Have a Green Cyber-Monday

So you survived Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving retail shopping orgy. Well, today is Cyber Monday, the day that inaugurates the holiday online shopping season. Of course, some say Cyber Monday is a myth, which may be true. (We often wonder the same thing about Valentine's Day.)

But myth or no, this day raises the question for us of which is the greener way of shopping, bricks and mortar or mouse click. Lime and Grist give some space to contemplating that very question this week, musing about such mitigating factors as the distance you have to drive to the mall, and the amount of extra packaging involved in shipping individual items.

Certainly online shopping makes it easier for the discriminating gifter to track down eco-friendly products. But sustainable communities aren't only about carbon; shopping with local merchants can help us build sustainable communities by supporting small business owners. And it's the health of those communities that will ultimately help us drive less.

There are also wonderful online outlets like the crafter's trading floor, Etsy, that make it possible for artisans who use sustainable materials and methods to find a market for their wares--like the handmade recycled Christmas Cards pictured here. The recipient could recycle the card again--or better yet, frame it and have an heirloom-quality bit of holiday decor to enjoy for years to come.

In some ways, we think the most earth-friendly approach of all is to mindfully pick and choose from the best of the web and the best of the village.

For more ideas, EarthEasy has a definitive guide to green gifting, with a sustainable something, literally, for everyone. And if you want to see Kevin's picks, visit our Building Green Online Store at StarStyle.