The Week in Pictures: Rot-Proof Apple, Surprises at GreenBuild, Bacteria Lights Up Landmines, and More
by Emma Grady, New York, NY 
on 11.22.09
From the news that scientists have created a bacteria that lights up around landmines to the development of a rot-proof apple--that stays fresh for 4 months--a lot happened this week in green. A new study called The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) shows that putting money into protecting wetlands, coral reefs, and forests is a better investment than gold, Lloyd visited GreenBuild 2009 in Arizona, and readers sent in photos of the one green object they just can't live without for our weekly slideshow. Find out what else happened in the world of green this week in our photo roundup of most popular, most important, and most oddball stories. And if you missed it, view last week's The Week in Pictures: Trawler Sunk by Jellyfish and More.
An Altoids tin solar power iphone charger. Credit: 
From the news that a 10-ton Japanese fishing trawler sunk from the weight of giant Nomura's jellyfish to IEA whistleblowers who say world oil stats were deliberately inflated to avoid financial panic--to appease the United States--a lot happened this week in green. Scientists from the Peking University and Tsinghua University have created a nanotube sponge that can absorb toxic oils and solvents up to 180 times its weight, two Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have been turned over to NASA for environmental research flights, and we rounded up the slowest gifts for our annual Holiday Gift Guide. Find out what else happened in the world of green this week in our photo roundup of most popular, most important, and most oddball stories.
Photo via 
What do you give the person who has everything? You give nothing--and give to someone you've never met instead. The opportunities for charitable donations are limitless, so it's easy to find a cause that matches your philanthropist's interests; use your holiday shopping budget to support organizations working to green the music industry, promote sustainable building, protect the oceans from boating pollution, or provide education and business loans to adolescent girls in poverty-stricken countries--all in your "I don't need anything, really" recipient's name, of course. You can skip the stores and the wrapping while your money goes farther than you ever expected--and the person who has everything gets one less knick-knack to dust.
We can all appreciate the importance of choosing sustainable items to keep the environment pristine--but that thought will count double when you're wrapping up gifts for the outdoor weekend warrior on your list. Shoes made with minimal waste, breathable athletic gear, recycled fiber hats, and all-weather flashlights will keep their trail, sea, and surf adventures eco-friendly--and their favorite spots clean and safe.
We'd all like to be a little healthier--especially around the holidays, when food, drink, and merriment leave us a little less svelte. Help the health nut on your list get out of the fitness rut with natural rubber exercise gear; stay hydrated with on-the-go water filters; and ward off illness with essential oil diffusers. More of an aspiring health nut? We have soy candles, cookbooks, and purifying plants too.
Handmade gifts come with a meaning all their own, whether you're packaging up a tin of your grandmother's famous holiday cookies or making a collage of photos from your parents' wedding day. And if you're giving to someone who has a knack for hands-on projects, from canning and sewing to woodworking and building, then choose one of the gifts in our guide for the DIY'er: They're aimed especially at those hard-to-buy for people who would rather give than get.
We all know at least one person who's more inclined to exclaim over how great a gift looks than how durable, usable, or sturdy it is. But sometimes you can get beauty that is more than skin-deep. The gifts in our design guide--graphic benches, custom textiles, bright pottery, and limited-edition artwork--our easy on the eye, last forever, and contain recycled or sustainable materials. So your design-lover will thank you for the look now (and for the sustainability later).
Photo via 
This week was a big one for TreeHugger friend 
Fall garden filled with black seed simpson. Credit: Tim Bruni
From organic gardening with composted horse manure to raised bed gardens--filled with Swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce, radicchio, arugula, black seeded simpson and broccolini--readers send in their fall garden photos. Click through for beautiful fall woodland gardens, glowing golden Birch trees, and gardens prepared for winter. And if you missed last week's 
The right gadgets can save your techie money, time, and energy. The wrong gadgets, on the other hand, slowly decay into a tangled mess of wires, plastic, and electronic materials in the junk drawer. Trust us: These items curated for the green geek--from a build-your-own computer kit, a solar-powered iPhone skin, a Twittering power monitor, a set of sustainable iPod speakers--are the right ones. And did we mention they balance eco-friendly design and materials with practical, energy-saving technologies?
Give your kids that same awestruck wonder you remember as a tot--without investing in plastic toys that break within days, leaving behind a pile of landfill-ready junk and the feeling you would have been better off just giving the wrapping paper. From sustainable-geared doll houses to non-toxic art supplies to imagination-building toys and green-based science experiments, we've piled up toys, games, treats, and gadgets for the younger set.
Whether the animal lover in your life is completely committed to her own dog, spends weekends volunteering at the local shelter, or takes a global view by raising awareness of endangered species or factory farming, you can support her passion for four-legged friends without filling your shopping cart with unnecessary accessories. Organic toys, sturdy leashes, homemade collars, and cat-friendly furniture will keep people and pets purring, while charitable donations to animal rescue organizations all over the country lend aid to her favorite causes. And as for the animals? One look, lick, or snuggle will remind you just how far your money can go.
You may not be keeping up with the pop culture phenomenons of blood-sucking vampires, high school glee clubs, and Dan Brown novels, but chances are good that someone on your list is. Stuck on what to buy? Satisfy that craving for all things cultural with personalized movie posters, one-of-a-kind jewelry, King of Pop cross-stitches, and books and DVDs that combine green issues with pop icons. You may never understand the appeal of the teenage undead, but at least the music-lovers, movie buffs, television fans on your list will appreciate your green gifts.
You don't have to be a die-hard chef to appreciate the aroma of a simmering pot of stew, a perfectly-crusted pie, or a flawless tomato fresh from the garden--so whether you're shopping for your just-married cousin or your brother with the finely-honed palate, our foodie guide has the kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, recipes, and pots and pans you need to help them rediscover (or just discover) a love of cooking. (And if the closest person to a foodie on your list still burns toast, then we have one last suggestion: just give wine.)
