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That's me next to a real bunch of beauties

What better surprise on a work day than returning to your desk to find a joyous bunch of flowers. For an eco-weenie like me, seeing that my friend had chosen locally produced flowers sent me from joyful to ecstatic. It’s great to see that a growing (sorry) number of florists are offering organic, local and fair trade flower options.

Gratuitous pretty flower shot

According to an article (linked here) in the Toronto Star, “Roughly 75 per cent of all cut flowers that are sold in Canada year-round come from Colombia and Ecuador and another 10 per cent from Holland, says Flowers Canada, which represents 1,000 industry retailers and wholesalers. The rest are from Kenya, California, Ontario and B.C.”  According to the book, “How Bad Are Bananas: The Carbon Footprint of Everything” a single red rose flown from Columbia to the UK has a carbon footprint of 350 g of CO2, where a red rose from a Holland greenhouses flown to the UK has a horrific carbon footprint of 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs.) of CO2 .

Wow. I’m definitely going to try to give people flowers from my own garden when I have a local birthday to celebrate. That’s one way to reduce carbon footprint!

Of course the climate change impacts are bad enough, but according to the Star article, there are major social impacts as well. “A big bunch of the commercial flowers produced in South America are reportedly among the most toxic and heavily sprayed agricultural crops on the planet. And concerns persist surrounding the low pay and poor working conditions of those in the field, particularly women and in some cases children.”  However some Canadian florists are purchasing Fair Trade flowers from South America. Click here to read this terrific piece from The Tyee about the differences that makes to floral industry workers.

Here are some of the things that Eco Stems, the company my friend sent flowers from, is doing to reduce their environmental impact:

- They use a mix of local, organic and Fair Trade flowers

- They do their deliveries by bicycle!

- They send their flowers in kraft paper, not clear plastic (which, I believe, can’t be recycled)

- They use a renewable energy supplier for their electricity

- They print their brochures on 100 per cent recycled, FSC certified paper stock

Sometimes I feel like a picky parker asking people where things are from, what’s in them or how they were made (but, to the annoyance of those around me, I often ask anyway). Would you ask your florist where their flowers came from, or would you feel hesitant to do that?

I’m lucky to have the best mom in the world. Maybe you feel that way about your mom too. Sweet and fun and caring, moms give so much to so many. It’s great that there’s a day designed to recognize all they do. But how can you make mom feel special without having a negative impact on the earth? Here are seven ideas for green mother’s day gifts.

1. How about seeds – or even seedlings – for heirloom vegetables. Try these heirloom beet ideas from Canadian Gardening. Look for more veggie seeds from canadian companies, such as Cubits Organics.

2. Make her some scones from a heritage flour, such as Red Fife wheat. You might find this at your local farmers’ market, health food store or other shop specializing in artisanal goods.

3. Create an online photo album of pictures from the past and present and invite other family members – and your mom – to contribute to it. Tools such as this one are paid but your albums are private and ad-free.

4. Lavish her with Canadian-grown lavender, in one of its many fabulous forms. From teas to aromatherapy products to soaps and balms, lavender offers a wonderful natural scent. (And taste – I love lavender ice cream!)

5. Giver her music. Music is a wonderful gift, whether it’s being introduced to new music, having the opportunity to hear music live or even trying to make a little yourself. Give mom music in whatever form she’ll enjoy most – a playlist, a CD, orchestra tickets or even voice lessons!

6. Chocolate. You might get in trouble if you don’t offer your mom chocolate! To make your chocolate selection lighter on the earth, look for fair trade, organic chocolate. I like the chocolate that Equita and Camino have to offer. Some chocolatiers are quite skilled at mixing and matching chocolate with other flavours, making for a veritable chocolate-noshing adventure.

7. Giver her time. In our December/January issue of Homemakers, one reader described how her daughter hosted a monthly lunch, not just for her but for several of her mother’s friends as well. The enthusiastic group have continued on the tradition as a potluck lunch.

I hope this list gives you some ideas for thoughtful mother’s day gifts. One thing about moms is it’s hard to know if they really like your gift or if they just really appreciate that you thought of them!

What gifts has your mom appreciated?

