Have an eco St Valentines Day
St Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th, and is named after a Christian martyr called Valentine - or perhaps three or more, it’s not clear. It’s also not quite clear why their day has become a festival of romantic love…
Whatever its origins, Valentine’s Day has become another consumer-led festival. However, there are lots of ways to make it eco and keep it just as romantic.
Food
Romantic food is a good start – and rather than driving all those eco-unfriendly miles (and probably arguing who gets to be designated driver), why not have a meal at home, using organic and local food.
Stuck for ideas? The internet is full of recipes, from breakfast to cocktails. Are aphrodisiac foods a myth? Try some oysters and see!
Gifts
Flowers are traditional on Valentine’s Day, but many are shipped half way around the world. Why not send some UK, in-season flowers instead?
Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like something you have made yourself. Make an eco Valentine’s Day gift using a reusable fabric bag and put in heart-shaped pretzels, hand-painted wine glasses, a bottle of Fairtrade wine, some home-made oatmeal milk bath, a picture of the two of you in a recycled aluminium frame, and a home-made card.
Make some tiny boxes from greetings cards or paper (here’s one on video) and put love quotes in each one, or make a memory box, or fill the boxes with sweet letters spelling ‘I love you’ and heart shaped jelly sweets.
Whatever you do – Happy Valentine’s Day from Eco Eco!
Suzanne Elvidge is a freelance writer and Surefish Ethical Living Editor. Many of the ideas for this article came from Surefish's Ethical Living pages. Read more…
