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Spring is the time of year that, for many of us, we are inspired to celebrate nature. As the snow clears and the flowers begin to bloom once more, it’s a handy reminder for us all about life cycles, renewal and the importance of protecting nature—even in big cities. New York is a city that positively bursts with color in spring, whether you’re exploring the wilds of Central Park or merely lucky enough to be a resident in a complex that respects and protects green-spaces (such as The Greenwich Lane in the West Village, which features incredibly serene gardens.) Of course, this great season of re-birth coincides with Easter, and if you’re looking for an eco-friendly way of celebrating with your kids this March 31st, a thoughtful Easter basket could be the way to go. Here are five ideas of what to put in yours:
1. Eco-Friendly Books
Thoughtful publishers are now, more and more, focusing on sustainable practices when it comes to releasing their books. Since it wouldn’t be Easter without a bunny or two, we’d recommend a copy of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit. The new Snuggle Book version of the classic tale comes in a cuddle-friendly organic cotton and is perfect for toddlers, while the original version has been delighting children for over a century now and is a great way to teach kids about farming and wildlife.
2. Seeds and Gardening Equipment
There’s no reason why city-dwelling kids shouldn’t have the opportunity to garden or experience the joy of growing their own plants. An ideal way to ensure they have this experience is to get them an indoor garden designed just for them. We recommend the Green Toys Indoor Gardening Kit
that comes with three plant pots (made of recycled plastic), three packs of seeds, essential planting tools and instructions. Perfect for the window sill of your little one’s bedroom, this is a gift that will keep on giving throughout the year.
3. Sweet Stuff
Of course, all kids do expect some chocolate at this time of year, but if you want to keep your gift basket truly ethical, pick them up some fair trade, organic chocolate. Whole Foods has a large range of yummy treats to choose from, but we particularly enjoy Chocolove bars, Green & Black’s and Newman’s Own. If you do happen to live in the Greenwich Lane, keep in mind that Molly’s Cupcakes (228 Bleeker St) is close by and the company donates a portion of its profits to local schools, so is the ideal place to keep your children happy, while helping your community.
4. Homemade Bubbles
What better way to celebrate warmer temperatures and the return of sunshine than running around outside, chasing homemade bubbles? Bubbleblowers.com has some simple, but effective recipes that will keep your kids entertained for hours.
5. Plush Toys
No Easter basket would be complete without something cute and cuddly inside. Fortunately, there are a wealth of ecologically-minded plush toys available online these days. Our favorites though, come from the Defenders of Wildlife website). This wonderful organization sells gift sets for kids that come with a super-cute soft toy, educational but fun activities book, photo, fact sheet and even a personalized certificate for their bedroom wall. Best of all, a portion from your purchase goes towards protecting endangered species and habitats. A perfect way to give some love back to nature at this time of year.
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