I love using gift guides for finding unique Christmas gifts, and eco-friendly products make some of the best Christmas gifts for family and friends because they utilize so much creativity! I’ve pulled 6 super cool gift ideas into an eco-friendly gift guide and paired each of them with an Apple Valley Natural Soap Product to create the perfect gift set for a loved one (or an enemy, let’s set aside the rivalry and spread the holiday cheer…am I right?)

Beez Kneez Honey

About The Company:

“ESTABLISHED IN 2010, THE BEEZ KNEEZ WAS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP IN MINNEAPOLIS. AFTER 11 INCREDIBLE YEARS SERVING THE BEE COMMUNITY AT THE BEEZ KNEEZ HONEY HOUSE, IN 2021 WE MOVED OUR HEADQUARTERS TO OUR FARM, TRADE RIVER RANCH LOCATED IN THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY JUST SOUTH OF GRANTSBURG, WI. WE ARE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WORKING TO REVIVE THE HIVE FOR HEALTHY BEES, HEALTHY LIVES. WE MANAGE 150 HIVES USING SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING PRACTICES, BICYCLE-POWERED HONEY PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY. WE EDUCATE BEEKEEPERS VIA CAMP BEEZ KNEEZ AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN HEALTHY BEES HEALTHY LIVES”

Beez Kneez offers a bountiful selection of different kinds of honey, and who doesn’t love putting honey on baked goods or in their tea? If you know someone who thinks bees truly are the bees knees, then this company offers an immersive experience a step above a jar of honey! You can take a beekeeping workshop and learn how to extract honey! Such a unique gift experience would go perfectly with our Wheat and Honey Almond Shampoo Bar, a bar that smells as sweet as honey.

I love this little excerpt written by the owner, I think it speaks so much about the passion that goes into this company and the careful love and upkeep of the bees that produce such amazing honey:

“I will never forget my first date with honey bees. It was in August of 2009 at my aunt and uncle’s bee ranch.  My uncle took me out to check some of his apiaries.  The minute he cracked that first hive, the sweet smell of nectar, wax and smoke filled my nostrils, millions of little fuzzy bodies were flying above my head, thousands of workers moving strong among the frames and I had my first taste of real, raw basswood honey.  It is cliche to say, but I fell in love. I could not get enough.  The way they communicate by dancing, how the hive functions as a superorganism, the fact that all the workers are female, that they collaborate extremely well to do incredible things, that they help flowers reproduce and make honey…what is not to love? The more I learned the more I wanted. I was love sick for honey bees.”

-Kristy Lynn Allen

SmartGlassKP Sea Glass Necklace

These beautiful jewelry pieces made by SmartGlassKP are made from recycled glass bottles reminiscent of sea glass! The perfect gift for someone who loves the ocean and beachside strolls. Bring the ocean to your shores by pairing it with one of our Salt Bars! These long lasting bars contain high quality salt which cleans and refreshes your skin! 

“Very beautiful necklace and ring. Such simple and elegant designs. Love themI would highly recommend!”

You Plant We Plant Tree Pouch by Forest Nation

A big part of the holiday season is sending out cards to loved ones! This fun alternative by Forest Nation makes a great case for a good cause! Send someone you love a chance to support ecosystem restoration and a tree of their very own to nurture! As it grows it will be a reminder of your love for them, how fun is that?! In keeping with the theme, try our popular Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo Bar. Hey! Did you know that when you check out AVNS products online you can add a donation that will reduce your carbon footprint? We’ve partnered with a cool system called Eco-cart in order to do this!

Bamboo socks by Thriving Earth

An eco-friendly twist on giving and getting socks for Christmas! Thriving Earth’s Bamboo Socks are known for being soft and breathable and for each pair of socks sold by this company a pair of socks is given to someone in need! Pair this with our Bamboo Shampoo Bar, which is high in hair strengthening Silica!

“I bought these as a birthday present and they were very popular and much admired. The quality is excellent and the design is lovely. The colours are rich and the socks are really well made. I am hoping to buy more as Christmas gifts! Thank you very much.”

Recycled Glass Tumblers by GoGiftid

This is such a cool gift to give to a special man in your life. This company GoGiftid up-cycles glass bottles into funky, fun glasses and bowls. Of course, we have to recommend giving this gift with a bar of our Root Beer Float Shampoo and Body Bar

Sun Print Kit by Elemental Leaf

Looking for something crafty to do that doesn’t create unnecessary waste?

This sun print kit made by Elemental Leaf makes a great gift for an artsy teen or young adult. How does it work? It’s a light sensitive paper that takes on the shapes of shadows in blue and white! It’s kind of hard to explain, so check out this tutorial!

Pair with our sunniest smelling bar of soap, our Honey, Carrot and Tangerine Face and Body Bar!

Hope you find some inspo for this holiday season!

Much Love,

Nora