Whether you think it’s a contrived “hallmark holiday” or you love an excuse to give and get candy hearts and chocolate, there’s a few cool sales and events in the area :

• Bar Ferdinand in Northern Liberties is featuring a drool worthy brunch and dinner special on Sunday February 14^th.  Some of the brunch options include – potato galette with Osetra caviar and saffron crème fraiche, goat cheese crepes, French toast stuffed with blueberry and citrus chard , plus their paptas bravas (I highly recommend!) Dinner is a prix fixe $65 or $75 menu with delicous options like Rhode Island oysters, striped bass or filet mignon and much more. And, as always they have a superb wine selection. Make reservations for brunch here, and dinner here. Questions? Call 215) 923-1313.
• Who doesn’t associate Valentine ’s Day with chocolate and treats? It’s a perk even if you’re not a fan of the holiday. The GreenWood Kitchen & Bake Shop offers a selection of vegan, gluten free, wheat free, and refined sugar free delicacies! Check out their locations here.  
• Attention, guys: Still need a v-day gift for the lady in your life? Tierra Mia Organic Nail Spa located on 328 South 17th Street  is featuring a sweet Valentine’s deal. The Pearl Rose service uses organic milk, fresh rose petals and rosewood oil, hands and feet are completely covered in the silky petals! Here’s a description of the service: Smoothing organic rosewood oil is softly brushed onto your skin with a rose, the silky rose petals are taken individually to cover your hands and feet in their beauty, securing this deep moisturizing oil.  We want to honor you through this luxurious treatment using the richness of roses for a deep relaxation mask of silky rose pedals. Beginning with a bath for your hands and feet using warmed organic milk, rose petals are added to release aromatherapy properties to begin your relaxation session. Pearl Rose gives the finishing touch of a French manicure and pedicure, leaving you with both the look and feel of a princess. To make an appointment call 215 735 7980 or visit Tierra Mia’s site for more information.

For more on how to celebrate Valentine ’s Day in an environmentally conscious fashion check out these tips!

Posted by Beth

One of my favorite features of the store is customers can refill laundry detergent and cleaning products with their huge tank. You can purchase the plastic bottle once, then bring back your bottle  for both cheaper and more efficient refills .

The owner, Tony Fisher, is very passionate about the environment and our local community. His efforts to support animal rights, in particular, are pretty commendable. When he found a badly injured dog, he initiated a campaign to raise funds for the dog’s surgery. He was quite successful and continues to actively support animal rights.

On another note, I love the store’s slogan  - You don’t have to be a superhero to save the planet….but you sure will feel like one when you do. So true.

Visit them at 934 South Street or purchase online at the Big Green Earth Store’s website.

Posted by Beth

Cards: I loathe excess paper but I’m a sucker for cards. Fortunately, Hallmark and most major card companies now have lines of cards made with recycled paper. Just check out the back bottom of the card for the ‘made from recycles paper’ message – not there? Don’t buy it. (These local businesses offer cards & products.) Of course, a great alternative is the home-made card route. Use some scrap paper, old wrapping paper or bows.  The recipient will appreciate your ingenuity and concern for the environment.

 Flowers: Support local flower shops. You’ll cut down on emissions spent delivering flowers via mail. Plus, you can pick out a bouquet yourself in person and be sure it’s fresh upon arrival. (You can never predict flowers’ conditions when you order online.) Look for organic flowers, most shops offer a variety.  Also, you can ‘recycle’ your gift after V day – Local shops like Pennypack Flowers  will reuse your vases after you’re finished enjoying the bouquet. (This local florist even donates unused flowers to brighten up local nursing homes!)

Cuisine: Choose a neighborhood restaurant if you’re dining out -less travel and again support for local businesses.  Or, consider cooking a special home-made Valentine’s dinner. Buy tasty, fresh ingredients from local farmer’s markets… If you’re a Philadelphia resident check out The Reading Terminal Market . They carry produce, seafood, poultry, flowers  – ingredients to make a delicious, romantic meal.

Chocolate: Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day staple. This year, buy organic & fair-trade.  Most grocers carry the Green & Black’s organic brand, or shop online for fair–trade organic chocolate from Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates.

And remember even if you aren’t relationship-bound doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself – or your friends and family.

What are your Valentine’s Plans? Comment below and share some ways you plan to green this year’s February 14th.

 Posted by Beth

Posted by Julie

Want to give up paper wrapping altogether?  Give your loved ones gifts in canvas bags to encourage eco-friendly shopping habits. 

Feeling creative?  Give gifts in baskets and decorate with flowers.

Posted by Julie

Green Perspective, a Philadelphia-based company, offers green gift baskets with themes like “Green Your Kitchen” and “Eco-Mom” that you can easily align to the needs of the recipient (or yourself!).  Trying to get a friend or family member on the green wave?  Check out the beginner “greenie” gift bag Intro to Green (though with items like a bamboo cutting board, reusable travel mug and envirosax bag, this a gift that anyone would find practical use for – hint, hint friends & fam!)  The pre-filled gift baskets mean you don’t have to deal with tedious decision-making.  We could all use a lot less of the ‘what should I get them??’ gift-giving grief around the holidays.

Local environmentalist Todd Baylson launched his on-line store last August.  Through speaking with Todd, his enthusiasm for the Green Perspective products and for the option to give green is evident.  His business practices speak to his environmental standards.  Todd is dedicated to working with as many local manufacturers as possible.  The company reuses and recycles packaging materials.  They also ship responsibly – using USPS shipping (which has received the cradle to cradle certification for their ecologically-intelligent design and the elimination of waste in their production.)

This holiday season, Todd has teamed up with Sweet Pea Nourishment, a local farm to farm service company, to offer cool gift pairings combining Green Perspective products with delicious samplings of locally grown food items.  Some of the packages even include expert-guided cooking classes you can host in your own home.  The gift packages are available to Philadelphia area and South Jersey residents. (email todd@thegreenperspective.com for more info.)