We live in a culture of mass consumerism; I believe we all have too much stuff and there's a huge pressure to have the latest "thing". We generate vast quantities of waste, accumulate debt, added undue pressure and stress onto ourselves and feel like we are neither good enough, have enough or do enough.

This consumerism is the part I dislike about Christmas, I wrote a blog all about my reasons why. It’s worth a read in the hope that it will encourage all of us to think twice before buying more “stuff”.

I’m not a bah humbug, scrooge-type person. In fact I LOVE Christmas and it’s a kind, thoughtful desire to have to want to give gifts to others, it’s a lovely thing, a gesture of gratitude. But perhaps this year I invite you to do so with a little more care and thought for our planet and its finite resources. So here are my suggestions for some eco-friendly living and Christmas gifts this year, all from Ireland. And for the love of all things green, do Secret Santa and just buy 1 gift per person tops! Or maybe go gift free and go on weekend around Ireland together or create one of the activities or experiences suggested below – memories last much longer than things (unless it’s plastic and then it will NEVER leave) It’s always great to be honest too, let your loved one know what you’d really like so it avoids impulse buys, stress and panic buying.

1.    Soulful, heart-filling experiences

The best gift ever is arguably the gift of an experience. Think of workshops, classes and the likes. Experiences last, they may even creating a lasting change, with this in mind, may I please ask you to kindly consider supporting my litte business, Ebb & Flow Yoga?

Give the gift of peace and calm with a yoga / pilates gift voucher. Or how about membership to the gorgeous Seasonal Soul? A nature based, self-care programme for women that spans and flows across the four seasons of the year. It supports women who are feeling burnt-out, stuck, fed-up and a bit lost; to carve out time and space for themselves so that they can reconnect to a slower, more natural way and pace of life, that feels calm and more manageable. The doors are now open to join as new members and we begin in January 2024.

Other feel-good ideas:

• Plan an outing together with the family and do something that gives back, like join a beach clean or do your own.

• Plant a tree together

• Volunteer with a local charity

• Go for a hike - use the Hiiker or All Trails App to find the most beautiful trails. Borrow trailguides book from your local library or check out Roz Purcell’s new book, The Hike Life

• Invest in skills with Common Knowledge for a more sustainable way to live

2.    Go Vintage, Pre-loved & ReGift

I'm a big fan of preloved and vintage anything! Visit your local recycling plant, they always have cool stuff set aside that you can pick up for a few euros or call to a charity shop. Pretty much all the furniture in my house is second hand including the picture frames! Paint them up, swap out the picture, stick acorns or shells to it and bam you have a unique, handmade gift!

Regifting - We’ve all been given gifts that either just didn’t suit us, that we had already or had no use for so how about regifting these and giving them a gracious new home and life elsewhere. Pass the parcel onwards :)

3.   Farmers & Craft Markets

I love markets! Meet the lovely people who made beautiful things and see their face light up when you come to chat and support them. A great place to pick up unique, bespoke gifts. There’s a plethora of local markets in every county now, so check out what’s happening in your area, with a full list of local Kerry markets on MAST or select your county from the drop down list.

4.    Handmade & Local

Choose something handmade and local, and on Shop in Ireland, you’ll find a huge list of suppliers and creators

Some my personal local heroes are:

• Inish Living

  (I LOVE their Yoga mats, designed in the southwest of Ireland. Click the link for a 20% discount for my blog readers - cool huh?!)

