Green gifts (that aren't dull and preachy)

The perfectly pure environmentally "green" gift is out there, and it comes without gift wrap or receipts. We could all gather our families to stage dramatic readings of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," try to bake elaborate stollen in solar ovens, give all our money to abused elephants in Asia and pray all day on our knees.

But those on the receiving end are likely to roll their eyes and wonder where we put the presents with the ribbon. So we went in search of green gifts that leave no trace. It wasn't easy. The snippet of cloud could not be wrapped. Nor could the sound of a bell. Somehow the fallen leaves and dead twigs from our own yards seemed insufficient to the season.

What we came up with are "greener" gifts, a collection of wonderful things that have a lower impact on the environment. They are, for the most part, made of recycled materials or can be recycled when their usefulness wears off. Gather them in delightful "greener" containers and there you have it: holiday goodies with thoughts behind them as important as the gifts themselves.

From: Forest and orchard To: You and yours

Natural wood containers make ordinary gifts seem extraordinary. An undulating bowl carved of mango wood ($40, Pottery Barn) as a plant holder instantly upgrades the gift from "Oh ... a plant," to "Wow, nice plant!"

Plants help clean indoor air. Try a zizi plant (Ziziphus zizyphus). Kept well-mannered in a pot, it is a large, drought-tolerant houseplant that handles low light.

From: Stands of bamboo

To: The cook in the house

This fast-growing woody grass gets high marks for being rapidly renewable, and it is known for being grown without pesticides. You'll see it in all manner of tableware and office accessories and spun into fiber, particularly in bedding and towels. Pictured above: A bamboo salad bowl, $15, bundled with bamboo salad servers, $10, along with organic balsamic vinegar, $5, and organic olive oil, $10, makes a nice gift for your favorite cook. Include a Spanish-made wine jug, $15, of recycled glass. It's pretty even when it's empty. All from Cost Plus World Markets.

From: Clear glass To: Coffee or tea drinkers

Recycled glass uses less energy and reduces the use of raw materials. Glass is a good idea even if it isn't made from recycled goods. It can later be recycled instead of finding a final resting place in a landfill. Pick up a clear, hand-crafted, double-wall glass mug by Bodum for $13 at Crate and Barrel. Pair it with a pound of fair-trade-certified, U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic coffee and put them in a festive reusable bag.

From: Beauty and light To: Spa lovers

Candles made of vegetable-based waxes or beeswax and you'll be reducing dependence on foreign oil, at least by a drop or two.

Include in your gift luxurious organically made soaps. You may also want to check out the new Origins Organics skin-care line that includes a purifying toner containing astringent willow bark and a foaming face wash made with aloe vera and olive oil. Cost, $25 each at Origins stores (www.origins.com). Each container is clearly marked with the percentage of the product that is USDA-certified organic.

Decorating, naturally

Deck the halls with decorations made of natural materials, such as this 2-foot-tall tree made of birch and cardboard for $40 and buri palm animal ornaments (at top), $7 each, both from Crate and Barrel.

Choose items that can easily be recycled, including ceramics, glass or paper with little dye. Fill clear glass vases with cranberries and small limes for color.

Go folksy. Rediscover strings of popcorn and cranberries. Cut boughs or branches from your yard.

The smaller the light bulb, the less electricity it uses. Better yet are the low-voltage light-emitting diode (LED) indoor or outdoor lights, which use a tenth of the electricity of regular lights. LED strings don't get hot, and if one bulb blows, the rest of the string remains lit. We found Designer's Select 50 LED lights at Walgreens for $10 each. They come in white and multicolored strings.