I went into a dollar store yesterday, seeking a few stocking stuffers. And there may have been some, but I saw a flan cake for sale that won’t expire until March 2011. I got so weirded out by this mould-defying cake that I left. And that might be a good thing, because I got thinking about what makes a stocking stuffer less of a strain on the environment. I came up with six stocking-stuffer ideas. Please share your own!

1) Lip balm. Good lip balm with SPF 15 or more is a woman’s best friend. And even if you already have lip balm, who doesn’t want to get more? My favourites are Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm and Aveda Lipsaver.

2) Local food goodies. Surprise them with flavourful mustard, jam, honey and other local foods, packaged in those adorable little jars. I even found honey straws at one shop, perfect for sweetening hot drinks on the go!

3) Fair Trade treats. Last year my mom took a sinfully good but steeply priced hot chocolate mix and split it up into jars. Each one had enough hot chocolate mix for four servings. She added a little ribbon and voila, a cute, tasty gift at a low per-person cost! Fair trade chocolate, packets of spices, nuts and tea are also great options. I bought some of these just yesterday at Ten Thousand Villages.

4) A magazine! I may be biased since I work at Homemakers magazine, but I think an issue of a magazine makes a great stocking stuffer. You can roll it up and slide other things inside!

5) Pocket-sized notebooks. Who doesn’t need a little notebook for lists and ideas? Small enough to fit in a pocket, laptop bag or purse, I like these Ecojot notebooks, about $9 for a pack of 3 at bookstores and gift shops.

6) Coupons for friendly services. Babysitting. Grocery run. Movie night. Back rub. What would be a special treat for your partner, daughter, aunt, mom, dad? Sure, maybe you would do those things anyway, but making personal coupons lets you show you care. And they can be made late Christmas eve, after all the stores have closed!

A few other eco-minded bloggers have been thinking about stocking stuffers.

- To see what The Daily Green has to share, click here.

- Check out the stocking-stuffer buzz on The Sacred Bee, here.

- There are some novel thoughts on Treehugger’s list; check it out here.

What do you like to get in your stocking?

It’s funny because it’s true: some last-minute gifts are easy to spot. You’ll know, because that set of baking pans came from the 24-hour grocery store. That chrome tire gauge came from the gas station. That gift card came from the late-night drug store. While I try to do my shopping early, I always have trouble with a couple of people on my list. I find myself just one of the masses wandering shops with glazed yet pensive eyes, hoping something will shout out, “He’ll love me!”

I haven’t ended up with any tire gauges yet (although my partner might just love one, hmmm). But luckily, this year, many environmental organizations are offering meaningful last-minute gifts that you can order as late as Christmas morning if you like!

For benefits close to home, you could see what donation gift ideas your local land trust, conservation area, biosphere reserve or other environmental group is offering for the holidays. Most receive no dedicated ongoing funding – they have to apply for grants from government agencies, private sector funds, foundations and more, often on a project-by-project basis, so private donations to registered charities are very helpful. And those tax receipts benefit you at tax time!

Here a few gift ideas from eco organizations who are online:

- The Nature Conservancy of Canada offers Gifts of Canadian Nature – symbolic purchases of Burrowing Owl Habitat ($40), Canadian Lynx Habitat ($120), Grizzly Bear Habitat ($160) and more. They also offer fun stocking stuffers. For $12 you can buy a card signifying that you’ve joined the Bad Tie Boycott, NCC’s campaign for meaningful gifts.

- David Suzuki Foundation is offering symbolic gifts as e-cards. Pick your e-card and personalize it, and the Foundation will send out the symbolic gift for the ocean lover (a super sardine, $15), the guilt-ridden (a virtual lump of coal, $25), the urbanite (a Green Belt, $50) and more. What you’re actually giving is funds to help protect Canadian nature through the work of the Foundation.

- World Wildlife Fund adoption e-certificates support wildlife habitat for animals such as tigers, snow leopards, the blue shark, the black-footed ferret, and more. When you buy an e-certificate, you can print it out for gift giving, or have WWF send an email notification.

- Quinte Conservation hopes to adopt out 250 acres of conservation-area land at just $20 each. They run over 20 magnificent, open-to-the-public conservation properties in Ontario. Donate to the Adopt an Acre program and you are helping Quinte Conservation maintain and improve vital habitats in Eastern Ontario.

