I have recently had to brave the holiday shopping traffic ... and even a trip to IKEA. It was traumatic, but I am hoping we are done for the season.

Here is what we are doing:
* handmade gifts where possible
* thrift shop giving where we think we can get away with it. (including our own kid!)
* fewer, quality "token" presents rather than feeling we have to spend a certain amount
* found a coop made South American purse for a relative.. we prefer to buy handmade, that way we are supporting people not a factory.
* a few items will be regifted from our house!
* hand sew gift bags using scrap fabric!

This year, I harvested the huge masses of piquins, lemons, pears and prickly pears that grew all year in my neighborhood, dried them, and I will be turning them into an assortments of jellies and preserves. There were so many piquins that I'm also grinding them down into a spice for my more adventurous relatives.

Sadly, this is less about being green and more about not wanting to touch my savings. Still, it might serve as inspiration for those of us living in rural areas.