If you're ever stumped about what to get someone as a gift, a basket or box filled with fun stuff is always a great fall-back plan. Here are a few ideas that might inspire you:
5. Heading off to college
Leaving home to go to college is a huge, life-changing step for many young people, and it can be a bit intimidating too. For them, consider a basket of vegan/organic personal care products—such as facial scrub, toner, moisturizer, shampoo, and deodorant—a bottle of multivitamins (because you know they're going to eat a lot of junk food), bamboo plates and cutlery, and a soy candle for some warmth and comfort.
Note: Stay away from skincare products unless you're really close to the teen (like, if you're an older sibling), as you don't know how sensitive their skin might be, what their preferred fragrances are, or whether they'd be creeped out by you giving them stuff for their face and hands.
1. Celebratory "Just Because" Gift
Sometimes it's just lovely to surprise someone with something special, and a little gift basket full of a few cute things can do wonders to make someone smile. A small basket with some chocolate or homemade cookies, a hand-written card or letter, and a mix CD with some great songs is sure to make anyone smile... and this gift can be for any reason at all.2. Wedding Present
You can spoil the lucky new couple with a variety of items, or you can aim for a themed gift:- Bathroom items like organic loofahs, soaps, lotions, and soft towels
- Kitchen equipment such as bamboo utensils, placemats, and cutting boards
- Living room accoutrements like a soft woven throw blanket, soy candles, and a potted plant
3. New Baby
That little bundle of bliss is so fresh and new, you don't want any gross chemicals touching its sensitive skin! If you're putting together a gift for a baby shower (or a newborn), get yourself a re-usable bag so the parents can haul the kid's stuff in it, and fill it with items that will make the wee one as happy as its parents. Items like an organic cotton onesie, a sustainable wooden teething toy, organic baby bottom balm, and a Waldorf doll would be sweet for any kidlet to receive.4. Items for a New Mom
New moms need all the pampering they can get (considering how much they've just been through!), so be sure to put together something sweet that the special lady will appreciate. A re-usable tote bag can be filled with things like post-partum/lactation support teas (like the ones from Traditional Medicinals), as well as organic nursing bra pads, Shea Moisture raw healing lotion, and even a "baby and me" yoga DVD. A bit of dark, raw chocolate is almost always welcome, and a hand-written letter would brighten any new mom's spirits.5. Heading off to college
Leaving home to go to college is a huge, life-changing step for many young people, and it can be a bit intimidating too. For them, consider a basket of vegan/organic personal care products—such as facial scrub, toner, moisturizer, shampoo, and deodorant—a bottle of multivitamins (because you know they're going to eat a lot of junk food), bamboo plates and cutlery, and a soy candle for some warmth and comfort.
6. Housewarming Present
For a person or couple who's moving into a new space, a metal or BPA-free plastic bucket with environmentally-friendly cleaning products and household items would be a great idea. Toss in some essential oils like lemon, grapefruit, lavender, and tea tree, along with a package of soap nuts for laundry, and some beechwood and agave fibre scrubbing brushes.7. Young Child
Kids love to explore and use their imaginations, so why not give them ample fuel to do just that? There are Waldorf toys to suit every age group imaginable, so why not take a small ethically-made backback and pack it with a toy or two, a book, a handmade hat or pair of mittens (depending on the season), and some organic/vegan kid-friendly snacks—that you've cleared with the parents beforehand, of course.8. The Anniversary Gift
What better way to get a couple to celebrate their anniversary than to send them off on a picnic with a bunch of great, natural accoutrements? You can find an ethically-sourced picnic basket and plate set and tuck in a couple of re-usable cutlery sets and cotton napkins as well. A bottle of organic wine and a pair of recycled glass or BPA-free plastic glasses would be lovely, and you can also add an assortment of nibbles, like whole grain crackers, veggie pate, olives, dried fruit and nuts, and free-trade chocolate.9. Teenager
Teens have such a wide variety of tastes that it's difficult to buy for them. Aim for gifts that are sure to be used, even if they're accepted with a sullen shrug: a large vintage lunch box or tote bag can be filled with items like a recycled journal with a few pens, a stainless steel or glass water bottle, some eco-friendly earbuds, and maybe a growing kit for their own tea herbs.Note: Stay away from skincare products unless you're really close to the teen (like, if you're an older sibling), as you don't know how sensitive their skin might be, what their preferred fragrances are, or whether they'd be creeped out by you giving them stuff for their face and hands.