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By Salem Monthly Editors
from Salem Monthly, Section News
Posted on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 10:04:19 PM PDT
WE ARE WHAT WE GIVE
This time of year many people’s thoughts turn to the challenge of finding the perfect gift for that special someone (or, more accurately, someones).
If we truly are what we think, then right now we are what we give. It is that line of logic that brought about this year’s Salem Monthly Gift Guide. SM staff has scoured the city in search of gifts that will not only please your recipient, but that will also offer other, greater benefits. For instance, why purchase a fruit bowl when you can purchase a fruit bowl that was created from recycled phone wire? Sure beats wasting old-growth timber. And you can find just such a basket down below.
In that same vein, if you’re going to purchase a knick-knack for great-aunt Mabel, why not purchase it from Florabundance, which donates a portion of its profits each December to the Heifer Project (heifer.org)? Let this year’s gift-giving extravaganza reflect the caring, compassionate individual that you are. What could be more Zen than that?
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ENVIRONMENT This year when you give a gift to someone, challenge yourself to also give back to the earth. Try giving a “green” gift — one that has been made from salvaged material, environmentally friendly material or one that actively helps the environment. Here are a few that we found, all of which also come from local businesses and a few that also donate money to charity. Hover over an image for full picture and details |
$419 / Tristar 3-wheel Bicycle
Santiam Bicycle 388 Commercial St. NE (503) 363-6602 |
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FAIR TRADE / CHARITY We’ve all heard horror stories about American-owned factories located overseas that hire children, pay them 3 cents an hour and make them work in the worst of conditions. There are plenty of ways to get around purchasing products from companies such as these. One of them is by giving products marked as “fair trade.” These companies adhere to high environmental standards, provide good working conditions and ensure their workers receive a fair wage. There are also local stores, such as Florabundance, that donate a portion of their sales to charity. Sherri Smith, owner of Florabundance, always donates money to the Heifer Project, which provides farm animals to small villages throughout the world. Last year she made enough to purchase and donate an entire cow. |
 $14 / Animal Puppet Ten Thousand Villages / Deals only in Fair Trade 474 Court St. NE (503) 585-1636 |
LOCAL BUSINESS Most of us have heard of the butterfly effect. Wikipedia describes it like this: “A butterfly’s wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or prevent a tornado from appearing). The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.” If we all made a seemingly small change — such as deciding to buy our gifts locally — perhaps we could create a tornado of flourishing businesses, a lively downtown and a thriving economy right here in Salem. But there’s a catch. You have to buy from locally OWNED businesses. Wal-Mart, just because it is located here in Salem, does not constitute buying locally. Here is a selection of gifts that we’ve found at locally owned merchants. |
