There are many ways in which hotels in the Lake District and their guests can improve their carbon footprint.

Many businesses are looking at ways in which to be more environmentally aware green. One such way is by applying for the ISO14001 accreditation. The ISO14001 proves a company’s environmental credentials which enhances a corporate image. This accreditation actually saves the company or organisation money by reducing energy consumption whilst at the same time helping the environment.

There are various levels of implementations that can be put into practice within hotels and accommodation providers from recycling and reusing of materials, to sourcing materials, services and supplies locally. There is then a next step that can be taken for example in the form of creating a renewable energy source for the hotel. One of the hotels in the Lake District that has installed a biomass energy production system which has been enabled by its location amongst a 70 acre managed woodland area.

Some general environmental policies for hotels in the Lake District to follow are listed below:

1. To develop suitable objectives, targets and management programmes, applying appropriate operational procedures to minimise the significant environmental impacts during normal, abnormal and emergency conditions.
2. To comply with relevant legislation, regulation and other requirements relating to significant environmental impacts.
3. To prevent pollution, minimise inputs of utilities and resources and the outputs of emissions to the atmosphere, effluents to waters/sewers and wastes to disposal facilities; endeavouring to re-use, recover or recycle materials where practicable.
4. To ensure that environmental responsibilities are defined, communicated and understood at all levels within a hotels organisation and provide appropriate training where needed.
5. To ensure that suppliers and contractors understand the company policy and assist them in developing appropriate systems and a responsible approach with regard to environmental issues.
6. To communicate, co-operate and respond to the views of interested parties, including customers and the general public, on environmental issues, where this is practicable and likely to result in an overall improved environmental performance.
7. To strive for continual improvement in overall environmental performance.

Of course, it is not just the responsibility of the hotel to conserve energy and be environmentally aware. Guests of Lake District hotels can contribute greatly to the process of helping reduce a carbon footprint.

What you can do:

1. Help reduce energy consumption by switching off bedroom lights when the room is empty, closing curtains in winter to keep heat in the room, and turn down the thermostatic control on the radiator to a comfortable level.
2. Think about water consumption when taking a shower, and don’t wash hands or clean teeth under a running tap – put the plug in instead!
3. Let the hotel know if you notice any leaking or dripping taps – they lose a lot more than you think!
4. Help yourself to leaflets of local attractions but don’t take more than you need and you could even return them after use.
5. Use a hotels recycling facilities – for bottles, paper, cardboard, cans and plastic.
6. Buy local or Fair Trade produce whenever you can.
7. Leave the car behind! Use the local transport. Most Lake District hotels have walking and bus routes available at Reception – there are great views whilst travelling by bus from all the routes and lots of visitor attractions within easy reach.
8. Bikes are available for hire.
9. Don’t drop litter. Litter can be very harmful to wildlife.
10. You can make a contribution to the Tourism & Conservation Partnership to help with local conservation projects.

These small actions will help this beautiful part of the UK stay beautiful for future generations to come.

Article by Jenny Andrew
www.langdale.co.uk

In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holiday season. 4 million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags. Need I say more?

I know, you’ve heard it all before. Use newspaper; re-use kraft paper grocery bags (which you shouldn’t have in your possession, because you use a reusable shopping bag, right?) and decorate with paint or markers–get your kids involved; place gifts inside of other gifts. An eco-chic tote makes a nifty gift bag! blah blah blah. Everyone will be talking about your ingenuity at the egg-nog bowl.

Not at your holiday gathering, you say? You’ll be ridiculed? Oh, come on! You can stand up to that nonsense–think of the trees and the landfill space you’ll help to save. Take it from me. I know. It’s hard at first. But after a while, they’ll get used to what I’m sure my family calls, ‘odd eco-ideosynchracies’. Who knows, maybe you’ll even inspire them!

