Be An Eco-Valentine

Show some love to landfills too with these post-Valentine’s Day ideas

Valentine’s Day: it’s the time to show your love, especially to those that don’t expect it.

But why not let your love go a little further beyond February 14? Think long-term with a quirky green gift – and also show landfills a little love by recycling!

GIFTS

  

Roses

Red roses are the most classic, and popular, Valentine’s Day gift. Why not plant some roses this weekend for your Valentine? That way you’ll be in their mind for much longer – and hopefully their heart too!

Or, you could grow some strawberries from seed – so you can look forward to romantic moments this summer, with Champagne and home-grown strawberries. Delicious!

Chocolate

Chocolates are another failsafe Valentine’s winner. But why plump for the boring old box of chocs when you can go one better by making your own, with a tantalizing Valentine’s message?

Try making after-dinner treats such as chocolate-covered brazil nuts – just melt some good quality dark chocolate in a bowl over just-simmering water, skewer your nut (or dried fruit), and dip into the melted chocolate. Then lay it on greaseproof paper to set.

Then write letters in icing, or cut out the shapes in edible rice paper, and feed your Valentine one chocolate at a time– it’s up to you to decide the message you want to spell out!

AFTER VALENTINE’S DAY

  

Flowers

Those roses will still have life in them, even after they’ve lost their vigour in the vase. Chop them up and compost them, and in a few months you’ll be able to spread the compost on your rose beds or other flowerbeds.

If the petals are still intact, make your Valentine’s gift go even further by making a rose-scented bath oil. Just put some ‘base’ oil (such as almond oil) into a bottle, crush the petals a little and add them to the bottle. You can also add a drop or two of rose oil. After a couple of weeks you’ll have a beautifully fragrant oil – perfect for romantic bath times long after February 14!

Cards

Finally, don’t forget to recycle all those Valentine’s cards! The same goes for the bottles of wine or Champagne you shared over a cosy candlelit dinner. You can find details of your local recycling facilities in Where can I recycle?.