Treehugger가 권하는 Green 발렌타인데이

2월 14일 발렌타인데이가 바로 내일로 다가왔습니다.
머 발렌타인데이라고 해서 제게는 특별히 의미있는 날은 아니지만, 사랑하는 사람들에게 그 마음을 전하고자 하는 사람들에게는 특별한 날이 아닐 수 없습니다. 암튼 너무나 가식적이고 상업화된 발렌타인데이, 틀에 박힌 초콜렛 바구니를 전하는 것 말고 다른 방식(재활용품으로 선물을 만들거나 화려한 조명보다는 밀납초를 밝혀 은은한 분위기를 연출하는 등등) 으로 발렌타인데이를 아침부터 밤까지 잘~보내는 노하우(가이드)를 Treehugger(급진적인 환경보호가라고 하네요.)가 아래와 같이 권하고 있습니다. 지구환경에 해를 끼치지 않고 사랑을 나누고 전하는 그린(Green) 발렌타인테이를 말이죠. 관심있는 분들은 찬찬히 살펴보시길.

덧. 영문이라서 읽기 어려운 분들은, 허접하지만 구글 번역기를 써보시라고 권하고 싶네요.
대충 어떤 이야기인지는 쉽게 눈치채실 겁니다.

아래 영문 구글 번역 / http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=ko&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2etreehugger%2ecom%2fgreen%2dvalentine%2f

by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island

Everyone knows that you can't buy love. Still, it's never a good idea to show up empty-handed on Valentine's Day. Our guide to a day of pure, green romance shows how you can pamper your sweetheart without spoiling the planet.


7:00 a.m. Rise and shine. How do we love caffeine? Let us count the ways. And North Carolina-based Larry's Beans can help you start the morning off on a romantic note. Featuring only beans that are fair-trade, shade-grown, or transitional organic, this brewer also uses passive-solar energy and wind-powered vents to achieve its perfect roasts. Company namesake Larry Larson has even penned a tome that compares coffee to puckering up. Compassion, coffee, and kissing? We'll take a cup of that.

Fall in love: Larry's Beans' St. Valentino Gift Box Set includes St. Valentino's Blend, smooth chocolate, and a copy of the book Coffee is Like Kissing.

7:30 a.m. Soak it in. Generally speaking, a shower is more efficient, but a bath for two is an oh-so-sexy way to luxuriate while also conserving water. For a personal touch, add a DIY sachet made from dried lavender, jasmine, or orange blossom tied into small fabric squares. Not the Martha Stewart-type? Look for bath treats made from organic ingredients and essential oils.



Fall in love: Farmaesthetics' Midnight Honey Bath & Beauty Oil and Aveda's Caribbean Therapy Bath Soak make the perfect tea for two.

10:30 a.m. Rendezvous at the zoo. Meet up with your lover in a place where you can release your inner animal. Wondering which beast will make the best setting for your date? Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Magazine (pdf) has some hints. They've assigned wild fauna to represent each anniversary. Couples of three years, for instance, can expect things to get a little racy-the tiger represents their ability to recognize each other's, er, individual stripes. Rawoar!

Credit: Farm Sanctuary

Fall in Love: If frolicking with the penguins pulls at your wild thang's heart strings, donate to an animal charity in his or her honor. The ASPCA, Humane Society, and Farm Sanctuary help animals in need, while Heifer Project International connects impoverished families with the gift of livestock.



12:30 a.m. Linger over lunch. Since you're already out of the office, why not plan an impromptu picnic lunch (indoors or out). Swing by the farmer's market or your local grocer then tuck into some tasty goodness.


Credit: ulterior epicure

Fall in love: May we suggest packing your treats in a romantic rattan picnic basket? V-Day and chocolate go together like organic peanut butter and homemade jam, so for dessert, we like Green & Black's, Endangered Species, and Dagoba. Yum.

