December 26th was not the end for these lucky pines in NYC. Artist Michael Neff rescued more than a handful of Christmas trees from a sad, dried out, sidewalk fate by installing them as a pine-scented installation beneath the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Setup at the highly-trafficked Metropolitan Avenue and North 6th Street, Neff’s installation infuses some much needed greenery into the stark industrial site.

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Post tags: eco design, green christmas, green design, Hanging Christmas trees BQE, Michael Neff, recycled christmas tree, sustainable design

Season’s greetings, dear readers! From chilly NYC to snowy Salt Lake City to the hot summer streets of Buenos Aires, team Inhabitat is sending you warm holiday wishes from every corner of the world! The year was full of plenty of green tidings and we can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store for us. We hope you are having a fantastic holiday wherever may find yourself today, and a HUGE thank you for your continuous support throughout the years!

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Giving someone a great gift they’ll really treasure doesn’t mean dropping a ton of cash. Sometimes the best gift you can give someone is something much less tangible: your time. This year skip the store-bought gifts and give your loved ones a little bit of your time instead. We’ve come up with 11 lovely ideas that are sure to yield plenty of love and memories this holiday season. From cooking them their favorite meal to hosting a movie night featuring all of their favorite flicks, read on for our favorite gifts of time.

GIFTS OF TIME >

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‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the green house
“We’re not ready for Christmas yet!” the whole family groused
They’d all been too busy working and living
Seems like only a day had passed since Thanksgiving!
But they knew they still wanted a green holiday
So they prepared to celebrate thoughtfully – they could do it in just 1 day!

Read the rest of ‘Twas the Night Before (a Green) Christmas…

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Read the rest of Taste Tree is Made Up of 5,000 Spare Porcelain Plates & Cups in Belgium

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This holiday season, double up on your do-gooding by gifting your loved ones items that that not only do well by the environment, but also give back to the community. There are tons of great organizations and companies out there working hard to bring us products that are not only gentle on the earth, but support important causes and initiatives around the globe. From delicious wines to stylish sunglasses to cute teddy bears, check out these 15 fantastic gift ideas that also give back!

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK >

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This holiday season, skip the consumer madness and get crafty! Why not give your friends and family hand-made one-of-a-kind gifts that you made with a little of your own elbow grease (and we don’t mean the kind you use to knock people out of the way on Black Friday). With so many easy online tutorials available these days, there are many wonderful DIY gifts you can whip up in a jiffy for little to no money, and your gift recipients will be touched that you went out of your way to make something especially for them. From homemade lip balms to home-made DIY texting gloves to terrarium necklaces and ornaments, we’ve got some great make-it-yourself gift ideas in our guide for everyone.

MAKE YOUR OWN HOMEMADE DIY GIFTS >

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Post tags: Christmas, christmas tree, eco christmas tree, fake christmas tree, faux christmas tree, green christmas, Green Christmas Tree, green design" title="One Two Tree Eco Christmas Tree, green holidays, Green Xmas Tree, holiday tree, inflatable Christmas tree, managed forests, One Two Tree, plastic Christmas tree, plastic xmas tree, sustainable design, sustainable holiday decor, sustainable xmas tree, sustainably sourced wood, wooden christmas tree, wooden holiday tree, wooden xmas tree, xmas tree

If you’ve got someone on your list who loves to garden, then ’tis the season to give that green thumb a gift that will help them tend to the world’s plants, flowers and veggies. We’ve rounded up some of the best green gifts for every kind of gardener, from the city-dweller to the suburbanite and everything in between. Check out all of our top picks in our Green Holiday Gift Guide ahead!

GIFTS FOR GREEN THUMBS >

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Whether your loved ones live in apartments, lofts, or off-grid abodes, it’s always nice to give them sustainable gifts for that place they call home. We’ve rounded up 21 glorious gift ideas that range from a warm blanket to cozy up with on those especially chilly days to a top-of-the-line programmable thermostat that will help them knock hundreds of dollars off their utility bills— check out all of our green gifts for the home ahead!

GREEN GIFTS FOR THE HOME >

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Read the rest of 10 Green Christmas Tree Alternatives to Make Your Holiday Shine

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We’ve scoured dozens of online stores that offer sustainable, responsible and radiant jewelry and picked 20 of the best for you. From the forget-me-knot ring and starfish cuff to real sugar studs and terrarium necklaces, these gifts are made with love by people who respect the earth. Some gifts are made with recycled materials, like the cardboard ring, while others are made with conflict-free gems left in their natural state. If you want to treat the lady in your life to something truly special this year, then look no further than our carefully-curated gift guide.

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Post tags: 10 karat diamond in the rough engagement ring, altruette goldhouse charm, Azana long chain necklace, batrice recycled cardboard ring, Black Webb Necklace, Bliss Living, Clean Spirited, columbian geometric bracelet, DIY Terrarium necklace, eco christmas, eco friendly jewelry, eco friendly presents, eco holiday, eco xmas, eco-friendly gifts, elbeto columbian rough emerald earrings, encased brass cuff, environmentally friendly gifts, environmentally friendly jewelry, environmentally friendly presents, Forest Necklace, forget me knot ring, GIVE, green christmas, green gift guide, green holiday, green holiday gift guide, Green Jewelry Gift Guide, Green Jewelry Gifts, green jewelry presents, green presents, green xmas, Gretchen Jones, hoja earrings, hovey lee oceane cuff, Jewelry by Nancy, kaight, Pearls on a Branch Mothers Necklace, picot facet pendant necklace, shale earrings, sugar studs, triangle necklace

Dolls, ribbons and ponies may seem like the traditional presents to give to little ladies, but today’s modern girl is interested in much more than that. Instead of opting for some of the more staid choices, why not give her a green gift that will cultivate her creativity and perhaps even inspire a future career or passion? If you’re looking for ideas, check out our green gift guide for girls filled with unique and eco-conscious bits and baubles – from a mini farm with visible roots to a dollhouse that teaches all about renewable energy to art supplies made of veggies – that she’ll love.