Okay, if you are just unable to gamble your holiday reputation on homemade gift wrap, at least go for recycled paper. Better yet, recycled gift wrap with soy based inks. Yes, you’ll find it on my website –I like to offer options for those who aren’t quite ready to make the leap. Baby steps to earth-friendlier living are very commendable.

What about the wrapping paper on gifts we receive? I say, make it a game to unwrap gifts as carefully as possible–the ones who’ve ripped their gift wrap to shreds get KP duty.
Here are some clever ways to reuse wrapping paper:

• donate it!
• cut up and put in an album along with your holiday photos
• use as drawer liners
• cut out pictures from the paper for future gift cards
• use scraps as decorative accents on another gift instead of bows or ribbons
• matte pictures with it
• create your New Year’s outfit, ribbons and all (kidding)
• wrap another gift, of course!

Whatever you do, don’t feed the paper to your blazing fire. Many decorative papers actually contain lead and other toxins and the last thing you want to do is poison your holiday guests (or, more importantly, your children). And not all wrapping paper is recyclable. If it contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver colored shapes, glitter, plastic, etc., it is destined for the landfill. Be sure to remove the tape before tossing it into the bin.

Giving is one of the most joyous experiences during the holiday season and year-round. Giving up wrapping paper is a way to give back to the planet, lasting well into future generations in the form of trees and open space (free of landfill).

Do you have a creative way to wrap gifts without wrapping paper?

Article by Lynn Hasselberger
myearth360.com

I’m always on the lookout for sustainable or eco-friendly ways to travel, and it seems more fashionable than ever to ‘travel green’. The ‘Eco-Tours’ industry is booming with breaks all over South America, where travellers can make a difference on their holiday, or stay in a place that protects, rather than destroys the environment.

But what if you’re travelling on a budget? Most of these tours and eco-friendly hotels are expensive, and require a wallet as big as your conscience.

That’s why the new crop of eco-hostels is so exciting. Ranging from backpacker hostels with a conscience to sustainable farmhouses, these environmentally friendly properties are cheap, comfortable and in some of the world’s coolest places. Here are three to inspire your next break:

Cabinas Tina’s Casitas, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Costa Rica leads the way when it comes to eco-breaks, but the Cabinas Tinas Casitas make a budget friendly alternative. Located in scenic Monteverde, the hostel is a stone’s throw from the Green Mountain and the breathtaking ‘Cloud Forest’. Everything about this chic eco-hostel is geared towards saving the environment, with its own reforestation project to save endangered local wildlife.

The ‘casitas’ themselves aren’t too shabby either, decked out with rustic furniture and boasting views of the Pacific Ocean. The owner Freddy is a wildlife fanatic and offers his own guided tour of the area, and the hostel also has special rates for local nature tours. Adrenaline junkies can even brave a zip line tour of the rainforest canopy, or see the wildlife from the dizzying heights of a suspension bridge.

CEL – (Centre Ecologic llemena) Hostel, Girona, Spain

An affordable alternative to Aguriturismos, this hostel aims to be completely ‘sustainable’, from the naturally heated swimming pool to the meals served with organic produce. Surrounded by the lush Girona countryside, CEL is a relaxed rural retreat perfect for escaping from hectic everyday life.

If you’re after a hectic sightseeing break, steer clear –days here should be spent taking long walks, curling up with a book or watching the sunset from the rustic farmhouse terrace. Housed in a beautiful old farmhouse, the owners have created a quirky but homely atmosphere, with family pets and children mingling with the guests at mealtimes.

Hi –Washington, DC, USA

You don’t have to trek deep into the jungle or the countryside to find an eco-hostel – the HI-Washington is an affordable and eco-friendly place to stay, right in the heart of America’s capital city. With the White House only 8 blocks away, the HI is probably the most environmentally conscious hostel around – the carpets are made from recycled materials, there are no disposable products in the kitchen, and the hostel is ‘Energy Star Certified’- meaning that the energy consumption is one of the lowest in the budget accommodation market.

