Updated November 2021

This list of suggestions for a greener holiday was originally compiled by members of the 2011 Davis Climate Action Team and concerned citizens who still want to live more responsibly. It has been updated this year by one of our newest volunteers. We all remind you to give a gift to your loved ones that’s also a gift to the planet.

Download a color-free PDF of the guide

Shop local

What a relief not to face traffic and crowds in unfamiliar shopping malls. Limit yourself to friendly Davis and Yolo County for your gift shopping this year. Reduce stress, lower your carbon footprint, and help the local economy.

Give a gift from a downtown Davis retailer: https://davisdowntown.com/retail/

Lunch or dine at a locally owned eatery: https://davisdowntown.com/dining/

Find more local spots at DavisWiki (a bit out of date-give the gift of updates!): http://www.daviswiki.org

Patronize a Davis Chamber of Commerce member business: http://www.davischamber.com/search

Give a subscription to a local news source: https://www.davisenterprise.com/

Give a handmade or recycled gift

Nothing is more touching than something made especially for you by hand. Challenge yourself to use local and recycled materials in your crafts. There’s no end to what you can create.

Give a gift of a food basket

Give a gift of homemade food including mixes, bread, jams and meal coupons

Give a gift of dress up clothes from the thrift store

Give a gift of handmade jewelry

Give a gift of homemade craft items (candles, holiday cards, quilts, wreaths)

Give a gift of coupons (babysitting, gardening, making dinner)

Give a gift of a homemade book of memories, family history, or an original story

Give a gift of recorded bedtime stories

Give a gift of music

Give a gift from a thrift store

Give a book from the Friends of the Library book sale https://davislibraryfriends.org/

Give a gift of cloth bags for vegetables at the grocery and in the refrigerator

Give a gift of homemade wrapping papers and gift bags

Give the gift of sustainable living

Many folks appreciate a practical gift that also helps Mother Earth. Why not go the next step—shop locally and buy products that save energy and promote healthy living?

Energy and Water Efficiency

Give the gift of a light bulb – LED bulbs (save up to 77% of energy)

Give a gift of LED holiday lights with timers (save up to 25% in electricity costs)

Give a gift of Smart power strips (reducing “phantom load” saves 10% or more of home electricity consumption)

Give a gift of motion sensor lights

Give a book on energy efficiency

Give a cell-phone solar charger

Give a solar cooker http://www.solarcookers.org/

Give a clothesline with clothes pins or a drying rack

Give a gift of duct sealing or insulation

Give a gift of natural light with a solar tubular skylight

Give a gift of a composter, rain barrel, or worm bin

Give shade or food-producing trees or drought tolerant plants from Redwood Barn Nursery http://redwoodbarn.com/

Or if you want to give a bigger ticket item, consider: an efficient and electric heating, ventilation, and cooling system, electric water heater, high efficiency windows, a solar thermal water heating system, a solar photovoltaic system, or a whole house fan.

Give low-carbon transportation

Give a gift of a bus pass https://unitrans.ucdavis.edu/fares/

Give a bike tune up

Give a bicycle or accessories like lights, panniers, or a helmet

Give an e-bike

For a bigger ticket item, give the gift of an electric vehicle!

Give locally grown and locally made products

Find fresh and unique gifts that also save you time and fuel. Don’t miss out on these special products.

Give a gift from a local vendor at the Davis Farmer’s Market: www.davisfarmersmarket.org

Give a subscription to local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture): https://www.localharvest.org/woodland-ca/csa

Give a gift from the Davis Craft & Vintage fair (most Sundays): www.daviscraftandvintage.org

Give a work of art (local or not) from

Give a local experience

We all get busy with our lives, but the gifts below help us slow down and enjoy quality time together. The hardest part will be deciding which activity to give—this list is just the beginning of many local possibilities.

Give a membership to a museum like Explorit Science Center: www.explorit.org/membership

Give a night on the town

Give a play, class, or event

Give the gift of a movie ticket to a local independent theatre: davisvarsity@mac.com

Give an adventure at Outdoor Adventures: https://campusrecreation.ucdavis.edu/outdoor-adventures

Give a class at the UC Davis Craft Center: https://campusrecreation.ucdavis.edu/craft-center

Give a cooking class: www.davisfood.coop/events

Give a spa, beauty treatment, or massage

Give fitness and friendship

Give a climb at Rocknasium: http://www.rocknasium.com

Give a tee time at a local golf course: www.davisgolfcourse.com; www.wildhorsegolfclub.com

Give a tennis racquet and balls with a link to the Davis Tennis Club: www.davistennisclub.org

Give a pickleball set and link to events at www.davispickleball.rocks

Give a nature outing (free or paid)

Give a Tuleyome hike: http://www.tuleyome.org/events/

Give your own special hike with a picnic: http://yolohiker.org/

Give a bird watching experience: http://www.yoloaudubon.org/

Support a local non-profit

Local non-profits need your help like never before. Plus, many folks don’t want more “things” to clutter their homes, so a gift that helps others is perfect. Match your gift to the interests of the recipient.

Peruse Yolo County non-profits: www.yolocf.org/yolo-county-nonprofits/

Give to independent local media with Davis Media Access: https://davismedia.org/content/growing-community-time-crisis

Give to care for our cooling canopy: https://www.treedavis.org/

Give to spread the love of biking with The Bike Campaign: https://www.thebikecampaign.com/

Make your support go farther with Bike Davis: https://www.bikedavis.us/take-action/

Give to a local treasure with the UC Davis Arboretum: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/donate

Give to families in need at STEAC: http://steac.org/

Give to those in need at Yolo Food Bank: http://www.foodbankyc.org/

Give a gift to help women and children: www.empoweryolo.org

Build community health at CommuniCare Health Centers: https://communicarehc.org/

Give a gift to Davis Schools: www.davisschoolsfoundation.org

Give to global understanding with International House: http://www.internationalhousedavis.org/

Give to the wildlife refuge at Yolo Basin Foundation: http://www.yolobasin.org/

Give to a healthy creek at the Putah Creek Council: http://www.putahcreekcouncil.org/

Give to protecting the wild heritage of Yolo County: www.tuleyome.org/

Give a gift to support the work of Cool Davis: www.cooldavis.org/donate-now

Most importantly, give the gift of love, compassion, and simple undivided attention.

Happy Holidays! Happy Planet!