PHOTO: REBECCA HALE, NGM STAFFEXPLORE | PLANET POSSIBLE
This month, appreciate
your loved ones—and the
environment—with gesturesdesigned for lasting impact.
BY CHRISTINA NUNEZ
For more stories about how
to help the planet, go to
natgeo.com/planet.Say It With Seeds
Instead of traditional
greeting cards, get
plantable ones that will
transform your Valen-
tine’s Day message into
blooms of garden color.Choose the Flowers
Without the Foam
Before you grab that
bouquet, take a peek at
the base: Many arrange-
ments are packed with
floral foam, a crumbly
plastic that often ends
up in waterways. Avoid it
when possible—and never
wash it down the sink.Let Love Take Root
Most of the cut flowers
sold in the United States
are imported, meaning
they’ve probably flown
more miles than you have
lately. A locally grown
plant is an eco-friendly and
longer- lasting alternative.Sweet and Sustainable
Farming the cacao beans
used in chocolaty treats can
have a bitter side: razed
forests and mistreated,
underpaid labor. To confirm
that the cacao meets envi-
ronmental, social, and
sustainability standards,
look for the seal of third-
party certifiers such as
the Rainforest Alliance.Sow Joy, Skip Plastic
Don’t buy seedlings and
the disposable plastic
containers that come
with them. Start plants at
home. The Old Farmer’s
Almanac has a handy cal-
endar that tells you when:
almanac.com/gardening/
planting-calendar.PLANET