With a recycling and water conservation program in place, and monthly documentary movie nights on environmental topics, the HI will convert anyone into an eco-warrior. But it’s the sociable atmosphere and great extras that make this hostel really stand out – the rooms range from classic dorms to luxury private rooms, there’s a delicious free breakfast, lively events calendar, bike rental and TV room with a library of free DVDs.

High Street Hostel, Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh may be a bustling city, but in High Street Hostel it boasts something very special in environmental terms. The hostel, you see, claims to be 100% carbon neutral. That’s right – a fun, vibrant hostel in a city that leaves no carbon footprint whatsoever.

And it’s a claim that High Street Hostel backs up. Not only does it source its electricity from renewable and non-nuclear supplies, but it also owns and maintains 75 hectare woodland that absorbs more than the hostel’s total CO2 emissions.

Article by Lauren Smith
Lauren is a travel writer and editor of hostelbookers.com, a budget travel website. Passionate about all things green, she is interested in sustainable tourism, and finding eco-friendly but affordable places to stay around the world.

Here’s a message from the GGG team to wish all of our readers a merry and peaceful festive season and a happy New Year!

If you’re celebrating over the next couple of weeks here’s a look back at some 2008 Green Girls Global articles to help you have a greener Christmas….

January – Junk Yard Challenge
Get creative with your holiday waste.

February – Going Green on Love Products
Treat someone special with this green gift

March – Eco Sins
This time of year often leads to over indulgence. Reflect on your eco sins and repent!

April – Big Green Purse Review
Shopping, shopping, shopping! Make sure your purse is a brighter shade of green.

May – Balloon Litter
We love the colours and glitter of the festive decorations but don’t make nature pay for them.

June – In the Closet :: Know your Clothing
Searching for that perfect party frock? Get familiar with the labels.

July – Are you doing bokashi?
What do do with all those veggie peelings from your Chrimbo dinner? Bokashi!

August – Downsizing for the Environment
Think twice before you ask for more prezzies.

September – 7 Eco Tips to Beat the Credit Crunch
If you’re going to feel the pinch its at this time of year. Use these tips to help you through/

October – A Hand Made Statement
Try making some gifts by hand and create your craft manifesto at the same time.

November – Discover your Local Country Market
If you really must buy brussel sprouts, get them from your local farmers market

December – Breathing Spaces Christmas Song
Take a moment to think about the wildlife and do your conservation bit.

Have a good one!

Wow, here’s an offer and a half! Fair Trade fashion pioneers, People Tree has teamed up with online travel directory, responsibletravel.com to celebrate the launch of their new Summer Collection with a fantastic competition.

Win a holiday and a holiday wardrobe!

To win a luxury weekend break for 2 in Devon, plus £300 worth of vouchers for a Fair Trade holiday wardrobe to match, all you have to do is answer this question:

Both People Tree and responsibletravel.com projects support communities in Peru.

Which of these regions is NOT found in Peru:
a) Amazonas
b) Cusco
c) Himalayas

Enter the competition

Find out more about the holiday, the competition and terms & conditions

20% off at People Tree

And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also offering a 20% discount at People Tree when quoting this special code, RTJUL08, to redeem the offer. You can also place orders at www.peopletree.co.uk or over the phone on 0845 450 4595.

Be quick though as the offer ends 8th July 2008!

It’s that time of year again when I call on all green girls around the world to get nominating in our annual Responsible Tourism Awards!

The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, founded and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with our partners, Telegraph Travel, Geographical Magazine and World Travel Market, need your help in scouring the globe for interesting, unusual, innovative but above all worthy nominees for this year’s Awards.

In 2007 we received over 1700 nominations from travellers around the world and we’d love to use your responsible travel know-how to find operators, accommodations, low carbon transport, tourism organisations and individuals who you think are the best of the best in responsible tourism for 2008.

