Valentines day is coming up quickly.  For many of us that means spending time with our sweetheart, having a romantic dinner.....and consuming copious amounts of chocolate!  It is no wonder that chocolate is such a popular gift to give our loved ones.  It tastes fantastic, most people love it, it is decadent, and dark chocolate even contains healthy antioxidents.  Unfortunately much of the chocolate available on the market has some dirty little secrets.

1.  Cocoa plants are very suseptable to pests and diseases, and because of that are one of the most heavily sprayed crops around.
2.   Cocoa producers are paid very poorly for their product.  Because of this many of them live in poverty.  Child labor is also common because of this.
3.   In order to produce more yield, new varieties that can be grown in full sun have been introduced.  Instead of the natural cocoa plants that grow in the shade of the forest, these increase the destruction of the forest.

So what can be done to ensure that the chocolate you buy does not contribute to these problems?  There are many certifications that you can look for when buying chocolate, and nowadays many brands that meet these certifications are appearing in local grocery stores.  So, what exactly should be on your chocolate wrapper?

1.  Fair Trade - Fair trade aims to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their product and good labor conditions to work in.  Under fair trade these farmers are able to live and support their families properly.
2.   Certified Organic - There are many different organizations that certify organic products.  Certified organic guarantees that the crops are not sprayed with dangerous chemicals. 
3.   Rainforest Alliance - The rainforest alliance covers many areas that are important in cocoa farming.  They work with farmers to ensure sustainability by promoting the original shade grown cocoa plants.  Because these are grown in the shelter of the forests they are much more environmentally friendly and help promote wildlife conservation.  They also work with farmers to ensure that they are making at least the country minimum wage, and provide training on how to get the best yields from their crops.

Luckily for us chocolate lovers, there are many fantastic brands of “ethical chocolate”

Green & Blacks - Green & Blacks makes a variety of chocolate products including chocolate bars, ice cream, baking chocolate and hot chocolate mix.  I can say from experience that the quality and taste of their chocolate is fantastic.  With it’s popularity gaining it is appearing not only in specialty stores but also in local supermarkets and drug stores as well.

Lake Champlain Chocolates - Lake Champlain makes a variety of certified organic, fair trade chocolate products including bars, assortments, gift baskets and hot chocolate.

» Organic Chocolate on Ecollo

Previously on Ecollo, we offered gift suggestions that will keep your child active. As it turns out, kids aren’t the only ones who will benefit from this type of present. The latest trend in Christmas gifts are those that reduce stress, or increase exercise and nutrition.

Some of the suggestions in the CNN article are great ideas; others may require tip-toeing around to ensure you won’t offend or send the wrong message. For example, if you send a woman to a dietician or give a weight loss cookbook to someone who hasn’t requested it, expect to be frozen out (no matter how much you reassure her you don’t think she’s fat). Instead try sessions with a “nutritional consultant” if one has expressed the interest in healthy eating or a healthy living cookbook rather than one focused on weight loss.

Additional gift suggestions to promote a healthy lifestyle:

☆ Yoga DVD with yoga mat, water bottle and a headband

☆ Any other type of fitness equipment or clothing for an activity that an individual has shown interest in. In-line skates, athletic shoes, a new swimsuit, fitness clothing, etc.

☆ Nike + iPod Sport Kit – A device for runners that can slipped in Nike shoes and works with your iPod to keep real-time spoken feedback, track running distance, calories burned, time and pace.

☆ Enrolment in an activity or class an individual has expressed a desire to learn

☆ Hot stone facial

☆ Couples massage. Not only do you de-stress, you give a person the gift of time with someone they love.

Note that if you aren’t completely sure, a fitness-related gift may sit in a closet, unused if the person on the receiving end has never expressed the interest in participating in the related activity. Fitness requires effort and therefore, an interest in the activity in question. Gifts such as spa treatments may be more well-received in some cases because they invite luxury and relaxation.