• Danu Skincare

• Dingle Druid (candles, soaps etc)

• Whitsondale Collection

• Wild Atlantic Keepsakes 

• Lisa Dora Jewellery

• Peak View Creations

• Amanda Curran Art

5.    New Threads

Visit a vintage / charity shop or arrange a clothes swap with friends, but if you’re convinced you need something new, then check out:

• Grown Clothing

• Fresh Cut Clothing

• Bogman Beanie

• Liadain Aiken

• Fiadh

6.    Choose reusables

Online plastic free stores Ode to Earth & Reuzi

7.    Winter Sun / Post Party Shades

Irish company Crann make eco-friendly sunglasses and watches. For each purchase, €2 is donated to the Native Woodland Trust too

8.    For Little Ones

Jiminy Eco Friendly Toys founded by Dublin mum Sharon Keilthy. Toys, books, and craft materials that are plastic-free and locally-made from natural or recycled materials

How about a beautiful book called Wild Waves and Wishing Wells: Irish Folk Tales for Children by Órla Mcgovern or Our Wild World by Eanna Ní Lámhna

Wrap them up and send them out to Forest School or to a local pet farm with a season pass.

9.    Food glorious food!

Make up a hamper in a recycled box, use old shredded paper in the base and skip the plastic wrapping and fill it with lovely things that you get at the local markets and top it up with some gorgeous locally made produce like cakes, honey, jams, etc.

• Luxury chocolate from eco-consious Irish brands like Chocolatey Clare, Bean & Goose and Exploding Tree

• Woodland Coffee claims to be Ireland’s most sustainable coffee and for each case of coffee, a tree will be planted that will absorb carbon from the atmosphere for a more sustainable planet

• Neighbour Food connects local producers directly with customers

• Organic shops in your area

10. Books

Ohhhh my I could ramble for hours here, I love more than going to my local library and borrowing 12 books at a time! Or access your local library online at Borrow Box

But if you’d like to buy a book from your local store, here’s my top 10 Irish books this year and for more visit this list online

1.    How to save the planet one object at a time by Dr. Tara Shine

2.    Stories from the Deep by Ken O’Sullivan

3.    An Irish Atlantic Rainforest by Eoghan Daltun

4..    Her Kind by Niamh Boyce

5.    Wild Atlantic Women by Gráinne Lyons

6.    The Blissful Breath: 10 Minutes of Daily Breathing Exercises That Will Change Your Life by Niall O Murchú

7.    The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology by Mark Boyle

8.    The Turning of the Year by Eithne Massey

9. We are the Ark by Mary Reynolds

10. If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie (not officially an Irish book but good enough to make my list!)

If you can’t get them locally try Charlie Byrne’s Books, Kennys, Dubray Books, O’Mahoneys, Easons etc.

And if you’re writing your own book – check out a gorgeous range of recycled notebooks from Badly Made Books in Co. Cork. Grab a recycled pen from Ode to Earth or Reuzi or a stunning handcrafted pen from Killarney Pens

11. On the Move

• There’s a cool Irish company called Sundrift making backpacks from recycled water bottles

• Bags and accessories made from upcycled wetsuits from the Upcycle Movement

• Beautiful handmade keep cups from Grounded Pottery

12. For the Dog!

Your dog doesn’t need a cheap plastic toy for Christmas, firstly they have no idea it’s Christmas! And they will destory it in seconds. Pick up a bone from the local butchers or invest in strong indestructable toys that last like or pick them up a new collar and lead from Co. Wexford Dog Swaggles - handmade and gorgeous!

13. Give the gift of a tree

Visit your local garden centre and choose a native Irish tree to give as a gift, there is hardly a more beautiful or long lasting eco-friendly gift you can give. Or donate to Reforestnation or Hometree who will plant it on your behalf

Final top tips:

• Skip the wrapping paper and use old magazines, recycle gift bags, old newspapers and string for a quirky, hipster looking packaging or put it behind your back, as the lucky recipient to close their eyes and drum roll please…….. ta-da!

• Keep the receipts - it may mean less waste in the landfill

• Do Secret Santa - 1 gift only to buy

• Organise a clothes swap this Christmas, instead of buying new clothes and shoes, swap them and make a night of it!

Thanks for reading, wishing you and yours a wonderful, healthy, happy and eco-conscious holiday season.

Nollaig shona dhuit,

Maeve x