GIFTS FOR GIRLS >

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There was a time when only the rich could afford the latest cool eco gadgets – but now there are so many to choose from it’s hard to know what’s good and what’s not. That’s why we’ve put together a sound list of sustainable gifts that the green geek in your life will love. From foldable eco-speakers to a solar-powered Nokero reading light, a water-powered clock and even a tablet stand and keyboard made from bamboo, these gifts are both fun and sustainable. Hit the jump to check out our nifty guide, and feel free to pass it on if you’re so inspired.

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Post tags: "green furniture", Amplifiear, bedol water-powered clock, christmas gifts, eco christmas, eco friendly home gifts, eco friendly presents, eco gadgets, eco holiday, eco presents, eco xmas, eco-friendly gifts, eco-gifts, electree solar charger, environmentally friendly gifts, environmentally friendly presents, foldable eco speakers from fashionation, folding electric bicycle, gift guide, gifts for homeowners, gifts for the home, green christmas, green gadgets, green gift guide, green gifts for homeowners, green gifts for the home, green gifts for the kitchen, green holiday, green holiday gift guide, green holidays, green home decor, green presents, green xmas, holiday gifts, holidays, ipad speakers, iZen Bamboo keyboard, mushroom greenzero travel charger, nokero crestone solar light bulbs, nokero reading light, pedal power bicycle generator roller, peddle-powered smartphone bicycle light, solar powered water bottle cap, solar-powered hybrid light, spark tablet case, sustainable gifts, usb cell battery pack, xmas gifts

For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, the holiday season involves cold weather, warm beverages, and cuddly knits to help us stay warm. To help get everyone on your list bundled up and cozy, we’ve put together a green guide of 20 lovely gifts that are both earth and human-friendly. In addition to super soft alpaca glittens and a range of other hats and gloves that protect heads and hands, we’ve included a knitted yoga ball, comfy cushion covers and even gift cards with knitted detailing. It’s a great year to give the gift of warmth, and our handy guide will get you off to a good start.

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Post tags: Algloves texting gloves, Bella Alpaca glittens, By Nord braided cushion, chain link scarf, chainlink scarf, cozy gifts, crocheted headphones, eco christmas, eco friendly presents, eco gloves, eco holiday, eco mittens, Eco scarf, eco scarves, eco xmas, eco-friendly gifts, environmentally friendly gifts, environmentally friendly presents, etsy, green christmas, green gift guide, green gloves, green holiday, green holiday gift guide, green knits, green knits gift guide, green mittens, green presents, green textiles, green xmas, gypsy knit socks, gypsy socks, gypsy05, Gypsyz knit booties, hand knitted greeting card, hand knitted sidney snail, hand knitted yellow chick, indigenous fingerless gloves, knit gifts, knit necklace, knitted watermelon rug, knitted yoga ball, orla kiely stone hat, sustainable knit gifts, tree hot water bottle

Trying to figure out which gifts will make the holidays bright for your little ones without resorting to plastic toys from the local big box shop? We’ve taken the guesswork out of the whole process with our Green Gift Guide for Tots filled with sustainable, eco-friendly presents that are just as good for the earth as they are for your kids. From cool crayons that look like rocks to motor skill-enhancing beehive blocks to cute and cuddly squirrel finger puppets, here are 16 of our top ideas for you to choose from.

GREEN GIFTS FOR TOTS >

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Through a new special service in Austria, families can order a living Christmas tree online and have it delivered to their home in time for the holidays. Green Rabbit nursery in Vienna is offering up potted Nordmann fir trees, sustainably cultivated in nurseries, as an alternatives to cutting trees. Not only will they deliver the tree to your home as part of your purchase, but they will also include a packet of information showing you how to replant your tree in the spring. Don’t have a yard? No problem; they’ll come back for the tree and plant it for you.

Read the rest of Green Rabbit Nursery Delivers and Replants Live Christmas Trees in Austria

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Guys can be notoriously hard to shop for, but fear not – our 2012 Green Holiday Gift Guide is here to take all the guesswork out of giving presents to fathers, brothers, sons, and friends. From a set of classic sunglasses made from reclaimed wood to a stylish bamboo wristwatch and a dashing tweed blazer perfectly suited to riding a bike, read on for our top green gifts for him!

GREEN GIFTS FOR HIM >

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Baffled about what to get for the special lady in your life this holiday? Whether you’re shopping for your girlfriend, wife, mom, sis, friend or grannie, our Green Gifts for Her guide has something that every lass will like. From sparkling studs made of real sugar to terrarium necklaces to DIY cheesemaking kits, flip through our whole list for a slew of sustainable gifts she’s sure to love.

GREEN HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HER >

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With all the pressure to buy “stuff,” December has become the most commercialized time of year, but celebrating the holidays doesn’t have to mean spending lots of money on things you don’t need. In addition to the religious holidays, this time of year is traditionally a time to celebrate the natural world and the winter solstice.  In the spirit of the season, we’ve rounded up the many ways you can celebrate the holidays without getting caught up in the materialist mindset. From nature-inspired decorations to donating to charity, read on to see some of the top eco-friendly and natural traditions from around the world.

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Post tags: Charity, Christmas, christmas tree, consumerism, eco-friendly holidays, gifts, green christmas, green holidays, holiday food, holidays, kindness to animals, materialism, winter