Celebrate your sweetie and the planet with a green Valentine's Day

Everyone knows that you cannot buy love. Still, it is never a good idea to show up empty-handed on Valentine's Day. For many, V Day may bring to mind mass-produced, commercialized paper cards, candy or even expensive goodies.

Many of the traditional gifts shared during V Day can have significant negative environmental impacts. That being said, how can you celebrate and do something good for the planet at the same time?

My tips for green romance show how you can indulge your sweetie without blemishing the planet.

Flowers

Choose organic or locally produced flowers!

One of the advantages to purchasing products grown where you live is you are not contributing to the resource use and greenhouse gas emissions of air shipping, which is how flowers commonly are imported.

You also can order organic blooms from organicbouquet.com, or from Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores. The prices are comparable to less eco-conscious alternatives.

An alternative to cut flowers is locally grown, live houseplants. There are plenty of beautiful, flowering varieties available. You can find earth-wise nurseries at farmers markets and whole food stores.

The card

The U.S. Census Bureau states that each year 180 million V Day cards are exchanged in the U.S., not counting cards exchanged in classrooms between children. That is a whole lot of paper!

Instead of buying a paper card this year, send an e-card. If your Valentine wants something he/she can hold, then consider cards made from recycled or tree-free paper. Check the reverse of the cards at local gift stores to see if they carry a recycled logo.

Consider making your own card out of recycled and natural materials. Collage cards are especially cool-looking and allow you to use up bits and pieces of stuff. Men - how many guys would go to that trouble? You will score astonishing points with this one.

Chocolate

What would V Day be without chocolate? It tastes good, makes you feel good - and it is impossible to imagine V Day without it.

What you can do: buy fair-trade chocolate. You'll find it at most health food and organic markets. Make your sweets even sweeter with a conscience.

Wine

Pop the cork on organic and local wines!

Organic wines have come a long way. Once a specialty item, organic wines are now being produced alongside traditional vintages in the wine regions of France and Italy. Picking local wines also reduces environmental impact.

You will most likely find organic wherever wines are sold. Whole Foods Market also commonly stock them. Check wineries in your area for locally produced products.

Dine

Arrange dinner at a local restaurant specializing in organic or locally grown food. Eating locally cuts down on food miles. Better yet, think about whipping up an intimate, organic meal at home.

Gifts

If you want to buy a gift that is not just a meaningless teddy bear, there are many eco-friendly alternatives available to you.

Give a gift certificate for holistic therapies like a massage, body treatment or facial. Your gift is doing two things: making your sweetie happy and supporting a local business.

You also could make a donation to an environmental organization on behalf of your honey.

Give guilt-free jewelry by choosing pre-owned trinkets or purchasing from certified, ecologically and socially responsible jewelers. You also could buy recycled jewelry made from post-consumer gold or consider something offbeat like a wooden ring - they look astonishing.

Men, this year, treat your girl to some lingerie that is super-sexy and green. Check out Enamore for sexy; American Apparel for comfortable cuteness or GreenKnickers for something different.

For books or movies, hit up half.com or eBay. Buying used is a great way to give life to old things.

Give natural fragrances. Buying natural fragrances, shows you care for the environment and your sweetheart's health.

If you are lighting up the night, choose an alternative to paraffin. Soy and beeswax candles are made with renewable resources, not petroleum by-products, and they burn cleaner and longer.

Use a few of these ideas to avoid the commercialized, boring routine and have a green V Day! Emphasize romance, not consumption!