- Ecojustice is a Canadian charity that uses the law to protect and restore the environment. They’re offering Tribute Gifts for the Woodland Caribou of northeastern Alberta this year, a population under a lot of pressure, as noted here. You can make a special tribute to a friend via clicking on this link.

Because hey, if you have no idea what to get someone, you may as well get something that matters to you – and benefits the environment!

What do you often turn to for last-minute gift giving? Do you have a strategy for those people you may have… oops… forgotten?

Bamboo fabrics can feel so luxurious, it’s easy to forget that they’re made from a renewable resource. These tops and scarves from Me to We Style are made from ethically sourced bamboo; Me to We also makes clothing in organic cotton. I personally love the modern cuts and bright hues.

My favourite piece: the Madurra T-shirt dress, shown above ($34.50), a super-comfy, super-long t-shirt, perfect for over leggings, or just shoving into low-cut jeans.

The icing on this gorgeous cake? Half of Me to We’s profits are donated to its charitable partner, Free The Children.

I love giving books and magazine subscriptions as holiday gifts – it’s a great way to give friends some ideas to consider, or to encourage them to take time for themselves or stay in touch with their favourite hobbies. (Of course, this is where I should mention that I’m an editor at Homemakers magazine, the magazine for Canadian women about healthy living and eating well. Homemakers makes a great gift!)

Whether purchased in i or e or sometimes y book, or just plain good ol’ book, the great reads below may be just the thing for the eco enthusiast on your list. I’ve either read the book or it was recommended to me by someone who has. Where possible I’ve included a quote from the book so you can get a flavour for it.

[Contest closed] Our top commenter won a copy of the cookbook Flavours of Prince Edward Island: A culinary journey. By Jeff McCourt, Allan Williams sand Austin Clement. (Whitecap Books, $39.95, 2010)
“…Then I began driving up the long red clay lanes that lead to our farms, waded into the surf with an oyster rake, spotted golden chanterelles in the woods and downed shots of rum on the deck of a lobster boat at sea. Gradually, it dawned on me that food is at its best when we taste its flavours and its stories.” - Chef Michael Smith

Books about the rising green economy:

The New Entrepreneurs: Building a Green Economy for the Future.
By Andrew Heintzman (Anansi, $32.95 2010)
“In our capitalist society, the primary agent and catalyst of change is the entrepreneur. A hybrid character, the entrepreneur has the innovation of the inventor, the persuasion of a salesman, the leadership of a politician, the practicality of an investor, the vision of an artist, the nerves of a fighter pilot, and the faith of a priest. Through their industry, they alter the material conditions of the society they live in, a society which must now account for its own excesses. They are working already, in great numbers and with remarkable passion, taking extraordinary risks to usher us along a new path.”

The Geography of Hope: A tour of the world we need.
By Chris Turner (Random House, $34.95, 2009)
“…here’s the real crux of it, the thing that puts the bounce in the step of the ones already on this path–there is a chance to be part of possibly the greatest project in the history of civilization. … What else are you working on right now? What great project that would rest upon your soul like the many bars of ribbon on a war hero’s chest? What would you point to, and look your grandkids in the eye and say. ‘Now that was worth the fight’? I know how I’d answer this one: There’s nothing else. Only this. To be part of the generation that beat climate change.”

Books celebrating local food:

Locavore: From farmers’ fields to rooftop gardens.
By Sarah Elton (Harpercollins Canada, $32.99, 2010)
“At farmers’ markets across the city, heritage tomatoes, free-range eggs and organic purslane are sold out before noon…. And at the cheese shop, the rich but not-too-salty sheep’s milk feta made on the outskirts of Toronto is so popular I never know when I’ll find it again. Everywhere, it seems, demand outstrips supply for local produce.”

City Farmer: Adventures in urban food growing.
By Lorraine Johnson (Greystone Books, $19.95, 2010)
“When we dig in the dirt and cultivate food, what we’re also doing–beyond growing basil–is staking out territory for an expanded notion of what our cities might be. We’re making room for productivity in a place defined for too long as incapable of meeting, even partially, one of ur most basic needs.”