The New Forest – 2007 overall winner

Last year’s overall winner, best destination, and best personal contribution (for destination manager, Anthony Climpson) award winner was the New Forest in the UK in recognition of the work they have been doing for over 15 years with visitors, industry and the community to look after the environment and promote sustainable local development. Find out more and watch a video about overall winners, the New Forest.

What does it mean to win a Responsible Tourism Award?

If you’re not sure whether it’s worth making a nomination, take a look at some of these comments from last year’s winners:

Mark Jacobs of Azafady, winner of the Best Volunteering Organisation Award said:

‘Winning the award has clearly increased the profile of Azafady and its work out in south-east Madagascar.

When potential volunteers look at our website, the knowledge that we have been named “Best Volunteering Organisation” provides an extra assurance that our work has been vetted independently and found to be the best in its field.

We have already received applications from volunteers who have cited the Responsible Tourism Awards as the reason they have applied to us and I’ve no doubt that winning the award will result in an overall increase in the numbers of volunteers going out to Madagascar.’

While Arugam Bay, in Sri Lanka, Highly Commended in the Best Destination category said:

‘Arugam Bay has been rewarded for its unique community tourism offers, most of all, Arugam Bay people are now very proud of their achievements. The Award has helped them to get international publicity and for a long time to come they will cherish this Award. The formal tourism sector and the tourism authorities are now taking more interest in our work and want to help us.’

Read more interviews with our 2007 Responsible Tourism Award winners.

Nominate and you could win a holiday!

You can nominate in any of 13 categories – all we need is the name of the nominee and how to contact them, and a few lines explaining why you think they deserve to win an award. If you nominate an eventual Award winner, you could even win a prize holiday for 2 to India courtesy of Real World Adventures!

In support of the Responsible Tourism Awards

Support for the Responsible Tourism Awards is growing every year. Read what some of our supporters have to say:

Michael Palin
Getting to know more about each other remains one of the most important hopes for the peaceful future of the planet.

If we are really to understand each other better, then we need to be reminded to travel carefully and thoughtfully,
listening to people along the way and respecting the world we are privileged to travel through.

The Responsible Tourism Awards are one of the most important ways in which we can understand how to travel better.
Photograph by Basil Pao

Ben Fogle
The Responsible Tourism Awards scheme is now widely recognised around the world for leading the way in celebrating individual achievements in responsible tourism. This unique Awards scheme, run by responsibletravel.com, inspires travellers and travel companies to tackle the environmental, social and cultural issues that tourism faces, head on.

During my travels in the next few months I’ll be looking out for worthy nominees and encourage all passionate travellers to get on board: dig out those travel journals, tell your travel-mad friends and if you’re on the road, keep your eyes peeled for tourism ventures that are really making a difference. For me, the future of tourism is inextricably linked with this more thoughtful path of travel.

Pen Hadow, Explorer
The significance of each single step towards our shared worldwide goal of sustainable tourism is greater than you
may imagine – and these hesitant early steps are the most important as with any journey.

Your nominations for those that are our pathfinders are of inestimable value in building everyone’s confidence this really is the direction we must all be heading. Support our pathfinders and multiply the value of their efforts by encouraging others to follow their superlative example.
Photograph courtesy Pen Hadow

Alain de Botton, Writer & Philosopher
Over the last few years, we’ve become painfully aware that tourism isn’t just about passively observing a place,
it’s also about changing it – and usually for the worst. Most often we literally destroy the beauty or interest we have come to witness.

It’s therefore paramount that we learn to come up with forms of travel businesses that don’t destroy their host organisms
and The Responsible Tourism Awards sound like an admirable way forward.
Photograph by Charlotte de Botton

Responsible Tourism Awards magazine

Find out about all last year’s winners and read other interesting features on responsible tourism issues in our dedicated Responsible Tourism Awards magazine, r:travel.

I can’t wait to read your nominations!

