Alternative Holiday

Conscious Consuming, a Boston-based non-profit devoted to the idea of less is more, is having their annual Alternative Gift Fair at Arlington Street Church on Saturday, December 2nd from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Called "Gift It Up," the fair is a way of helping out non-profits instead of buying crap at Walmart for our friends and family members.

I recently spoke with CC spokeswoman, Susan Donohoe who told me:

"There was a great statistic from the editor of ADBUSTERS who said that since 1950, American consumption has increased 300 percent. And the American savings rate is now is negative territory which affects us financially, culturally and spiritually." Donohoe said that the infamous "Black Friday," the biggest shopping day of the year that shadows Thanksgiving is also "Buy Nothing Day" for people who are more conscious in there consuming habits.

"This is a way to give back to the community and give gifts that really matter," Donohoe said.

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In a very serious way, Gift It Up is just another example of the beginning stirrings in this country for something more meaninful; something that supports generosity with others and a gentleness with the Earth's resources.

There will be at least fourteen non-profits available at Gift It Up, including Nework/La Red, All Paws Rescue, MassBike and Prison Book Program. Seven Dollars, for instance, would supply a dictionary to a person in prison, Ten Dollars could provide consumers with recipe cards teaching them about the nutritional benefits of locally grown food, etc., etc.

If your friends and family members are anything like mine, they would be disappointed if this was the only gift they received. So I plan on supplementing these do-gooder gifts, with something just as green, but more utilitarian: rechargeable batteries.

And if still come up short I am going to get my loved ones each a gift certificate to the independent Trident Bookstore on Newbury Street.

Any other indie/alernative/green gift ideas out there?