Apples to Oysters: A food lover’s tour of Canadian farms.
By Margaret Webb (Viking Canada, $34, 2009)
“For the benefit of being able to buy cheap, industrially farmed foods, we sacrifice so many things that run so deep– the taste and nutrition of our food, our health, our environment. And there is something else. Think of France and Italy, great food regions that express their culture in their cuisine. That cuisine flowers from the availability of fresh, unique and local foods, produced by farmers. In CAnada, we have a near-embarrassing abundance of excellent food regions–two saltwater coasts, freshewater lakes, the foothills grasslands, the prairies, the rich clay deposits that span from southern Ontario into Quebec. But we undervalue those regions and the farmers who work with these rich natural resources. We must look to our farmers not only as food producers but as cultural ambassadors, environmental stewards, our artists of the soil and sea.”

Earth to Table: Seasonal Recipes from an Organic Farm.
By Jeff Crump and Bettina Schormann (Random House, 2009, $45). Photography by Edward Pond.

Stuffed and Starved: The hidden battle for the world’s food system.
By Raj Patel (Melville House, $19.95, 2008)

Helpful, important reads about climate change and conserving habitat:

Sea Sick: The global oceans in crisis.
By Alanna Mitchell (McClelland & Stewart, $32.99, 2009)
“The issue is that all over the world, ocean scientists, in groups of specialists who rarely put their information together, are finding that global climate change and other human actions are beginning to have a measurable effect on the ocean. The vital signs of this critical medium of life are showing clear signs of distress.”

The Great Lakes: The natural history of a changing region. By Wayne Grady. (Greystone Books, $49.95, 2007)
“The governments of the states and provinces within the Great Lakes basin have gradually come to terms with the alarming news about the state of its ecosystem, and are aware of the threats that water diversion, global warming and invasive species pose to its preservation. Organizations such as the International Joint Commission and the Great Lakes Commission, backed by citizens’ groups demanding more and better habitat protection and restoration, are taking positive steps toward returning the Lakes to something resembling their natural beauty and abundance. All acknowledge that future generations dwelling within the Great Lakes basin deserve to enjoy the same health and other, less tangible, benefits as their ancestors did.”

Green Living Guides:

The Virtuous Consumer: Your essential shopping guide for a better, kinder, healthier world.
By Leslie Garrett (The New World Library, $19, 2007)
“…I’ve also just made a discovery that just might revolutionize the consumer world. IF I shop armed not only with a conscience but also with the facts to act according to it, I feel better. Not just “”

The Complete Root Cellar Book: Building plans, uses and 100 recipes.
By Steve Maxwell and Jennifer MacKenzie (Robert Rose, $27.95, 2010)
“Because a root cellar offers an option for long-term storage, you can grow your foods and/or purchase locally  produced foods in large quantities while they’re in season, thereby both supporting the local economy and doing your part to reduce energy used to haul, process and refrigerate food in the usual way.”

Grow Great Grub.
By Gayla Trail (Crown Publishing, 2010, $24.99)
“….shows you how to grow your own delicious, affordable, organic edibles virtually anywhere.”

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! Congratulations to Charlene, who won Flavours of Prince Edward Island.

Charlene won Flavours of Prince Edward Island: A culinary journe. The lucky winner was chosen by drawing a name from a hat when the CONTEST CLOSED at noon on Friday, December 17. Employees of Homemakers magazine and Transcontinental Media and their family members are not eligible to win.

Look back to Eco Logic soon for more green gift ideas.

Gifts wrapped in watermark paper (top), kraft paper (bottom right) and a reused box

I have a special treat for you today! The owner of gift wrapping company Corinna Wraps, Corinna vanGerwen is an expert gift-wrapper who loves to create beautiful presents because they make people smile. Also a freelance writer/stylist and former decorating editor, Corinna’s work credits include Style at Home and Cottage Life magazines as well as websites such as Sweetspot.ca and CanadianLiving.com.

I’ve persuaded Corinna to spill a few of her secrets to creating gorgeously green gifts. As we head toward the holidays, I hope these ideas help you create lovely little packages for under the tree.

Eco Logic: Where should we look for beautiful, eco gift-wrapping materials?

Corinna vanGerwen: The most eco-friendly option is to reuse materials that you already have – like newspapers and fabric scraps – or materials that you can reuse again, like tins and wooden boxes, gift bags and fabric ribbons. For a natural look, you can decorate your gifts with items that you collect from nature, such as pinecones, acorns, twigs and leaves.

EL: What would you say is the secret to a beautiful-looking wrapped gift?

