Celebrate a Greener Valentine's Day

Photo: Organic Style

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This year, you need not get lost in a sea of stale candy hearts, red plastic packaging and wilted white flowers. Instead of a blizzard of unsatisfying consumerism, follow these suggestions to enjoy a more meaningful, and planet friendly, holiday.

The average consumer spends just over $100 on Valentine's Day, according to the National Retail Federation, with total sales approaching $14 billion. That buys nearly 214 million roses, $2.5 billion in jewelry, 180 million cards, 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, tons of stuffed animals and more. All those resources can really add up, especially when you consider that conventional flowers are raised with tons of toxic pesticides, the mining industry has left open scars and polluted water across the planet, logging has created barren wastelands, and chocolate harvesting has resulted in toxic, substandard working conditions.

Here are some suggestions to keep the fun in Valentine's Day, and go a little greener:

• Give her sexy green lingerie, and she'll enjoy the comfort of organic and natural materials all year long.
• Give organic and fair trade flowers.
• Savor organic and fair trade chocolates.
• Pour biodynamic organic wines.
• Consider eco-friendly jewelry.

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