 $19.99 / Magic Elves vs. Goblins Dual Decks Borderlands 546 High St. NE (503) 485-2554  $45 / Carved myrtlewood cribbage board Hargrove and Sons Myrtlewood Gift Factory 4120 Portland Rd. NE (503) 581-3572  Starts at $75 / Carved myrtlewood rocking horse (made to order) Hargrove and Sons Myrtlewood Gift Factory 4120 Portland Rd. NE (503) 581-3572  Willamette Valley Vineyards 8800 Enchanted Way SE, Turner (800) 344-9463  $54.50 / Penguin Bottle Opener Lullu’s Tutto Cucina 357 Court St. NE (503) 364-7900  $10-$95 / Beading Lessons Bead Trunk 498 Church St. NE (503) 364-4668  $34.99 / Lorwyn Fat Pack Borderlands 546 High St. NE (503) 485-2554  $90+ / Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry Salem Art Association Bush Barn Art Center 600 Mission St. SE (503) 581-2228  $14.99 / Youth Wallet Borderlands 546 High St. NE (503) 485-2554  $44 / Ornate Water Pitcher Gibson Girl 201 E Main St., Silverton (503) 873-4681  $25 / Salem Audubon Society Bird Calendar Features local photography contest winners (503) 364-1294 or (503) 588-7340  $24.95 / “Cooking with the Wines of Oregon” Willamette Valley Vineyards 8800 Enchanted Way SE, Turner (800) 344-9463  $19.98 / Tea Set A Dong Market 2990 Silverton Rd. NE (503) 371-3076  $60+ / Ceramic Bowl Salem Art Association Bush Barn Art Center 600 Mission St. SE (503) 581-2228  $17.95 / Mortar and Pestle Herb Lady 189 Liberty St. NE # 104 (503) 364-7242  $45 / Fish Rug Creekside Flyfishing 345 High St. SE (503) 588-1768  Mud Pie Gallery 2302 Kuebler Rd. S (503) 399-1606 $10 / Asian Handbag Stone Buddha 216 E Main St., Silverton (503) 873-0682  $5 / Children’s Novelty Socks Bridie’s Irish Faire 183 High St. NE (503) 585-4542  $24/$30 / Green Amber Earrings & Necklace Set Bridie’s Irish Faire 183 High St. NE (503) 585-4542  $19.95 / Handmade Apron Grandma’s Attic 167 Court St., Dallas (503) 623-0451  $34 / Puzzle Box Bridie’s Irish Faire 183 High St. NE (503) 585-4542  $19 / Desk Organizer EnerChi Living Spaces 486 Church St. NE (503) 485-1898  $40 / Bird Houses Mud Pie Gallery 2302 Kuebler Rd. S (503) 399-1606  $35/hour / Casting Lessons Creekside Flyfishing 345 High St. SE (503) 588-1768  $29.96 / Complete Angler’s Guide to Oregon Creekside Flyfishing / Written by local author 345 High St. SE (503) 588-1768  $1.99 / Wooden Chopsticks A Dong Market 2990 Silverton Rd. NE, (503) 371-3076  A Dong Market 2990 Silverton Rd. NE (503) 371-3076  A Dong Market 2990 Silverton Rd. NE (503) 371-3076  $65 / Stone Buddha Stone Buddha 216 E Main St., Silverton (503) 873-0682  $24.99 / World of Warcraft Collectors Set Borderlands 546 High St. NE (503) 485-2554  $5.50 / Garlic Jelly Lullu’s Tutto Cucina 357 Court St. NE (503) 364-7900  $20/per piece / Children’s Hat & Gloves Ten Thousand Villages / Deals only in Fair Trade 474 Court St. NE (503) 585-1636 
$12/gloves, $12 hat, $28 poncho / Alpaca Poncho Set
Ten Thousand Villages / Deals only in Fair Trade 474 Court St. NE (503) 585-1636  Proceeds benefit Art for a Cause: www.artforacause.com Ace Hardware 706 Madrona Ave. SE (503) 763-6323  $12 / Cute Tools! Mini Plunger Proceeds benefit Art for a Cause: www.artforacause.com Ace Hardware 706 Madrona Ave. SE (503) 763-6323  $8.50 per strand / Zulugrass Jewelry Made by and supports the Maasai women of Kenya Florabundance 189 Liberty St. NE (503) 588-9957  Basket made from recycled potato chip bags $24/ Funds support medical projects in Nepal Florabundance 189 Liberty St. NE (503) 588-9957  $20 / Elephant Bank Ten Thousand Villages / Deals only in Fair Trade 474 Court St. NE (503) 585-1636  $225 / Robe made from bamboo fiber French Unicorn 355 Court St. NE (503) 581-3774 
$55 each / Towels made from bamboo fiber French Unicorn 355 Court St. NE (503) 581-3774  $20 / Aveda Mirror Compact made from recycled materials Above & Beyond Day Spa 1420 17th St. NE (503) 391-9191  $38/ made from natural materials Bella Vita Salon 285 Liberty St. NE (503) 391-2253  $33.50 / The Earth Machine Composter Fresh Start Market & Espresso (in cooperation with Marion County Public Works . Environmental Services) 3020 Center St. NE (503) 566-2903.  EnerChi Living Spaces 486 Church St. NE (503) 485-1898  Funds support Spiral Foundation that funds heart surgery for children in Vietnam Florabundance 189 Liberty St. NE (503) 588-9957 |
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