• The Pine Peace Wreath (18" in diameter), designed exclusively for Organic Bouquet, is a peace symbol handcrafted from organic Shore Pine needles gathered in the Pacific Northwest. A portion of profits will be donated to Adopt-a-Minefield, an organization that works with the United Nations to resolve the global landmine crisis.
• The Snowflake Wreath (18"), made of fresh organic Shore Pine and accented with Douglas Fir pinecones, is a fragrant and whimsical wreath that stands out from the rest.
• For the home chef, a Culinary Three Herb Wreath (12"), made of organic rosemary, thyme and bay leaves, accented with fresh chili, will add soulful spice to any gathering.
• The Autumn Leaves Wreath (18") is an elegant wreath of preserved wild-crafted leaves, accented with wheat and acorns, in an inspired medley of burnt orange, ochre and soft brown hues.
• The Organic Bay & Chili Wreath (16") and Bay & Chili Swag (16") are handcrafted using fresh, certified organic red chili and fragrant California Bay Laurel. Bay leaves are harvested in the late fall and early winter, when oil content is at its highest. Each item provides a year’s supply of culinary bay.
• The Bay Leaf Garland (6’), a fragrant garland of certified organic culinary bay, can be draped over a mantle or down a banister, adding a festive touch for the holiday season.

“All of our wreaths support sustainable farming, which encourages healthy stewardship of the earth and is key to preserving our natural resources,” says Organic Bouquet CEO Gerald Prolman.

Click here for an informative primer on wreath history, uses and applications.

But this year may be quite different, according to Betsy B. Holloway, PhD, an assistant professor of marketing at Samford University School of Business in Birmingham, Alabama.

“I predict that we will see record-breaking online retailing sales this holiday season,” she says. “The nation’s retailers have learned some tough lessons in recent years and are well prepared for surging online sales in the fourth quarter of 2006. Look for especially surprising online sales growth in the increasingly relevant segments of ‘net kids’ and those 65 and older.”

Be prepared, however, for heavy web traffic, warns Craig Donato, CEO of Oodle.com, a classified-advertising search engine.

“With more and more shoppers turning to online venues for better prices and more variety, the new image of Black Friday might not be crazy crowds and long lines in the retail store, but site crashes and server glitches as a result of the new crowds forming on the world wide web,” he says. “The advent of classified and auction buying is adding an even new wrinkle to the post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping phenomena, offering hard-to-find and/or creative gift options at a fraction of the cost for retail. This season’s holiday sales will most likely be in the green, but the demographics of where the shopping is done will change dramatically.”

I’ve joined the online shopping brigade in an effort to avoid mall mania. Here are some of the sites OrganicAuthority.com recommends:

• Amazon.com (books, music, electronics—almost anything you can think of)
• Chopra.com (books, videos, CDs, health and beauty products, spirituality-themed gifts from Dr. Deepak Chopra)
• Cooking.com (everything for the kitchen)
• Gaiam.com (lifestyle products, yoga wear and supplies, clothing, fitness, home goods)
• Greenfeet.com (apparel, home goods, décor, jewelry, personal care, yard and garden)
• Patagonia.com (apparel, outdoor clothing, travel gear)
• Vivavi.com (furniture, lighting, accessories)

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