Celebrating Mother’s Day doesn’t have to equate to mindless consumption. Gift something meaningful this year with one of these five ethical and sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas.
We all want to honour our mum/step-mum/mother-in-law/mother figure on Mother’s Day, but as many of us look to reduce our unnecessary consumption, finding a gift that is meaningful, yet sustainable is vital.
The cliched Mother’s Day gifts of robe and slippers or a bunch of flowers are so passé. (Unless, of course, they’re slow flowers, which don’t generate the carbon emissions due to refrigeration and long-haul transport that conventional flowers do). Why not gift something sustainable that your Mum will actually use and one that honours Mother Earth, too?
We bring you five ethical and sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas to help you celebrate the important mother in your life.
Some green reads
There are a plethora of amazing reads about living a sustainable lifestyle that will help inspire your Mum to become more eco-friendly.
Some of our favourites include ‘A Family Guide to Waste-free Living’ by Lauren and Oberon Carter, ‘Waste Not’ by Erin Rhoades and‘Practising Simplicity: Small Steps and Brave Choices For a Life Less Distracted’ by Jodi Wilson.
If your Mum is looking to cultivate her green thumb then these recent releases may pique her interest: ‘The Now (and How) of Growing Food In The City’ (Gestlaten) by Valery Rizzo and ‘The Italian Art of Growing Your Own Food’ by Jaclyn Crupi (Affirm Press).
Keen foodies will appreciate ‘Home’ (Pan Macmillan Australia), a collection of more than 200 original recipes by cook, restaurateur and food writer extraordinaire, Stephanie Alexander. Or ‘How To Shop, Cook, Swap, Save and Eat For A Happy Planet’ by Alexx Stuart (Murdoch Books).
Ethically made products
Ethical companies that produce good quality products that don’t harm the planet, instead aim to improve it, should always be supported in our books.
Check out Pip’s Marketplace for items that Mum will be sure to love that are also kinder to Mother Earth, such as certified organic linen or undyed fabrics and upcycled yarns – perfect for the craft-inclined Mum!
You could also gift items that will help your Mum up her zero waste game. Like a reusable coffee cup, a cute reusable shopping bag, beeswax wraps or composting equipment like a composting tumbler or worm farm.
Homemade wares
A Mother’s Day gift doesn’t have to mean parting with wads of cash. Why not give your Mum something even more valuable – a homemade gift made with love.
You could make your own homemade natural bath bombs, soap or gardener’s hand scrub, some homemade jam or a macramé hanging basket.
Or why not whip up some culinary feats she’ll be sure to enjoy like herb infused honey, this zesty zucchini cake or a batch of rhubarb champagne?
And of course, our sourdough pancakes recipe will surely be a hit on Mother’s Day Sunday.
A magazine subscription
Okay, we couldn’t help ourselves… We think an annual subscription to Pip Magazine is the perfect meaningful and ethical Mother’s Day gift. Not only will your Mum learn everything she needs to know to live an earth-friendly life, but she’ll be reminded four times a year of how thoughtful you are.
If your Mum is already hooked on Pip, then perhaps our ethically made tote bags or back issues of the mag would be gratefully received.
The gift of knowledge
If your Mum is looking to learn more about sustainable living and permaculture then maybe she would like to expand her knowledge on natural building, beekeeping, fermenting and organic gardening too?
Main image: Olive Gap Organic Farm