Last year, I wrote about shaking up your Valentine’s Day spending, focusing on how those of us who exchange traditional Valentine’s Day gifts can think about ways to spend that make a difference in the world. I also mentioned the importance of not giving people the gift of a Valentine’s Day guilt-trip. If you believe that Valentine’s Day is just a commercial holiday and your significant other is really into Valentine’s Day, for heaven’s sake, be willing to go against your principles a little to celebrate the day with them. It’s hard to be loving when you’re busy be self-righteous.
While most of the links in last year’s post are still good, I wanted to update the post for 2018.
Restaurants
I didn’t write about restaurants at all last year, which was an oversight. After all, in the United States, Valentine’s Day is second only to Mother’s Day when it comes to eating out. If you decide not to eat at home on Valentine’s Day, consider making reservations at an independent restaurant owned by someone who could use your support this year. Unhappy with anti-immigrant sentiments that have become all too common over the past couple of years? Look for immigrant-owned restaurants in your area. Concerned about the environment? Go to a good farm-to-table restaurant. Want to help people up and out of poverty? Consider patronizing a restaurant with a mission to do just that. And if you had a good experience, consider taking the time to post a positive review online.
Chocolate
All the fair-trade confectioners I mentioned last year — Lucky Chocolates, Mama Ganache, and Lake Champlain — have Valentine’s Day offerings this year, too. In addition, you may want to consider one of Chuao Chocolatier’s gift boxes or collections.
Jewelry
As I was doing research for this article, I ended up learning a bit more about ethical sources for diamonds. I found one online shop that made some great claims about the sources behind its jewelry, but when I tried to verify the claims the company made, I ran across an article that threw some doubt on them. The article led me to CanadaMark diamonds, sustainable diamonds that can be traced from mine to final product and which are sold exclusively by James Allen. It seems to me that if you are planning on giving diamond jewelry for Valentine’s Day, this could be an excellent source.
An alternative, of course, would be to present your significant other with jewelry that already has a history — whether it is something from your family that has been passed on to you or something you purchased at an antique store.
Flowers
In addition to the ideas I shared last year, I’ve found two online retailers with beautiful arrangements and a commitment to ethical sourcing. Farmgirl Flowers tries to source from U.S. growers as much as possible, although they’ve had to create partnerships with international growers as well in order to continue to grow their business. The Bouqs Company partners directly with U.S. and South American farms; by cutting out the middleman, they can pay the farmers more than they would otherwise make. Each bouquet available online actually features the farmer who provides the flowers.
Zero Waste Ideas
As I was doing research for this post, I stumbled across this article on zero-waste Valentine’s Day gifts, including giving bulk candy in jars. I would encourage you not to give away candy corn in jars, but that’s just me.
Disclaimer
When I watched The Chocolate Case last year, it drove home how difficult it can be for well-meaning people to bring fair-trade merchandise to market. I still believe in buying fair-trade when possible, but keep in mind that not all suppliers follow the rules. Also, I have not used all of the retailers I mention here. I’ve discovered many of them solely through research.
I’m taking a break from blogging to spend time with a loved one. I will return to my weekly posts on Monday, Feb. 5.