Your mom gave you life, so it’s understandable that you’d want to get her a great Mother’s Day gift. But that can be easier said than done, especially if you feel like you’ve run out of time. For all you procrastinators out there, we’re here for you. Get inspired with one of these eight ideas for the eco-friendly mamas in your life:
1. Clean her house.
There’s nothing better than coming home to a house that’s clean and sparkly. Natural household cleaning products company Rebel Green co-founders (and moms) Ali Florsheim and Melina Marcus recommend tackling areas that are particularly dirty, like washing the garbage can and dusting in high places. For an extra touch, stock up on eco-friendly cleaning supplies to leave behind.
2. Cook a special meal.
Head to the farmers market for local produce for these vegetarian and vegan Mother’s Day brunch ideas, which use ingredients like quinoa, couscous and spaghetti squash as the centerpieces.
3. Make a bouquet of flowers.
Upcycle tissue paper into a bouquet of flowers that will last longer than the real deal. To find out how to make four kinds of tissue paper flowers, check out this tutorial from Hey, Let’s Make Stuff.
4. Create a kitchen herb garden.
The effort on this is low but the impact is high. “Line an old basket with plastic, [then] add soil and plant food and a few of Mom’s favorite herbs,” suggests Teryl Ciarlo of Teryl Designs. “Throw in some edible flowers or strawberries for extra beauty, and set up in the kitchen window or as a centerpiece during the Mother’s Day celebrations.”
5. Order a subscription box.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving. With a monthly eco-friendly subscription box, you can give her 12 months of joy. Try Pip & Lola’s Everything Homemade for naturally scented handmade soaps, The Soy Box for handcrafted soy wax candles or Fair Trade Friday, filled with handcrafted items from a different region of the world every time.
6. Take her on a hike.
Pack a picnic lunch and get outside in the great outdoors. Pick something suited to your mom’s fitness and interest levels — don’t charge up a mountain if she’s more into strolls. Take the stress off her by making sure you bring everything you need, so all she has to do is enjoy nature at its finest.
7. Whip up some candles.
Go DIY with these antique tea cup candles from lifestyle blog Yes Missy, which put little-used vessels to use while lighting up her life.
8. Make a donation in her name.
For the mom who has everything, giving to others can be more meaningful than getting another trinket. Choose a charity that resonates with her — here are some climate change options — and write a nice note to go with it.
Feature photo courtesy of Shutterstock. Originally published on May 11, 2017, this post was updated in April 2020.