Things you never give your significant other unless she asks for it

I don’t care how much she whines about feeling fat, wanting to get in shape or start eating better. No man should ever assume he’s being helpful and give his wife/girlfriend/life partner the following unless specifically directed to:

☆ Membership to a gym

☆ Exercise equipment (An exercise ball for “stretching” is fine. A treadmill is not.)

☆ Bathroom scale

☆ Weight Watchers or any other diet cookbook

☆ While we’re on the topic, membership to Weight Watchers or any other weight loss program

» CNN Health

Giving someone a gift you know they'll love is definitely one of the most aspects of the season - yes, even more so than actually receiving a gift yourself. Unfortunately the wrapping portion can not only be a pain for you, often times it's pretty bad for the earth as well. Think about it: sure the paper looks so pretty when the gift is wrapped and adds to the anticipation of trying to guess what's inside. However on the day of your gift-opening, in a matter of mere seconds, the paper is ripped off and discarded in a bit pile on the floor. Not to mention any special additions, such as ribbons or bows. And then where does it go? Probably into a big plastic garbage bag destined for a landfill.

Traditional wrapping paper - as in the kind you buy in a long tube from the store - isn't the most eco-friendly tradition in the world, even if you recycle it. Fortunately there are some other earth-friendly ways to package your gifts that will not only look just as aesthetically pleasing, but will have less of an impact on the environment.

Reusable containers
Starfrit's eco-friendly cookware comes packaged in a reusable plastic bin rather than a cardboard box, thus severely reducing the chance it will be tossed as soon as the item inside comes out. Most people have something they can use one of these for and you can find them ranging in size from relatively small to behemoth. Therefore, whether it's for storage of Christmas decorations or a handy unit to keep on the nightstand to prevent clutter, find another purpose for one is almost a given.

Reusable bags
Reusable gift bags are a better option than wrapping paper, because providing one stays in good condition, there's a good chance the recipient will keep it and use it again when it's their turn to get a gift. However an even better option is a reusable bag similar to the ones you might buy at a grocery store or a cute tote bag. If it's a bag that's made of cloth, the first instinct of the recipient won't automatically be to dispose of it. Most people will agree these bags are handy to have, whether you use them at the supermarket each week, to take papers to and from work or to use as a library bag - or really, any other purpose you can find for it.

Decorative boxes
Not just any cardboard box, these boxes generally are a little more robust in design and usually have a nice pattern or color on the exterior. They may be square boxes or even a hatbox, but regardless which type you choose, something that pretty isn't likely to be thrown away. Case in point: as a wedding gift, Mr. Pinky Bean and I received two hatboxes filled with china. Those boxes are currently in my closet, being used to hold some of my personal effects. They were so functional and attractive, it never even occurred to me to toss them, which is the goal you're aiming for.

Newspaper or magazines
Grandpa Bean always - always - wrapped his Christmas gifts in newspaper. It wasn't so much an eco-friendly move as it was his frugality, however it became such a tradition that Brother Bean now wraps all of his gifts the same way in memory of his elder. If you have old newspapers that haven't made their way to recycling yet, use some of these. Alternatively magazines are more colorful and can actually add a funky, retro feel to a gift, especially if you find pages with images or products that might appeal to the person the gift is intended for. Additionally you could use it to drop discreet hints about the contents of the package. Either way, just make sure to recycle them in the end.

Anything else your mind can think up
Be as creative as you want and can be here. Another wedding gift of ours featured kitchen utensils that came wrapped in dish towels and had reusable dish scrubbers as decorations rather than bows. Not just eco-conscious, but extremely practical s well. Use your imagination and find something that will likely be used and appreciated. Even better, you typically get credited for thinking outside the (disposable) box!

» Wikipedia

As great as winter is, one of the definite pitfalls is the inevitable amount of time that gets spent indoors. But with a few clever eco-friendly ideas, you can thwart cabin fever by keeping your walls visually interesting.

Recycled Cardboard Deer Trophy

To appease the hunter in you, opt for an interesting 100% recycled cardboard deer trophy. While not normally into heads of animals adorning my walls, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the artistic element they offer. The anomalous form that offers a shape but no features is strangely futuristic, and definitely a conversation starter.