CvG: First of all, you need to start with a solid foundation. In gift wrapping, that means folding crisp corners and edges with your paper, and not using too much tape. Your ribbons and tissues shouldn’t be wrinkled and bags shouldn’t be too worn, if you’re reusing them. Beyond that, a beautiful gift is about a well-chosen combination of colours, textures and patterns that complement each other. Materials don’t need to be fancy (one of my favourite papers to work with is kraft paper), and simplicity will often outshine a more complicated design.

EL: What’s the trickiest gift you’ve ever wrapped? Do you have suggestions for dealing with odd-shaped gifts?

CvG: Every year I give my father a basket of gourmet condiments, spices and other foodie items, and every year I struggle with wrapping it. It takes some trial and error to get all those different sized jars and bottles to sit nicely together, and then get the basket wrapped so he can’t see what’s inside without it looking like a big blob of tissue and cellophane.

For smaller odd-shaped gifts, the easiest solution is to pop them into reusable gift bags or boxes. Otherwise I would recommend using a Japanese paper called watermark tissue, from the Japanese Paper Place. It’s made of rayon, so even though it has the lightness of tissue paper, it’s stronger and won’t rip as easily. You can fold it around any awkward shape, plus you can iron it on a low heat setting to get out the wrinkles and reuse it.

EL: What inspired you to start your gift-wrapping business? Are you mainly wrapping gifts for those who just don’t have the time or the skill?

CvG: Gift wrapping combines my paper obsession with my love of pretty packages. When I give a gift, people always ask about the wrapping, and launching Corinna Wraps gives me the opportunity to share my ideas with more than just my family and friends. I offer wrapping services for those who don’t have the time or the skill to wrap, or who would just rather be doing something else. My workshops and demonstrations are for those who want to be able to wrap lovely presents themselves, but are looking for some direction. And my blog is full of inspiration, for those who will take an idea and run with it.

A gift shows someone that you were thinking of them, so it’s only natural to extend that thoughtfulness to the presentation. Wrapping is a gift’s first impression, and when it’s spectacular, it can make the present inside seem even more special. That’s what I want to teach people.

Corinna will demonstrate holiday gift wrapping at two sessions at Papermarche in Toronto (3429 Yonge St.) this Sunday (Dec. 12) at noon and a repeat demonstration at 2:0o p.m. Spots are limited and cost $10 per person. If you or someone you know would like to attend, please RSVP by calling Papermarche at 416-487-9538.

Looking for a potted Christmas tree like the one I mentioned in yesterday’s post? While I bought a tree at a garden centre, I’m planning to plant that tree in the spring. For those of you keen to reap the benefits of a potted tree – it’s portable, plantable and it doesn’t end up on the curb – you’re in luck.

Check out this potted-tree rental service, “Gift of Green,” available in the Toronto area. Gift of Green delivers a two to four-foot tree (Native to Ontario) to your door before the holidays and returns afterward to retrieve it. The trees are all native to Ontario; you can choose from Balsam Fir, White Pine, Black Spruce and White Spruce. If you fall in love with your tree, you can keep it by forfeiting the $30 security deposit. Starting at $80, the tree rental service gives 10 per cent of the fee to one of two charities – you pick which one when you order.

When you’ve finished with your tree and it reaches a height of about seven feet, your tree will get planted by Gift of Green’s partner, Northway Gardens of Muskoka, Ont.

Perhaps Christmas-tree rental services such as Gift of Green’s are one way to get around the moral conundrum – to cut a tree (then leave it curbside for chipping) or buy a fake one and reuse it for years (and then landfill it when it looks tired)? While many have demonstrated that trees are a renewable resource, and that supporting tree farms is the better way to go (see this link from the Recycling Council of British Columbia for one great take on it), I know many people still agonize over the decision, and that’s why I think potted trees are a great solution.

But if a potted tree isn’t for you, there are other ways to do the green thing this holiday season.

If you live in the Vancouver area, you can recycle your Christmas tree with the University of British Columbia’s botanical garden. For a $5 donation (or more), UBC will chip your tree for use on trails and pathways. Read more about it here.

If you’re responsible for corporate gifts, you can give a tree conveniently via Tree Beginnings, which offers Canadian native tree seeds in nicely decorated, eco-friendly boxes for just a few dollars each.

