Looking to rev up your social life in 2011? If you are a green-minded single looking to meet other green-minded singles, here are some ideas to get your eco-mingling on!
Meeting other green-minded singles:
- Try volunteering with a local environmental organization to look for a date with similar goals! Volunteering together to plant trees or clean up the local creek can benefit your love life as well as the environment, it’s a win-win ☺ For more details on volunteer opportunities: “Volunteering Opportunities to Help the Environment”.
- Online dating has become the norm, and online dating sites focusing on green-minded singles are popping up everywhere, so consider checking the online scene out. Of course, remember to use common sense when using these online websites—you may all love trees but there may be some posers on the net. Read up on your websites’ tips for dating online safely before you begin. Here are some good sites to try:• ecodater.com
• greensingles.com
• planetearthsingles.com
• green-passions.com
• greenspeeddating.com
First Date Ideas and Tips:
Gifts—Try purchasing some fair trade chocolates from your local market and perhaps a bouquet of organic flowers. Or even better, plant your flowers long in advance and gift them on your first date. Get creative!
Food—Eat local. Try to choose a restaurant that serves food made from local and organic ingredients. Support your local economy and the environment when dining out!
Transportation—See if you live close enough to one another to walk or bike to your date location. If not, pick a location to meet that is close to public transportation. I find that taking the local bus to a meet-up gives the whole occasion an exciting and adventurous feel.
Who to Look for—When ‘choosing’ who to court, try reaching out to someone who is local. A long distance relationship increases yours and his or her carbon footprint greatly, in addition to not being quite as fun ☺ Of course, you can’t really choose who you fall in love with, but it’s just something to consider when scrolling through all those profiles!
Post-First Date Activities:
- Get back to how you started your relationship by volunteering at local environmental organizations! If you didn’t get your start there, now’s the time to make volunteering a part of your relationship. Nothing’s better than getting all sweaty with your loved one while planting trees, splashing around in a local creek, or playing with animals at your local shelter or wildlife center!
- Cook a meal together for a cozy night at home! To prepare, head over to the local farmers market to purchase your produce. If you don’t want to stay home, take your meal out to the local park and have a picnic!
- Consider taking a hike or biking to places to explore your locale, or plan a camping trip. For tips on making your trips eco-friendly: “Camping: Make it an Even Greener Experience!”.
First Holiday, Anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Birthday:
These events usually entail giving nice gifts, flowers, and going out to a nice restaurant together! Some may look forward to this day while others will tremble in fear at the thought. Here are some ideas to help you and the environment make it through these special occasions:
- Gifts—Try making a gift instead of going out and buying something your special someone probably won’t even use. Consider making a sun jar, red or pink for the occasion :). Write a song or poem. Paint a picture. A homemade card with a personal touch would be nice too. As for flowers, again go with the organic flowers or pick some from your backyard! Even a dandelion would do. Blow the seedlings and watch them float off into the sky.
- Food—Again, picnics are really romantic, so on a nice night have a candlelit picnic out under the stars and open sky. If not, go to a restaurant that cooks with local and organic ingredients. Purchase a bottle of organic wine to round out your meal. Then go home to a freshly baked cake for dessert!
The Next Steps:
- Marriage—When planning for your marriage, pick a caterer who only cooks with local and organic ingredients! Use organic flowers as decoration and set up your registry with environmentally friendly items. As gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, get them something environmentally friendly as well! Perhaps have your wedding at a beach or somewhere outdoors to appreciate the nature around you on your big day! For many more ideas on having a green wedding, check out: “Making Your Wedding More Eco Friendly”. OR…
- Breaking Up—Maybe the person was not right for you. Maybe you had to move somewhere. Things happen. Don’t feel too heartbroken. Forget your sorrows by continuing to do things you love such as volunteering at local environmental groups and maybe you will even find someone new!
