by freelance writer Riley Herder
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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if there is a special someone in your life, you may already feel pressure about how to make it great. Department stores have been aglow with rose-coloured aisles for weeks now, inviting you to make a hastened purchase that may or may not reflect either your relationship or your partner’s taste.
While no one ever complained about a box of chocolates and a teddy bear, consider trying something new this year. One awesome thing you can do for your significant other is to plan an eco-friendly date night. Cultivating a shared interest in caring for the environment can help you get to know your partner more intimately, and it can also eliminate the headache of wasteful purchases and environmentally unsustainable outings. We have narrowed down a list of 5 ways to plan a perfect eco-friendly Valentine’s Day date this year.
1. Dine at a farm to table restaurant
Thanks to the recent popularity of the farm to table movement (also called farm to fork), it is easier than ever to find local restaurants that serve organic, seasonal foods sourced directly from nearby farms.
Because the food is coming straight from the farm, it is richer in vitamins and bursting with flavor. Not only is it good for the environment (and your community), the dishes depend less on sauces and seasonings and focus more on highlighting the natural flavors coming from fresh ingredients.
If you are more in the mood for drinks, you can also book a tasting at an organic winery or brewery in your area.
2. Visit a farmer’s market and cook a meal together
If cooking is your thing, take a brisk walk through the local farmer’s market. Bundle up and walk hand-in-hand as you hunt for organic, farm-fresh ingredients to prepare your own romantic dinner. Vendors often love to share cooking ideas and recipes that work well with their produce.
Whether you plan your meal first and then hunt for ingredients, or take the more spontaneous route and build a meal based on what looks good at the market, it is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and evening together.
3. Go on a hike and clean up the trail together
Maybe you and your partner aren’t crowd people, and prefer the great outdoors. Going on a hike together is a fantastic way to share an awe-inspiring experience without being surrounded by other people. Find a nearby trail (preferably a less traveled one) and bring a picnic style meal to enjoy at a quiet, scenic spot. Level up: Bring an empty bag to fill up with garbage left by other hikers and leave the trail better than you found it!
4. Plant something together
If you have a garden, one great way to surprise your Valentine is to bring home seeds or a starter plant of their favorite fruit or vegetable and plant them together. Ask your local gardening store what will grow well in your area, and at this time of year. You can also partner with one of many organizations to plant a tree together. It can serve as a cute (albeit cheesy) symbol of your relationship’s growth.
5. Stay at home
When in doubt, why not just stay in? With a little preparation, you can make an at-home date night just as special as going to a fancy restaurant.
Think about hobbies you share, but never have time to do together and make a night of it. Light some beeswax candles, put your phones away, and plan your own customized date night! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Paint watercolour flowers together.
- Read poetry or short stories out loud to each other.
- Push aside the dining table to make your own dance floor.
- Look at old pictures and reminisce about how your relationship began.
- Play board games or cards.
- Play your own version of a Newlyweds type game show (even if you aren’t married) where you each write down answers to quirky questions and guess what the other wrote.
- Take a relationship quiz together to get down to the nuts and bolts of your relationship and talk about it together.
- Watch a cooking show and try to recreate a complex recipe.
These eco-friendly dates are great for Valentine’s Day, or any time throughout the year. If you have small children, start looking for a date night sitter today and make this year’s Valentine’s Day one you’ll never forget!
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