4:15 p.m. Create a Hallmark moment. Worldwide, approximately one billion Valentine cards are sent out each year-that's a lot of virgin paper that ends up in the trash. But who doesn't get verklempt when a card's sappy sentiments brings a tear to the eye? This year, skip the fuzzy-puppy-hugging-a-heart approach, pick up your desk scissors, and channel your inner school child. It's time to go old school and ride out the workday by creating an original Valentine from the scrap paper and magazines lying around the office.


Credit: Abbey Goes Design Scouting

Fall in Love: To make the goods, you'll need the proper tools, such as recycled stainless steel scissors, and Treecycle paper. Wish your office were a little greener? Check out our guide on How to Green Your Office.

5:00 p.m. Let love bloom. Time to punch out and go pick up that Valentine's Day staple-flowers. There's no denying that the little beauties convey a romantic mood, but unfortunately, most conventional blossoms are grown using loads of pesticides, then shipped from South America to retail outlets around the globe. Consider presenting a single stem instead of a dozen. It'll make a dramatic impression, while reducing your impact for the day. If you're a think-ahead type, ordering online through outlets that carry organic buds is another smart option. Look for the VeriFlora certification, which indicates sustainable growing.

Credit: Organic Bouquet

Fall in love: Organic Bouquet and Diamond Organics deliver organic cut flowers. Or take a different approach with the Shirley Poppy Garden Gift from VivaTerra.



7:00 p.m. Hold the phone. Non-recyclable plastic containers, wasted wooden chopsticks, and individual packets of soy sauce are sooo not sexy. Why not skip the take-out and whip up an aphrodisiac from seasonal, local, and organic foods? To make it extra steamy, add a dash of that secret ingredient: love.

Fall in Love: Check out Kelly Rossiter's Hold the Phone! series on TreeHugger's sister site, PlanetGreen, for take-out knock-offs with all of the taste and none of the wasteful packaging. Lusting for something sweet? Try this easy-peasy recipe for rich chocolate cake.

7:30 p.m. Light the mood. Dining by candlelight is always romantic. Added bonus: You'll be saving energy. Conventional candles can pollute indoor environments, so to make sure that love-not soot-is in the air, use beeswax or soy-wax candles that burn much cleaner.

Fall in love: Set hearts a-flame with a Heart Pillar Candle or Earthly Body Heart Shaped Candle, which melts into a silky massage oil. Now that's hot.



9:00 p.m. Get physical. Those bottles of organic champagne and biodynamic wine went great with dinner, but now they're kicked-and you're not ready for bed quite yet. Time to pull out the organic vodka! Want to make it even greener? Two words people: body shots. That'll lighten your dishwasher's load.

Fall in love: Ready to give it a shot? Try Square One, Organic V, Sunshine Vodka, Vodka 14, or OCEAN Vodka. For the not-so-bold, try this recipe for mixing a Clean, Yet Dirty, Martini.



10:30 p.m. Off to bed (wink, wink). Finally! Time to climb under the organic cotton and bamboo sheets to really get this holiday started. When it comes to ending (or beginning, depending on how you look at it) the evening, be sure to treat your tootsie to the most eco-friendly playthings. Because, really, who wants to use phthalate-filled toys or chemical-laden lubes you-know-where? Trust us on this one.



Fall in love: Show your bed a little love with bamboo and organic cotton sheets from Elite, Bed Bath & Beyond, or Loop. Then slip into something more comfortable, like Enamore's Peek a Boo Bikini Bra. Next, turn the attention on yourselves with Good Clean Love Personal Lubes, Yes Lube, and Glyde Condoms. (After all, nothing says "I love you" like population control!) Then let the real fun begin with Njoy's Stainless Steel Toys and Smitten Kitten's Rechargeable Vibrators.

Further reading: 50 Ways to Please Your Lover, TreeHugger Picks: Green Your Valentine's Day, TreeHugger Gifts for Valentine's Day, How to Buy a Green Sex Toy, and How to Green Your Sex Life.

* 출처 및 링크 : Treehugger http://www.treehugger.com/green-valentine/