Homemade gifts for a greener holiday

The holidays are fast approaching and already the major retailers are trying to tempt us into spending our hard earned dollars on flashy gifts for our friends and family. Colorful flyers and catalogs arrive in the mail every day showing off battery operated toys, flashy electronics, and mass produced spa products. Not only are a lot of these gift suggestions expensive, they are not all that great for the environment, either! In order to green up your holiday gift giving, avoid products that require batteries, those made in foreign countries, and toys that are so cheaply made they fall apart before your kids head back to school after winter break!

So, what type of gifts would have a smaller environmental impact? Products made from small local business owners are a great idea but you would be amazed at how many products you can make right in your own home that can be wonderful gift ideas. Homemade jams, chocolates, and bath products are all relatively easy to make and don’t require any specialized equipment.

Here are a couple of natural bath product recipes for you to try making yourself. Put them into a pretty jar that you stencil or decoupage for an extra special touch!

Mint Milk Bath

(you can find fresh mint leaves in the produce section of the grocery store and dry them slowly in a low heat oven or dehydrator)

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups dry milk powder
4 TBSP crushed, dried mint leaves
1/2 cup sea salt

Crush dried mint leaves and then add to above ingredients. Spoon into a decorative jar and then add a generous amount to a warm bath.

Basic Bath Salt Recipe:

1 cups of epsom salt
1 cups of sea salt
1 cups of baking soda
1/2 TBSP essential oils of your choice

Preparation:

1. Mix the salts and baking soda together, making sure to break up any lumps
2. Add in essential oils and mix well
3. Place in decorative jars with instructions to use 1/2 cup per bath.

 

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