Feb. 14 may be a celebration swathed in red and pink, but you can add some green -- figuratively, that is -- to the big day of love with these three simple ideas:
Give a card that keeps on giving. Sure, roses are nice (and we've got some great options below), but seeds for a garden are a lot more sustainable. And when they come planted in a cute card with a sweet saying, that's even better. Botanical Paperworks has adorable options, including the fruit-inspired "We Make a Perfect Pear " and "Orange You Glad We're Together, " while Twisted Limb Paperworks offers 100 percent recycled cards with stitched envelopes. Or give a tree planting from Dolphin Blue and get a nice card to show your love the new habitat you got in their honor. After all, this is a day to show love -- and that doesn't just have to be for people but can also be for the planet.
Buy chocolates that really show you care. Chocolates are a staple when it comes to showing affection, and organic, fair-trade varieties are the only way to go. Why? You'll avoid pesticides and the exploitation of farm workers. Plus, more than 40 percent of the world's conventional chocolate comes from Côte d'Ivoire in Africa, where child slavery is a very real problem. Dr. Sue's Chocolate is a dark, European-style chocolate enriched by all-natural fruits and local honey. Sweet Earth Chocolates offers everything from the classic red velvet heart-shaped box to a bag of mini chocolate hearts to a heart full of truffles, all 100 percent organic and fair trade (with vegan options as well).
Spend a romantic evening out as locavores. If you want to treat your partner to a special meal out, it doesn't get better than going to a local restaurant, where the food is fresh and the taste heightened. Need help finding the perfect spot? Check out the directory at EatWellGuide.org, which will show you the restaurants in your area that are committed to serving sustainable and organic meals.