Happy travelling…

Katie
responsibletravel.com

Well, Jez and I are now back from honeymoon and back to reality and our wedding day, although only two weeks ago, now seems like a distant happy memory. Wow, it flew by so past but that’s probably because we had such a fantastic time!

This post is just going to be brief but after so many good luck wishes from everyone I wanted to give a quick update on how it all went. My original post, ‘Planning a hand-made, eco wedding‘, gives more details about what went into preparing our big day.

I suppose one of the things about planning an ethical wedding is that many people are curious about what it will be like. I think quite a few of our guests were really expecting something unusual but in fact it was traditional in many ways.

It was great for us that people entered into the spirit of the day so happily, some of our older guests said they enjoyed it because it reminded them of the simple, family weddings they used to go to when they were children. One of our friends even recycled part of our invitation to put into her wedding card.

The maypole cake and chocolate cupcakes looked beautiful and went down a treat. Everyone loved the food and organic wine and nothing went to waste!

On the morning of the wedding we picked up the flowers and took the hall keys to the caterer. Our caterer was excited that she’d bought so much local food from the market that morning and the florist made a point of writing down where the flowers had been sourced – “Flowers and foliage from Leiston Suffolk, Spalding Lincolnshire, Penryn Cornwall”.

For our honeymoon we went to Brussels on the Eurostar and then on to Amsterdam on the Thalys train. We hadn’t travelled on the new Eurostar from St Pancras before and I have to say I was impressed that there was organic and fairtrade food and drink on the menu. Their information also says that they are constantly reviewing their environmental performance, reducing waste and increasing the use of biodegradable packaging. OK, so this statement isn’t quantifiable but its a start, right?

It’s strange to think that after so many months of planning, preparation and creating your day is over in a flash. Of course it isn’t really because it’s just the foundation of a new commitment you’ve made to each other for many, many more days to come.

Last month I had to attend a seminar in Paris for work. Most people in Scotland fly to Paris, it’s quicker and more convenient (apparently). I chose to go by train. My main reason was that I don’t like flying (who does?) and would spend most of my time away worrying about it and therefore not be able to do a good job. Of course the other reason was environmental, as a member of my office ‘green team’ I felt I should set a good example. Work were fine with this and so that’s what I did.

National Express, who currently run the Edinburgh to London East Coast rail line, offer through tickets from their destinations to Eurostar ones. I had already enquired earlier about the cost of this, having been thinking about going to Brussels for my fiance’s birthday. If you’re lucky, it can cost you just £79 return. Even though I booked the work trip nearer the time, it still only cost £120.

I should say that if you want to travel from Scotland to Paris by rail, you need time on your side. Not everyone’s company would be ok with them basically spending two days on the train, I’m very lucky. I set off from Edinburgh at 8am and got to Paris at 5.30pm. Coming back I set off at 10am and got back at 6pm. It would have been earlier but engineering works meant I had to get a coach between Darlington and Newcastle. I don’t mind long train journeys though, I’ve grown up doing them having lived in Orkney and visiting relatives in England during the holidays.

The National Express legs of the journey were perhaps the least comfortable, at least compared to the Eurostar seats and leg room (I hope one day you can get a through train). I was really glad to get off the train in London and stretch my legs with the short walk over the road to St Pancras International. Since last November this has been the new Eurostar hub, and it’s lovely, a vast improvement on the St Pancras of my student days in Sheffield, only a few years ago. Much more convenient for those coming from King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston, it also has much better facilities than Waterloo (well, before you go through check-in and passport control that is). Although the Eurostar departure lounge may not have as many overpriced souvenir shops as it’s counterpart at Gare du Nord, it is very comfortable and offers power points for those with laptops to use.

I arrived in Paris relaxed and calm, having had time to read through my presentation, do a bit of knitting and watch a beautiful sunset over the French countryside. For me, this is the only way to travel.