Eco-Clock

Fast forward your thinking of time with an bare bones no fuss eco-friendly time keeper. This rubberized clock is made from bicycle chain ring, a tire rubber face, and a bicycle cog pendulum.  The clever clock is the brainchild of cyclist Graham Bergh, who in 1991 used a flat tire tube to hang speakers – sparking ideas that continue to heat up new recycled creations.  A few other creations, specifically the “Hybrid Wall Clock”, pairs recycled bicycle parts with reused computer hard drives.

Recycled Traffic Signs

Speed limits, stop signs and other warnings are easy to overlook in your daily drive, but when twisted around and recycled, make very eye-catching track stopping pieces.  Ideas around reused signs include light switchplates, house numbers, holiday wreathes, hanging plates, coasters, trays, and more.  Most of these pieces are created by metalsmith Boris Bally, whose work is featured at the New York’s Museum of Art and Design among other notable venues.

Creative Comforts for Kids

Inhabitots features sustainable bamboo mobiles that steer clear of non-recyclable plastics known for giving of toxic fumes.  Their adorable mobiles take a step away from traditional wall ware and offer a more engaging 3-d approach to traditional style. There are about a dozen different things to do if your winter home includes kids. Keep their niche warm and cozy by playing with a few different ideas, including fabric re-stickable wall prints and sustainable screen prints, a hanging birdhouse night light made from salvaged French oak, or even vintage wall paper silhouettes of woodsy settings. 

Moss Art

Hot Eco-Art doesn’t get any more literal than this. Eco artist Edina Tokodi creates moss graffiti portraits made with white panels and moss – creating a perfect picture. Tokyo, known for its rigid lack of green space has also inspired the Hokkaidu Sanyu Corpo to create the “River Re Wall”, a framed moss wall garden complete with its own irrigation system offering a faint but relaxing water sound.

And while cooped up in your now highly eclectic home, top off your new hot walls with a wall heater, a much more eco-friendly approach to heating than conventional gas furnaces. Another type of wall heater is the baseboard heater, which is not only discreetly placed but also allows for more wall space to display your eco-art.

“Hot Walls: Eco-Friendly Art Heat up Homes” is brought to you by Shireen Qudosi.  For more information, visit http://www.heater-home.com/category/wall.aspx
 Deer Trophy, Eco-Clock and Recycled Traffic Signs can be found at Eco-Artware.com

» Heater Home

Whether it's becuase they've embraced the minamalist lifestyle or simply to focus on one great product at a time, new green, go-to shopping website Guffly.com highlights the latest and greatest in cool, eco-friendly products. The site officially launched last week, and features a wide range of goods for including lifestyle items, home decor, pet products, clothing, office and personal accessories. The catch is each product is only sold on the site for one day (but don't worry, if you miss a day or two, there are archives that allow you to see all past products).

Based in Detroit, Guffly is based on simplicity - as in, finding easy ways you can be more environmentally friendly and discovering new, unique tools that make it easier to recycle, compost and just make better, more eco-conscious decisions in general. The products are chosen based on what the site's creators like and will use themselves - in other words, they won't endorse something they think will be a waste of your time or hard-earned money. Each product featured contains as much detail as possible, including exactly what makes it eco-friendly or fair trade. The site also strives to maintain their level of eco-consciousness throughout the business even by taking small steps, such as purchasing locally-made coffee and becoming involved in local festivals.

Also be sure to check out the Guffly blog, for everything from products to articles on topics such as ideas for eco-friendly dates or how to go back to school the eco-friendly way.

Check it out after the jump!

» Guffly.com

The girls in the photo are argriculture students at The School for Field Studies Center for Sustainable Development Studies in Costa Rica.  Costa Rica is a developing country facing some real struggles in today's global economy.  Large scale industrial agricultural practices are destroying Costa Rica's biodiversity as well as the livlihood of local farmers.

For just $40.00 you can buy seeds for one full semester for the SFS test farm.  You'll help promote organic farming as the school helps provide seeds and training to local farmers and helps them obtain organic certification for their crops.

» Changing the Present