Eco-Friendly Valentines Gifts & Outings!

The Gifts The Thing! Brunches and Dining in Nature, Cape Cod To Berkshire Eco Escapes!

Giving chocolate is normalized on Valentines Day (according to a recent Yale report), but most of that chocolate we give is unethically sourced. Add the other throwaway gifts, like balloons, stuffed animals, decorations, and Valentine’s Day can be quite difficult on the environment. But it doesn’t have to be!

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love, and, whether that’s love for a partner, friend, or family member, Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to let people know you care about them. There are many ways to do this sustainably, ethically, and with love for Mother Earth as well. Here are some sustainable ideas for Valentine’s Day gift giving and adventure:

First stop, we will be taking a scenic narrated train ride through the Berkshires with the Berkshire Scenic Railway. Enjoy the sights on this 10 mile round trip ride. This train ride is a living history exhibit that explores the rich railroad history of the region and complements the already popular cultural attractions located in the Northern Berkshire area. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will head over to a local vineyard for a tour and tasting of a flight of wines. After, we make our way home.

Look for chocolate with the Fair Trade logo to buy ethically sourced chocolate. Learn where your favorite chocolate companies fall on the spectrum of sourcing through the Food Empowerment Project. Put a smile on someone's face by giving nine of Equal Exchange's most delicious award winning organic chocolate bars. They'll open one bar after another! This gift of 9 chocolate bars comes packed in a recycled gift box. 80g (2.8oz) bars.$35.00

For those totally into Green in Boston Check out Lulu Green . Café by day. Restaurant by night. Cocktails all day. They are committed to providing the greater Boston community with healthy + delicious, organic food and drink paired with exceptional service. The eatery is founded on providing “remarkable” fresh, organic, seasonal ingredients through healthy eats + cold pressed juices. Whether you’re plant-based or not, we know you’ll find something you’ll love. We consider ourselves (and you) Remarkable because we make eating healthy food easy so you don't have to think about it. We want you to know that any choice with us is a good one. That’s why Lulu Green is always a good idea. 246 West Broadway St Boston

If you think spas are just for women who want to be pampered, think again: the spa is a wonderful place for anyone who needs to unwind, relax, and recharge. If you want this Valentine’s Day to be a memorable one, why not schedule a couple’s spa day at a local natural or organic spa? You can get massages and facials together, and you can even enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a sauna while you’re there. It’s a fantastic retreat, and it’s by far one of the best ways to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Boston's Newbury Street offers Balans Organic Spa , a serene and sacred place where they specialize in organic custom facials, body treatments, and massages. Established on Swedish standards, get a facial that is sublime or let Balans deliver skin- and spa services of highest quality. Including detox and deep healing with floatation therapy, you can submerge into a salt bath saturated with Epsom salt in calm surroundings as your stress melts away.

At Roffi Salon and Day Spa they believe ardently in the 100 percent eco-friendly/green movement. It is their mission to lead the beauty industry in becoming a “green salon”. 134 Newbury Street Boston MA. Specialized staff can cut, style, color and treat curly hair, straight hair and everything in between. We also offer skin treatments like microdermabrasion and photo rejuvenation, makeup application and instruction, manicures, pedicures, waxing and so much more! Expect to spend about $800 dollars for the full star treatment!

Finally, if you want to keep things simple for your Valentine’s Day date this year, schedule a trip to your local farmer’s market and then have a picnic with your finds. If you’re not sure where to find a farmer’s market, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a national directory you can peruse. If you really want to make it fun, try to purchase something you’ve never tried before. (Just be sure to ask the seller how to prepare it!) Then, pack your recently-purchased local finds into a basket and find a romantic location with a view to enjoy them. It’s an experience neither of you will ever forget, and the planet will thank you.

For seafood enthusiasts in Boston try the Atlantic Fish Company in Back Bay: The seafood restaurant will feature its full menu of seafood classics in addition to some special features from Feb. 9-14. These include roasted butternut squash and radicchio salad, a baked New England scrod, lobster carbonara and wild strawberry tarte. Cocktails will include “Who’s the Best Catch?” and “How About a Squeeze?”