It is thought that over 80% of holiday makers to Cornwall arrive by car. So when the population of the county swells to five and a half million during the holiday season it is no surprise that the roads simply can’t cope. Going against the norm, I set out to discover if a holiday without the car in this beauty spot of Britain is both practical and, let’s face it, pleasurable.

The mainline railway between London and Penzance serves as the spine of Cornwall’s public transport system. Served both by Virgin Trains and First Great Western, the journey can be epic, long but surprisingly relaxing. Travel by day and enjoy the coastal views between Exeter and Plymouth; or by night on the Night Riviera Sleeper Service and arrive for sunrise in Penzance.

For daytrippers, the mainline trains stop at the principle south west towns and cities including Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro. From each of these railway towns you should, in theory, be able to reach further towns and villages in Cornwall and Devon. I wanted to put the theory to the test. Armed with a 70 page public transport guide, I left the train at Bodmin Parkway Station (remembering this time round that the station was a few miles from the town itself) and waited for the hourly Western Greyhound bus to Bodmin. Use www.transportdirect.info to help plan the journey to include all forms of public transport.

As it turned out, the Western Greyhound bus service is providing the essential link between otherwise difficult to reach towns across north Cornwall. The network extends from Lands End in the west to Clovelly, Exeter and Plymouth in the east. And it’s pretty affordable. As an example, a single fare from Boscastle to Truro, a total of 40 miles, costs just £4.50. And what could be better bumping around the winding Cornish roads knowing that you need only worry about the stunning views from the window rather than the approaching traffic.

Trouble is among the bus travellers, there was an entire demographic lacking: namely the mid-to-late twenties and thirty-somethings who I guessed preferred taking the car to public transport. Even more revealing was that despite the fact that each of the towns I passed through was buzzing with tourists, I only ever came across two holiday makers travelling on the bus.

One of the best ways to get around is by bicycle. Granted, certain parts of Cornwall are hilly and you’ll come back feeling fitter than before. But cycling through towns, villages and natural landscapes brings you closer to an authentic experience of Cornwall itself.

Luckily First Great Western and Virgin Trains have good cycle facilities which means travelling with the bike from wherever you are shouldn’t be a problem. The Cornish Way, part of National cycle route 3, connects Bude to Penzance and Land’s End via St Austell or Newquay. So you should be able to connect to a cycle route simply by alighting at certain stations. Take Bodmin Parkway station again. You can follow a stretch of the route 3 directly from the station and through to the town and out toward Padstow or Camelford, on the famous Camel Trail. This easy and flat route out of Bodmin follows the meanders of the Camel River and offers a secluded route through the trees.

The big question I came back with was how to encourage more people to leave the car behind when travelling to Cornwall. It’s not an easy one to tackle, as many holiday properties are in remote locations that aren’t served by buses. Certain green businesses will offer a discount for ‘slow’ arrivals, but many still expect their customers to arrive by car. The Financial Times recently pointed out the paradox around the feeling of independence derived from owning a car and our dependency on owning one to get around. Isn’t this the case for holidays? Driving to the West Country gives us the impression of independence but really we are continually reinforcing our complete lack of. Luckily there are alternatives such as car clubs which have diminished people’s dependence on the car. Car Share Cornwall is growing in popularity. However, the website is directed at residents and not travellers, so visitors to the county would have to find their nearest car pooling scheme. For shorter journeys, Explore South West runs a bio-diesel fuelled taxi service which can pick your small group up from the railway station.

With a bit of imagination and a sense of adventure, there are some fabulous journeys to be had across Cornwall by train, bus or bicycle.

Laura Burgess
www.ecoescape.org

Laura Burgess is the founder of ecoescape. ecoescape promotes responsible escapism in the UK and beyond, helping people find ways to get off-grid and enjoy low carbon lifestyles – holidays included. ecoescape is both a new printed travel guide series and an online community offering people inspiration for greener ways to travel and a place to share their stories. In 2007 with the help of Big Lottery Funding, Laura published the first guide to sustainable travel in the UK. You can order a copy of the guide on her website at www.ecoescape.org. The new series will be published in April 2008 by Green Guide and will include an updated UK edition along with the first Ireland ecoescape guide.

