Gaiam

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Lena Vegan Fingerless Gloves—$33

These soft wool fingerless gloves feature a button-down mitten flap for warmth. They are handmade by low-income women employed by Kumbeshwar Technical School, a Fair Trade organization in Lalitpur, Nepal. Available at: Birch Clothing

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Telephone Wire Bracelets— $35

Handwoven from old telephone wire by Zulu basket-weaving communities, each of these bracelets is unique and comes in copper black, silver, brown and copper, and black and white zebra. Profits generate income so disadvantaged women in Africa can receive basic education, health education, and HIV/Aids support. Available at: Original Women

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Heirloom Seed Membership—$35

Animals aren’t the only ones becoming extinct. Sweet Purple peppers, spicy red carrots, strawberry popping corn, jelly melons and more than 650 varieties of potatoes are becoming increasingly rare. But these heirloom varieties can be grown right in your own backyard. Seed Savers, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to conserving and promoting heirloom vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. A gift membership will get avid gardeners a 10 percent discount on all purchases from Seed Savers and receive a member magazine and yearbook, which provides access to thousands of rare seeds. Available at: Seed Savers

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Dragonfly Wish Box— $35

Each tiny hand-painted brass dragonfly wish box is embellished with found and recycled objects: a hand- painted brass frame, dragonfly, faux amethyst stones, and is lined with a small piece of an old handwritten letter and a dried rosebud. Available at: Eco Artware

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Square One Vodka—$35

Square One is 100-percent certified and organic rye vodka that comes in eco-friendly packaging—bamboo ‘paper,’ soy-based inks, and a reusable bottle. Available at: Square One Vodka

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Rainbow Maker—$35

Stick the rainbow maker on any window that receives direct sunlight and genuine Swarovski crystals will rotate by solar power and create beautiful, relaxing rainbows that will swirl around the room. Available at: It’s A Girly World

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Pop Tab Makeup Bag—$37

Handcrafted using nylon thread and soda pop tabs, the pop tab makeup bag turns recycling into an art form. A donation is made to an eco-friendly organization with the purchase of each bag. Available at: Wilshire Beauty

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Star & Snowflake Organic Cookies—$36

Flowers are nice, but you can’t eat them. So, the folks at Organic Bouquet will not only send flowers, they’ll send two dozen hand cut and decorated organic sugar cookies to help a friend welcome in the holidays. Available at: Organic Bouquet

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Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kit—$39

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OK, even though we despise Shiitake mushrooms, this is still pretty cool. If you’re getting tired of the standard house plant, or can’t keep one alive, try giving fungus a shot. This kit will teach you how to grow Shiitake mushrooms at home. Actually it doesn’t have to. Just place the whole thing in a dish and add water. It’s that easy. Mushrooms will appear every 1-2 weeks. Available at: Gaiam

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Magical Shell Garden—$39

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If you can’t get to a tropical island this weekend, bring the tropical island to you. Flowering Bromeliads, which thrive on nothing but air and water, are paired with white glazed porcelain seashells with recycled sea glass chips. Available at: Viva Terra

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Eco-Friendly Pin Up Girl Undies—$40

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Urban Fox sells low impact, sexy undies that don’t look or feel like they were carved out of a bamboo shoot. Available at: Urban Fox

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Organic Herb Wreath—$40

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This is a wreath you can eat. Made up of chili peppers and three herbs—rosemary, thyme and bay leaves—it can be taken apart and saved for all your favorite recipes up to one year. Just leave it on the door and pick. The whole thing is organic. Available at: Eco Express

Element Art—$42

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The four material elements—air, fire, earth and water —are not only represented by these plaques, they are used to create them. Made of clay from the Ganges River, the plaques are designed to flow together when grouped and are produced by a fair-trade co-operative in Calcutta. Order all five for $185. Available at: Gael Song

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Sun In A Jar—$45

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The Sun Jar comes equipped with a solar-powered cell and rechargeable battery. It stores up sunshine during the day, and its energy efficient LED light will automatically switch on when it gets dark to give you five hours of candle-like light without the risk of fire. Available at: Elsewheres & Target

Recycled Glass Family Tree Globe Ornament—$45

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This 100 percent recycled glass globe features an interior glass trunk that branches out to support festive splashes of white, red and green and shimmers of copper, representing the connections between family members. Handmade in Canada by artist Stephen Kitras. Available at: Uncommon Goods

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Irish Dirt & Shamrock Gift Box—$46

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The Official Irish Dirt gift box brings a wee bit of Ireland into your home. The set includes a 6.5 inch shamrock growing bowl from Belleeek, shamrock seeds, and 1 lb of Irish soil. Available at: The Irish Peddler

