Across America today, approximately one billion greeting cards will be exchanged, as well as about 110 million roses, with the average lovebird forking out about $95 for their significant other.
In other words, Valentine’s Day means a lot of waste.
Rather than emptying your wallet this year, why not refuse to consume? Here are a few green ideas for the non-consumer in your love life:

MAKE CHOCOLATE: This can be as simple as melting some dark chocolate in a bowl over just-simmering water and dipping nuts, dried fruits, or strawberries. Let dry on wax paper in the fridge.

COLLAGE YOUR LOVE: Include old magazine clippings, string, melted crayons, clear contact paper, comic strips, or pictures from children’s books at the thrift store.

HOME-MADE CARDS: One beautiful idea is to sew colorful ribbon through an old brown paper bag and to glue this on top of heart-shaped card stock.

PLANT SOMETHING: Get a few seeds from dried flowers or elsewhere and plant them in soil. Decorate an old ceramic pot or use an empty yogurt container or other recycled container.

DONATE: Donate money in the name of your loved one. These organizations have special Valentine’s Day specials:
– The Hunger Site
– No More Homeless Pets
– Save The Children
– Prostrate Cancer Foundation

WRITE: A song, a poem, a short story, whatever. Perform it for the person you love on Valentine’s Day then make dinner together.