On February 14th 2008, Valentines Day rolls along beckoning us Green Girls (and Guys) to wonder how we can celebrate a holiday meant to embody the spirit of LOVE without necessarily feeding into the consumerist frenzy.

So I thought I’d write my first piece for Green Girls Global about ways to Green our Valentines Day celebrations with the true intention of celebrating our LOVE not only for our sweethearts, but also for Mother Earth. As a Green-solutions based Consultant and Holistic Health & Wellness Counselor for Eco Umbrella, here are some wonderful tips I’ve come up with for your green and gorgeous selves:

1. What’s Valentine’s Day without FLOWERS, right? Well, how about planting some lovely potted flowers in your yard with your honey instead of buying a bouquet. Or better yet, plant a tree together in honor of your love for each other (and mother earth) and watch it grow each year, change with the seasons, and grow some roots. If you must buy flowers, however, I’ve got a list of lovely florists that grow the ORGANIC kind – a much better alternative for the earth and your loved one. Just email me at KSurla@EcoUmbrella.com and I’d be happy to suggest some. Go for the local and organic kind if you can!

2. CHOCOLATE – a dear friend once told me that chocolate might be one of the best things about Valentines. I don’t know if I necessarily agree, but it has been part of the “tradition” as far back as I can recall. So what can you do? Give some lovely hints about how Organic Chocolate is the way to go both for the taste and overall impact on the environment. Fair Trade and Organic Chocolate is even better! Some yummy brands I’ve sampled are Seeds of Change which gives 1% of net sales to “advance the cause of sustainable organic agriculture worldwide”; Divine, which is Fair Trade Certified using Fair Trade Cocoa from a cooperative of “smallholder farms in Ghana”; and Travel Chocolate which is both Organic and Fair Trade. I picked some of these up from the most recent Green Festival in San Francisco.

3. So now we head to the ROMANTIC Candle-lit Dinner. Instead of going to an overpriced fancy shmancy restaurant, I suggest staying in and cooking a lovely organic meal together. If you’re a Green Girl with a garden, use some of the lovely fruits, vegetable and herbs you’ve been growing. Pick them off together, wash them together, cut & dice and slice them together and prepare a lovely romantic, personal and (soy-based) candle-lit dinner in the wonderful privacy of your own home. Who can resist an organic, home cooked, prepared-with-love meal? Food is the key to many hearts, including mine – especially the aforementioned kind.

4. But if you can’t cook, then make a lovely date and go to a local farmers market to pick out some fresh produce, lovely fresh baked breads, and some gourmet dishes straight from the local farms that may make their own cheeses from happy and free roaming cows & sheep. Try out some new organic produce that you’ve never had a chance to taste and share. Create your own lovely picnic basket fresh from the farmers market.

5. After a stroll through the local farmers market, take a bike ride or walk to a local park, beach, or desert – whatever lovely nature spot tickles your fancy – and have a romantic picnic. Bring your own re-useable utensils from home and enjoy each other’s company in nature – a wonderful way to celebrate with Mother Earth herself.

6. So I’ve covered the flowers, chocolate, romantic dinner and food as well as some potential locations out in nature, so let’s get to the best tip of all, and my most favorite…. – for the non-conformist in all of us, why not make Valentines a celebration with friends, family and loved ones instead. Sometimes its not just about the two of you, but about the community around you – so incorporate some of the tips from above and make Valentines a festive gathering of your most beloved. Invite your friends to celebrate Valentines with you together out on the beach or go for a picnic. Share the LOVE and maybe even make it a Tree Planting Valentines gathering to give a little back to Mother Earth herself. Make love with each other. Be love. Give love.

I hope you have a fabulous Valentine’s day in 2008!