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Rebel Green Tote—$48

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The Rebel Green “Make Every Day A Pretty Planet Party” tote is an ecologically responsible bag that is also fabulous, and slightly bad ass. Well, as bad ass as something pink is gonna get. Available at: Rebel Green

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NYC Garbage Cube—$50

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This is kind of gross, but absolutely awesome. Artist Justin Gignac rescues fresh trash from the streets of NYC and turns it into miniature works of art displayed in clear, square cubes for those who miss the bright lights and dirty streets of NYC. Available at: NYC Garbage

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Organic Wine Club Membership— $50/month

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Tasty vintages made from organically-grown grapes have less sulfites and no pesticides. A membership with The Organic Wine Company will deliver three wines to your door every month. Available at: The Organic Wine Company

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Solar Charging Case For iPhone—$70

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State-of-the-art solar panel technology allows your iPhone 3G and 3GS to powerup with the power of the sun while walking, hiking, passing out on the beach or traveling. Available at: Novothink

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Santa’s Rose Bouquet—$70

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With 19 stems, this simple, VeriFlora-certified bouquet contains red roses, white spry roses and Christmas greens. Available at: Organic Bouquet

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Motherboard Cuff Links—$75

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Blending fashion and technology, everything at the Motherboard Gift shop is made from recycled PC motherboards—coasters, pendants, business card cases and even cuff links. Available at: Motherboard Gifts

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Year Of Seeds—$80

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Grow a windowsill garden all year-round. The kit comes with soil, pots and 12 packets of easy-to-grow seeds. Plant them all at once, or plant a different seed every month. Available at: Red Envelope

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Seatbelt Messenger Bag—$87

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These lightweight, eco-friendly purses are made from the millions of new seatbelts discarded by automakers for irregularities in color. Available at: Maggie Bags

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Living Ecosphere Egg—$89

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The Living Ecosphere will place the world at your fingertips. OK, maybe not the world, but a world. An entire self-sustaining ecosystem thrives within this hand-blown glass sphere: plants, live shrimp, algae, and microorganisms. It requires only indirect light. Each EcoSphere comes with a handbook that explains how it works and how to care for it. Available at: Viva Terra

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Newspaper Nativity—$94

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A 7-piece nativity scene is created from coiled and glued recycled newspaper and made in the Philippines. Available at: Ten Thousand Villages

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Bob Burnquist Recycled Sunglasses—$100

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Shades designed by pro skater Bob Burnquist are made from organic bamboo and waste from other Oakley sunglasses. Available at: Oakley

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Moto-Stylin’ Fleece Leather Jacket—$116

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Replace that old leather motorcycle jacket with a new and softer twist on the classic motorcycle jacket. Made in heavyweight 16 oz fleece with chunky metal zippers on the arms, pockets and front, the moto-stylin’ jacket is designed, dyed and manufactured in the US. Available at: Nooworks

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Arbor Bamboo Skateboards—$130+

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These skateboards are made of bamboo, sustainably-harvested birch ply, recycled glass and plastic, reclaimed wood and water-based finishes. Available at: Arbor Sports

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UJeans Customized Jeans—$140

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It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of super low-rise or high-waisted mom pants, UJeans guarantees their jeans will fit you perfectly, whoever you are. They use 11 of your own body measurements to literally tailor fit them to your body. You even get to design them down to the number of belt loops. They are sustainably made, using green coloring techniques, natural enzymes and minerals rather than harsh chemicals, and will run you $140. Visit http://www.ujeans.com/my-tape.html to have a free tailor’s tape and step-by-step design book sent to you. Available at: UJeans

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Sara Wrap Sweatshirt—$140

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This soft recycled fleece hoodie designed and created my a mother-daughter design team who incorporate sustainable fabrics into their collection. Available at: Rebe

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Radio Flyer Earth Wagon—$150

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The Earth Wagon is a great alternative to the standard Radio Flyer. The entire body of the wagon is made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk jugs. More than 230 milk jugs are diverted from landfills to make each Earth Wagon. Available at: Green Home

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Aerogrow Aerogarden Pro —$170

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The AeroGarden uses microprocessor controlled Adaptive Growth Intelligence to monitor plant growth and instantly adjust water, nutrients and lights to give plants what they need at each stage of growth. Available at: AeroGrow

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Yankee Stadium Seat Pen— $180

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Handcrafted from salvaged and recycled wooden stadium seats that were removed during the renovation of New York’s Yankee Stadium in 1973, each eco-friendly and retractable ballpoint pen is laser engraved with the stadium and the years in existence. Available at: Eco Artware

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12 Months Of Roses—$265

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What’s better than a fresh bouquet of roses? A fresh bouquet of roses every single month of the year, delivered to your doorstep. Each bouquet is specially selected from the best roses of the season and is delivered fresh from the farm. The program is also offered in three and six month packages. Available at: Organic Bouquet