Valentine’s Day is a day each year that is set aside to honor your sweetheart. You have many options available to you to celebrate this important day for couples. But choosing to go a greener, more earth-friendly route really makes a statement about your love for each other and the Planet you call home.

Keep these things in mind in order to plan a Valentine’s Day that is sure to wow your loved one while doing good for the planet at the same time.

Green Gifts that are Romance Approved

These Romantic Gift choices will not only woo your special Valentine, but they are also good for the planet.

Flowers

Flowers are a mainstay for Valentine celebrations and have been for many decades. In fact, there is an entire industry dedicated to growing flowers for Valentine’s Day and similar celebrations.

Unfortunately, if you choose to go to a traditional florist, you may find that the growing process used in creating these floral arrangements is not as good for the planet as you’d like to believe.

That’s why it’s so important to choose flowers that are organic for your green Valentine celebration. Otherwise, NorthStar Moving Company suggests that you look for fair trade flowers that can be found in green grocers and supermarkets.

Go Digital When Possible

Romantic music, books, and movies are always a big hit as Valentine’s gifts. If you’re wanting to go a little greener this year, go for digital versions instead.

This eliminates the packaging that is almost always wasted, and you never need to worry about your sweetheart losing his or her copy with the abundance of cloud storage for digital material.

Chocolates

From Chocolate hearts to gourmet delights chocolate rules the day, and the wallet, when it comes to Valentine’s gifts. Not all chocolate is created equal when it comes to planetary concerns however.

Sierra Club recommends choosing ethical chocolates that are organic and fair trade, though note that all organic chocolate is not created equal. Among several brands on the market, it recommends Amano Chocolate for purists who prefer chocolate that tastes the way chocolate is supposed to taste.

Give Recycled or Repurposed Jewelry

If you really want top marks, find a piece of jewelry that has a story behind it. The thought that goes into finding out and telling the story will not be lost on her, and will make the gesture even more meaningful.

The fact that this old piece of jewelry is given new life, though, makes the gift one that is certainly planet approved and any sweetheart that shares your love of the planet is sure to agree.

Prepare a Special Meal for Your Sweetheart

There are few things that are better than a meal prepared with love (provided you can do the meal justice). Cooking a meal of your sweetheart’s favorite foods and cleaning up afterwards leaves you both a clean slate to enjoy the evening, and sets the table for romance later on. Be sure to include organic foods, and perhaps herbs you’ve grown on your own.

Give Each Other the Gift of a Natural Latex Mattress

If you’re looking for big ticket items that are sure to make an impact, consider giving the gift of a Natural Latex Mattress. This gift is one that will keep on giving for up to 20 years, and is made with natural processes and is 100 percent recyclable after 20 long years of use.

This gift is one that’s not only a great present, but will give you better mornings for many years to come by providing support and comfort for a great night’s sleep time and time again.

Whatever gifts you choose to give, if wrapping paper is a necessity, consider the environment when making that choice too. Recycled wrapping paper is a planet-wise choice as is reusing gift bags from previous Valentine celebrations or making your own.

Planet Friendly Date Night Plans

Date night is a big deal for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day of 2016 happens to fall on a Sunday giving you the entire weekend to make it a truly special memory for the two of you. Any of these date night ideas are sure to be a hit.

Go Camping

Camping is a great way to get in touch with nature. You can prepare a few healthy snacks to bring along and enjoy a night under the stars. Many places are a little chilly for open air camping in February, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice and cozy evening of tent camping. Bring a warm sleeping bag, and snuggle close for a memorable Valentine’s date.

Ice Skating

Living Green recommends ice skating as a great way to enjoy a little green fun that provides ample opportunities to get a little bit closer. Aside from that, it’s a fun date at any age. Some locations are fortunate enough to have frozen ponds that can easily support ice skating while others will need to seek out indoor or outdoor ice skating rinks.

Consider Hot Air Ballooning

Most people do not realize how planet-friendly Hot Air Balloon rides can be. Hot air balloons operate on liquid propane gas, which burns clean, leaving water vapors and carbon dioxide behind. While there is a pilot on hot air balloon flights, it is still a romantic date idea that you will both remember for a very long time.

Enjoy Your Date Night In

Prepare a nice meal, create a romantic setting, and skip the crowded restaurants to spend an evening together. Just the two of you. Every now and then, cutting yourselves off from the rest of the world is the perfect way to celebrate your romance. This means you need to turn off the television, put down your mobile devices, and enjoy simply being together. What comes next is up to the two of you.

Setting the Mood for Your Valentine’s Celebrations

Sometimes, it really is all about creating the right mood. Valentine’s Day is about celebrating your love for each other. That’s something that’s always there. Taking a little extra time to create an atmosphere or a mood, though, allows you to see through the things that sometimes get in the way of how you feel about each other. Keep these things in mind though.

• Use soy candles. Soy candles are natural and lack the added ingredients, such as heavy metals that are often used in the candle making process, according to Mother Earth Living.

• Choose fair trade wine. Fair trade wine is made not only in a manner that is good for the planet, but also for the people who make the wines and the communities where the wine is made.

• Use essential oils for fragrance. Aromatherapy is one of the most powerful methods available to create a special mood. Whether your goal is to relax or romance, there’s an essential oil that is designed to help. The Green Divas recommend cinnamon, ginger, jasmine, and ylang-ylang essential oils to stimulate passion.

Romantic and Green Valentine’s Day Activities

Sometimes it’s all about doing something romantic and fun – or even a little sexy – together. These activities can be fun for both of you, and will definitely bring a little heat unto your celebrations – without harming the planet in the process.

Get a Massage Together/Give Each other a Massage

Either way, this serves to relax and excite, and is a great way to relieve tension for both of you. Not all people like the idea of being touched by strangers. In these cases, take turns giving each other a massage. If you’re massaging one another, don’t forget to use essential oils to incorporate aromatherapy, and a little additional romance, into the massage.

Ride a Bicycle Built for Two

It’s a great way to practice working together, bring new balance to relationship, and to enjoy the nature that’s around you – even in the throes of February. More importantly, it’s one of those quintessentially romantic things that couples do. The fact that it is so romantic makes is a great idea for Valentine’s Day. The fact that it is planet-friendly makes it great any day.

Take Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Ballroom dancing is a fun way to get a little exercise, add a little spice to your routine, and learn something new. All of these things can be romantic and exciting. Ballroom dancing, though, is not as boring as it sounds – especially if you include Latin dancing in the mix.

There’s no formula to follow to the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, activity, date, or celebration. The best way to go, especially for couples looking for earth friendly Valentine’s ideas, is to discuss your concerns and make plans for the day together. For the gift though, it’s often best to make at least some small token a complete and total surprise for your partner.

Any of these ideas, however, will get your Valentine’s plans off to a perfect start, and help you show your sweetheart just how special he or she is to you.

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