Dreaming of a green Christmas

Compassion, creativity, community, sustainability and good health. Keeping in mind these values—especially cherished during the holiday season—while choosing the perfect presents isn’t always easy … but it doesn’t have to be difficult, either.

From the $5 spent on a highly durable, nonpetroleum-based, reusable nylon ChicoBag to such higher-priced items as the colorful recycled glass vases and large elliptical bowls from Greenfeet or a luxurious facial from Refresh: Face & Body, a holiday gift from an eco-friendly purveyor is a beautiful thing.

Here are 10 gift-giving ideas that are kind to your friends, family, community and environment. Share the love and keep it local.

Global fair-trade gifts
Chico Peace & Justice Center features an extensive selection of certified Fair Trade items (i.e., the artisan is paid a fair wage) “from all the continents, except Antarctica,” according to the center’s Fair Trade manager, Tom Spofford. Coffee and chocolate are the most popular Fair Trade items, says Spofford. Buddhist items from Tibet, recycled newspaper trivets from the Philippines, cinnamon tree “stash” boxes from Vietnam and traditional carved animal figures from Kenya are some of the many other fun gift ideas.

Chico Peace & Justice Center, 526 Broadway. Monday-Friday 1-6 p.m.; Saturday 1-5 p.m. during December. 893-9078.

A fashionable afternoon
GreenDot’s mission is “to provide an eco-friendly fashion shopping and learning atmosphere.” Julie DeMaggio, who teaches in Butte College’s fashion department, and her sister Kristie Nunes run a sweet little shop where one can, for $6 an hour, use the in-house sewing machines to either revamp a used piece of clothing (bring your own or buy from their rack) using all sorts of trim, etc., available on-site, or create new piece of clothing from fabric (also available on-site) and a pattern from their pattern library. DeMaggio and Nunes will assist you as needed. Gift certificates available.

GreenDot Designer’s Lounge, 530 Broadway. Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 345-1664.

Cleaner canteens
Invented by local musician, reverend and manager of the Serenity Center Robert Seals, the Klean Kanteen is a body-friendly stainless-steel drinking bottle, available in a 27-ounce and an 18-ounce “Kid Kanteen” size. Unlike some plastic bottles, the Klean Kanteen does not leach harmful toxins into one’s beverage. Klean Kanteens have a lifetime guarantee, and sales proceeds go to local community and sustainability projects. Available around town at natural food and product shops and sport stores.

www.kleankanteen.com.

Recycled glassware
Fire & Light’s hand-molded glassware is made from recycled glass collected in and around the foggy little NorCal beach town of Arcata. In colors of cobalt, aqua, lavender, citrus, celery, copper, olive, twilight and plum, Fire & Light’s beautiful soap dishes, martini glasses, tumblers and assorted bowls (small bowls, $13.95; pasta bowls, $22.95) sparkle in the front window of Greenfeet—also home to many other natural, sustainable home products such as lovely (and sturdy) Fair Trade batik hemp pot holders and oven mitts, and organic cotton bedding.

Greenfeet Natural Home Store, 1360 East First Ave. Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 894-5255.

Relaxation
The sound of trickling water and soothing classical music alternating with jazz helps set the calm mood at Refresh, the cozy spa tucked next to Rio Lindo Channel on Longfellow Avenue. Add to that the eye-pleasing visuals of the plum, lime green and teal walls; the green paper lanterns; and the darling little garden patio. Owner Jamie Wendorf and her staff—Patti, Suzanna and Jennifer—use Naturopathica botanical skincare products (“the avant-garde of natural beauty care”) in their client-renewing pampering. Parisian botanical skincare line Yonka and sumptuous candles from New York’s Tocca are also for sale. Gift certificates (playfully wrapped in Chinese take-out boxes) are available for manicures, pedicures, massages and/or facials. “Radiance,” at $90, is the most popular facial (plus partial massage).

Refresh: Face & Body, 1388 Longfellow Ave., Suite 2. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and by special appointment. 896-0300.

Grilla grub
Grilla Bites specializes in yummy food made with local, organic ingredients whenever possible. Treat someone to a Soy Bacon & Tofu Scramble Grilla for breakfast, or a BBQ Veggie Cheeseburger or trip to the organic salad bar for lunch. Now available at Grilla Bites’ new Garden Villa location: Vegan Meat Loaf dinner for $8.95. Some real meat items are available, such as the Turkey & Pesto sandwich or Thai Tuna sandwich (made with dolphin-friendly tuna) on local Tin Roof Bakery’s organic sourdough wheat bread. Fresh organic soups and Fair Trade organic coffee and tea also served. Gift certificates available.

Grilla Bites, 119 West Second St. and 196 Cohasset Road (Garden Villa). Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 343-4876.

Reusable nylon ChicoBag
Buying a reusable nylon ChicoBag can help decrease U.S. dependency on oil. ChicoBag.com states that “ChicoBags can save the average American 300 to 700 plastic shopping bags per year, which will save 3 to 7 gallons of crude oil.” It follows that “the population of Chico … can save up to 14,000 barrels of oil per year.” Put one of these very portable little foldable shopping bags (with hook for keychain, belt loop, etc.) into somebody’s stocking. They’re available in black, brown, purple, green or maroon for $5 each, or five for $20. Available at Chico Natural Foods, Greenfeet and S&S Produce.

www.chicobag.com.

Organic, sulfite-free wine
California Certified Organic Farmers-certified for using no chemicals in its grape production, family-run LaRocca Vineyards & Winery produces sulfite-free organic wine—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and White Zinfandel—from grapes grown in soil free of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Try the award-winning Lush Zinfandel or Chardonnay. Look for the soon-to-be-released organic “Méthode Champenoise” champagne (fermented in the bottle, without forced CO2), the first of its kind in the United States. LoRocca wines are available at its tasting rooms and at most major grocery stores around town.

LaRocca’s Vineyards & Winery’s tasting room is located on Schott Road in Forest Ranch, 16 miles east of Chico (see Web site for directions: www.laroccavineyards.com). Open Friday 1:30-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon-6 p.m., or by appointment. 899-9463.

Tile-and-glass mosaic stepping stones
Little Red Hen Therapeutic Plant Nursery is a charming nonprofit that advocates the importance of gardening as therapy. Little Red Hen employs a very capable staff with a variety of developmental disabilities. Purchase one of their one-of-a-kind concrete stepping stones, made with tiles created locally by severely handicapped artisans and assembled by Little Red Hen employees. A 12-by-12-inch stepping stone with a beautiful centerpiece tile (maybe an elephant or underwater scene) surrounded by colorful glass pieces costs $25; all proceeds go to severely handicapped classes in Chico schools.

Little Red Hen Therapeutic Plant Nursery, on the corner of Eighth and Wall streets. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 891-9100.

Handmade goods by local artisans
“We’re probably more ‘green’ than most stores in this town,” says Don Ehrsam, co-owner of quintessential hippie shop Della May’s Dreams. Smelling sweetly of incense, and loaded with handmade jewelry; Zapatista Fair Trade coffee, key chains, embroidered pouches and woven belts; and colorful clothing—used, imported and locally made—hanging from ceiling to floor, Della May’s is a fun feast for the senses. Check out the jewelry and clothing handmade by local “hippie mamas” and “normal grandmas I met on the street,” as Ehrsam puts it. There are also locally made didgeridoos and Reid Seibold’s tie-dyed T-shirts.

Della May’s Dreams, 130 West Sixth St. Every day “11 a.m.-late” (9:30ish p.m.). 343-1127.