Don?t know what to give? How about a donkey for your dad? Build a bog for your brother? Get a goat for your granny?

If you?re stuck for present ideas, go funusual and choose from 50 great gift ideas from the Oxfam Unwrapped alternative gift catalogue. All the gifts have been identified as essential by the communities where Oxfam works.

Here are some examples of how a gift can help:

• Feed children?s hungry minds. Buy 100 school dinners. ?6
  
• Build a toilet and help prevent the spread of deadly disease. ?30
• 25,000 die every year from waterborne diseases. Give safe water. ?36
• Plant some hope. Buy an allotment. ?24
• Buy some mosquito nets and help prevent the spread of malaria. ?15
• Many mother?s and children die during childbirth. Help and train a midwife. ?46

When you buy a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped you actually give so much more.

The cost of your gift includes extra elements which will ensure that it has the biggest possible impact on the lives of people living in poverty.

• The animal goes to where it is needed most
• Transport for the animal to reach its new home
• Vaccinations to keep animals healthy
• Vaccination training for families
• Training for families in animal husbandry
• Market awareness training so families can make the most of their assets

All commercial energy producers are required by Government to produce a portion of their energy supply from green sources. Some companies even elect to produce all their electricity from green sources but there is sometimes a premium to pay.

Powergen recognise the importance of conserving our environment and electricity as a fundamental part of everyday life.  They also realize that as well as not damaging the earth, green energy should not cost the earth. Therefore under their GreenPlan, the price you pay is the same as the equivalent local non-green standard tariff.  What?s more; every unit of electricity you use is also matched by a contribution from Powergen to the GreenPlan fund.

What?s the Green Plan Fund?

Every unit of electricity you use is also matched by a contribution from Powergen to the GreenPlan fund. The GreenPlan fund is solely dedicated to supporting renewable energy generation projects with a strong community theme, such as solar panels for churches, ground source heat pumps for homes etc.  Every unit of electricity you use is matched by a contribution from Powergen to the GreenPlan fund. For an average customer, this is ?9 per year.

An example of the contribution that the GreenPlan fund has made is at St James the Great Primary and Nursery School in Croydon where a grant was awarded to install 10 crystalline Photovoltaic panels on their roof, both to reduce emissions and give the children a hands on example of sustainable energy sources. The 12 square meters of panelling that was installed is expected to generate 1,600kWh/year of electricity and will support the heating of the school and its water system. The panels are expected to save nearly 700Kg of C02 per year and will benefit not only school children and parents but also local community groups who use the facility. 

The fund is open to community groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations to apply for grants of up to ?25,000 for renewable generation projects.  Or show your support by switching to Powergen's GreenPlan green tariff.

Full review of all green energy suppliers to follow soon.... 

Canadian Jill Barker had the idea of setting up Green Baby when on maternity leave  in 1999 with her first son Thomas. Jill had been surprised that, compared with Canada, finding natural baby products in the UK was comparatively hard.

Made in the UK, with organic ingredients, our new range of Greenbaby products are free from petro-chemicals, alcohol, perfume, SLS, colourings, parabens and unnecessary synthetic additives, so they are soft and gentle on delicate skin.

Nipple Balm ? An intensely nourishing mix of organic sunflower oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and beeswax nourishes and soothes cracked skin.

Petroleum free jelly ? Made with coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax and organic olive oil, this effective protectant also helps soothe and moisturise dry skin. Helps prevent chafing and windburn

Talc-free Baby Powder ? Combining the healing power of arrowroot and essential oils of organic lavender and organic camomile, this talc-free powder is perfect for nappy changes and after bathing to help absorb dampness and relieve chafing.

Stretch Mark Cream ? This base cream of sunflower oil with added cocoa butter, organic jojoba oil and carrot oil is deeply nourishing. Also contains essential oils of organic mandarin, organic lavender and neroli to help promote skin regeneration, and prevent stretch marks.

Green Baby products are available from many independent baby product shops throughout the UK or online from the Natural Collection website.

The freshest and most sustainable produced food nearly always comes from local sources, where the consumer has a chance to deal directly with the producer; where shelf-life and cheapness are not the only priorities. The Big Barn website encourages trade and communication between consumers and local producers by helping youto find locally produced food.

?Supermarkets have, for too long, been turning the screw ever tighter on British agriculture to the point where some farmers only receive 9p in every ?1 spent on food in a supermarket.   Through buying more food that has been produced locally, directly from the producer, we have the power to reverse that trend.?

Big Barn believes that the first thing people need when they decide to buy food locally is information. The Big Barn map shows you where your alternatives are. Just enter your postcode they will show you show you a map of your area with all your producers listed on it.