Raising Spaces Last Minute Green Holiday Guide

Feel like you’re destined to be a last-minute Christmas elf again this year? “Luckily, there’s still a swath of options for you to give sustainably and party consciously,” says Andrea Jones, co-owner of newly opened eco-retailer Raising Spaces.

“It’s an overwhelming time of year, especially if you’re the kind of person whose calendar takes you by surprise.” jokes Jones. City street light and mall décor appears seconds after Halloween, staff Christmas parties kick in early-November, and before you know it, the two-weeks till Christmas countdown is upon you. It’s no shocker that holiday-stress levels have you reaching for the spiked nog a little too often!

So what can you do if it’s December 12 and you’re woefully behind the seasonal times? Jones shares the goods on eco friendly gift giving options, festive planet-friendly decorating tips, and low-impact holiday hosting/party-hopping ideas, all to save you time and simplify your holiday experience.

Last-minute Thoughtful Gifts Are Possible

Eco Store Offerings – A visit to three local eco shops can take care of your entire gift list! Between Raising Spaces Retail Store & Green Design Loft, Earth’s General Store & Carbon Environmental Boutique, you’ll have no shortage of health and planet friendly gift choices. Jones’ picks are below:

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Lately, I’ve been really intrigued by Slow Design, which is a cousin of the Slow Food, traditional skills, and voluntary simplicity movements, and the Zen Buddhist concept of wabi-sabi. The published Slow Design Principles (Strauss and Fuad-Luke, see www.slowlab.net) are couched in academic language, and the case studies cited mostly involve the design of objects or artistic installations. However, the principles and practices of Slow Design are tools that are useful to sustainable designers, decorators, and artisans of all disciplines. To summarize (and loosely quote) that document’s main points:

Slow Design:

• facilitates ’slowness’ and provides a balance to the industrial-consumerist model of design.

• seeks to shift the user’s awareness and attitudes about materials, processes, time, and natural environment. Continue Reading →