If you’re just interested in giving a symbolic tree, or a practical fen’s worth of trees (enough to make a little habitat shelter area), you can give the gift of trees through organizations such as Trees Ontario.

What’s your take on the tree debate?

Do you trim your tree with a matching set of Christmas decorations, or do you have a mish-mash of ornaments – some exquisitely ornate, some beautifully fragile some… rather mangled and overly crafty but nonetheless loved?

So far, my collection is the latter. Every year I seem to gather a few more lovely decorations – and I could tell you who each of them is from. In a way, every tree tells a story, a nostalgic one at that. The pink bells from my grandma and grandpa’s own tree, the ballerina from my elegant aunt, the red-striped moose from my independent friend; they all trigger memories of the giver.

With that in mind, if I’m going to give ornaments, I suppose I should like what they’ll say about me!

I love this collection of Fair Trade tree decorations from Ten Thousand Villages. (Click the link to visit the online store, or find a store near you.) Made from gourds, an inedible but easily renewable resource, Peruvian artisans use wood-burning, painting or etching techniques to create beautiful ornament designs. Each tree decoration is $10.

The artisans are from a group in Lima called Manos Amigas; they donate 20 per cent of their earnings to a breakfast program for disadvantaged children and help pay for school uniforms and supplies.

How do you like to trim your tree? Have you heard of any neat decoration ideas?

Need a gift for someone who has everything? Maybe that girl (or guy) just wants ta have some (easy on the earth) fun. I think that the gifts below are green because they’re low waste and they help support ecotourism or your local economy. They’re just a few ideas I’ve been saving up, so please share your own favourites!

Music lessons. That dusty violin could use some love. Reunite your friend with her instrumental passions – or give her the confidence to try out something new, like her singing voice – and you could get a front-row seat to a budding musician! The Royal Conservatory of Music offers courses, and music stores often have information about local instructors.

Courtesy Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve

Forest adventures. Just because you’re nervous about zooming through the treetops suspended from a ziplining wire doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a ticket for your friend to do so. Check your local ecotourism destination (or try this one in BC) for this and other fun options such as canopy tours. The tour shown above is offered by the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve. It’s half a kilometre long and 10 to 20 metres off the ground, for a beautiful birds-eye view. Or go spelunking – otherwise known as caving – an opportunity to light up a headlamp and squeeze your way through tight caverns as you explore the depths of the earth. Giving gifts that support leaving the landscape wild helps ensure we have wildlife habitat for the future.

Theatre or orchestra tickets. Give an entertaining, feel-good gift that lasts all year with season’s tickets for local productions. Support a community’s efforts to create music, build sets, make costumes and generally share the joy.
Make it ecological: Look for venues near your friend, so she doesn’t have to drive.

Cycling or padding tours. Athletic friends looking to get away from it all – and see a beautiful landscape up close – might love a summer adventure  such as these paddling trips offered in Newfoundland and Labrador or these Eastern Ontario cycling trips.
Make it ecological: Look for itineraries that include lodging and dining options near the route.

Dinner for two. Give your friend a delicious, bill-free night out and support a restaurant that features local food. You’ll support local agricultural producers, from cheese mongers to meat producers to veggie growers and more.
Make it ecological: Ask the restaurant if they offer local wine and beer selections.

Spa appointments. Nothing says friendship (among women, at least) like giving some total pampering time for both of you, so you can share the fun and pampering of pedicures, massages and facials. Where else but at the spa is it really, totally all about you?
Make it ecological: Ask about organic ingredients and check that nail polishes are free of nasty chemicals such as formaldehyde and toluene. Why? See my earlier post on the subject.

Bird-watching or hiking kits. Bring out the nature lover in your friend with a field guide - to the birds, the trees, the flowers, the frogs and toads, even the mushrooms of your area. (Ontario residents can use the Royal Ontario Museum’s digital field guides here. Those in Western Canada might enjoy this book. ) Add trail maps and trail mix and an insulated flask for hot drinks, and perhaps a membership to your local conservation area or park, and you have the makings of a beautiful experience with nature.
Go the next step: send your friend on a birding tour, such as this one to Canada’s Point Pelee National Park.

Is there a great experience in your area that Eco Logic readers should know about?

What experiential gift would you love to receive?