Your Zero Waste Mother’s Day Gift Guide
When we think of Mother’s Day, we often think of spoiling them with presents, food, or something special. These celebrations often also come with a lot of waste. However, with a little creativity and time, it’s simple to make this day special AND earth friendly, no matter what your budget is.
That’s why we’re excited to share 5 of our favourite eco-friendly and sustainable gift ideas.[/ultimate_heading]
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Make a video
Creating a video of the moments you have shared with the significant women in your life is a gift they will treasure forever. Break out the tissues – you’re probably going to need them!
Whether using a pre-made template or starting from scratch, making a video is a lot easier than it used to be, thanks to some fantastic programs out there. Scroll through your phone and select a range of images and videos that you want to share, then compile them together using one of our favourite programs here:
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Plan an experience
Instead of giving a physical gift, plan a special experience such as a delicious meal, an at-home spa day, a picnic in the park, or a hike in the bush to a beautiful spot. This kind of gift will create memories that will last a lifetime – without generating waste in the process!
You can check out our nutrition blog here, for a few tasty and easy-to-make recipes. We’re also sharing our method for a homemade lemon scrub below if you want to create an at-home spa!
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Give to a cause
This Mother’s Day, why not consider making a donation to a cause close to your Mum’s heart? It could be a donation to a local nature reserve or a charity that supports medical research in a particular field – the options are limitless, great for the community and 100% zero waste!
You could even take this one step further and sign up to support a local charity’s upcoming fundraising event together.
Perhaps it’s running side by side in a Mother’s Day Classic (that raises money for breast cancer) or helping to gather resources for a local women’s shelter – no matter what you do, it’s all about spending quality time together in service of others.
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Think green!
Picking some fresh flowers, herbs or beautiful leaves from your own garden (or local streets) can create a simple, thoughtful gift without the environmental impact. These could be wrapped in beeswax wraps or placed in a spare jar as a makeshift vase.
We know not everyone is lucky enough to have pickable flowers in their garden, so a fantastic alternative is to create a pot plant. Using old tins or containers, a little soil and a cutting or a sprinkling of seeds you can quickly create a cute decorative succulent or a mini herb garden.
You can harvest some fantastic cuttings from our Preschool garden, or why not grab a few seeds from our Sustainable Play Preschool Seed Bank? Located within the office, these seeds are available for everyone, so make sure to pop in!
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Make your own gift
Instead of heading out to buy a gift for Mum, why not get creative and look at what you could make her instead? Here is one we love – Lemon Sugar Scrub
Making a lemon scrub at home is very easy and requires only a few ingredients. It’s also wonderfully restorative, luscious and will leave anyone feeling refreshed every time they use it!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil (or any other oil of your choice)
- 2-3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of lemon zest (optional)
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar and coconut oil.
- Mix the ingredients well until the sugar and oil are thoroughly combined.
- Add the lemon juice to the mixture and stir well.
- If you want to add some extra lemon fragrance to your scrub, you can add a tablespoon of lemon zest as well.
- Continue stirring until the ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place.
To use the lemon scrub:
- Wet your skin with warm water.
- Take a small amount of the lemon scrub and apply it to your skin, using gentle circular motions.
- Massage the scrub into your skin for a few minutes, focusing on any dry or rough areas.
- Rinse off the scrub with warm water.
- Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
- Apply moisturizer to your skin to lock in the moisture.
The lemon scrub can be used on the face, hands, feet, and body. However, be cautious while using it on the face, as lemon juice can be quite acidic and may irritate sensitive skin. It is always best to do a patch test before using the scrub on your face.
Remember, zero waste Mother’s Day is not about perfection but making small changes to celebrate this special day in an eco-friendly and sustainable way.
Looking to enrol in 2023? We’d love to hear from you!
Written By
Jenny joined the Sustainable Play Preschool team in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts, Communications and a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University.
Whilst always interested in the power of nature, it was with the birth of her own daughter that she gained a greater appreciation for just how precious (and fleeting) childhood is, and the importance of providing children with a nature centric early learning experience.