Joyful giving: delight loved ones and honor the planet with these 44 distinguished presents

Natural Health, Dec, 2007 by Christine Richmond, Daniel Mazori

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WHEN SEARCHING for holiday gifts, the goal is simple: Find presents that are as unique and memorable as the people on your list. To get you started, we've rounded up 44 gifts we feel capture the spirit of the season. Every item is organic, eco-friendly (see the iPod speaker on page 88 that's crafted from responsibly harvested wood), handmade, charitable (like the children's pajamas and book set on page 86--a portion of sales goes to a literacy nonprofit), recycled, or fair-trade (the sweater-coat on page 84 was knit by Peruvian women who receive competitive wages for their work--and support for their children's education and healthcare). We hope our guide inspires you to give gifts that give back.

From left: HANDMADE Maribelle Red Holiday Box ($37; maribelle.com); ECO-FRIENDLY Vosges Exotic Caramel Mini-Hatbox ($37; vosgeschocolate.com).

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HANDMADE Anne Kiel Wishing Tree Necklace ($83; elsewares.com).

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RECYCLED ABC Home Grounded Jewel Collection rings ($120 for band; $740 for band with responsibly mined diamond; abchome.com).

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Clockwise from top: FAIR-TRADE Stewart Brown cashmere Lattice Earflap Hat ($159; stewartbrown .com); RECYCLED Ting Leather Belt Holdall ($582; tinglondon .com); ECO-FRIENDLY Earth Shoes Lodge Boots ($160; planetshoes.com); FAIR-TRADE Peruvian Connection Whiteout Alpaca Cable Sweater-Coat ($369; peruvianconnection.com); ORGANIC Loomstate Sweet and Dandy Tee in Blush ($59; tobi.com); HANDMADE Eileen Fisher Shibori Wrap in Hollyberry/Soft White ($138; eileenfisher.com).

Clockwise from top: FAIR-TRADE Aveda Head for Smooth gift set ($60; aveda.com); HANDMADE Piccolo Tesoro Crystal Decanter (5110; anticafarmacista.com); ORGANIC Jo Wood Organics Natural Soy Wax Candle ($54; jowoodorganics.com); CHARITABLE Kama Ayurveda Rosewater gift set ($55; alcanz.com).

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From left: ECO-FRIENDLY Hebrew Illuminations (Sounds True, 2006) book by Adam Rhine and Louise Temple ($24; soundstrue.com); HANDMADE Moving Lights menorah ($85; eco-artware.com).

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From top: CHARITABLE KN Karen Neuburger Books at Bedtime Pajamas set (542 to $44; karenneuburger.com); CHARITABLE UNICEF "I Never Forget a Face!" Matching Game ($13; shopcardsandgifts.unicefusa.org).

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From left: ORGANIC Wagatha's Dog House Collection treats ($33; wagathas.com); RECYCLED VivaTerra Antique Boat Picture Frame ($79; vivaterra.com); ECO-FRIENDLY Sunnica Hemp Pet Carrier (570; sunnica.com); CHARITABLE Planet Dog Gingerbread Buddy ($10; planetdog.com); CHARITABLE L.L. Bean and Planet Dog Naughty and Nice Gift Tote for Dogs ($29; Ilbean.com).

Clockwise from top left: FAIR-TRADE Novica "Surprises" gourd ornaments ($30 for five; novica .com); RECYCLED BaabaaZuzu stocking (544; baabaazuzu .com); CHARITABLE Lindsay Olives Holiday Olive Tree ($50; lindsayolives .com); ECO-FRIENDLY Veer Acai liqueur ($35; veevlife.com for stores); ORGANIC Harry & David Organic Family Affair gift box ($42 for 16 pears; harryanddavid .com); ECO-FRIENDLY Uncommon Goods cork birdhouse ($60; uncommon goods.com).

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Clockwise from top left: ECO-FRIENDLY Brunton Solaris i6 solar iPod charger ($149; brunton.com); ECO-FRIENDLY Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH camera ($349; usa.canon.com for stores); CHARITABLE Wide Angle: National Geographic Greatest Places (National Geographic, 2005) by Ferdinand Protzman ($30; shopcardsandgifts .unicefusa.org); ECO-FRIENDLY Citizen Eco Drive 200 Meter Professional Diver watch ($325; citizenwatch.com); ECO-FRIENDLY Vers 2x wooden iPod speaker ($179; target.com); RECYCLED Green Glass Beer Glasses ($26 for four; elsewares.com); RECYCLED Nike Golf Karma golf balls ($28 for 12; nikegolf .com for stores); ECO-FRIENDLY Gus Horizontal Bi-fold Wallet ($145; gusstyle.com).

Clockwise from top left: HANDMADE Fastachi Ouattro Gift Tray ($38; fastachi.com); ORGANIC Coturri Winery 2005 Carignane Mendocino Testa Vineyards wine ($20; coturriwinery .com); HANDMADE Artgoodies Deer Towel ($15; elsewares.com); CHARITABLE Big Island Bees Honey Box ($46; chefshop.com); ECO-FRIENDLY Circa Asia bamboo bowl, plate, and chopstick set ($29; circaasiacom); CHARITABLE The Shaded Leaf Lemon Verbena tea ($4; theshadedleaf .com); HANDMADE A Beautiful Place "Cherry Blossom" teapot and teacups ($105; 925-2856285 for stores).

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By CHRISTINE RICHMOND & DANIEL MAZORI

Portrait by AMY NEUNSINGER

Still life photography by ANNIE SCHLECHTER