SARASOTA - The decision to go green can be intimidating for some people -- even overwhelming.  But it doesn't have to be, especially during the holidays. 

And that's the goal of a Bradenton company offering some green gift ideas.

Last year, musician and songwriter Del Harley traded in her Hummer for a Prius.  It was part of a life-changing transformation that began with a dream.  "I woke up and grabbed a piece of paper and pen.  The whole vision/dream was if you only knew, what would you do.  If you only knew, what could you do and if you only knew what will you do.  So I started this big, long email to my partner...and explained it to her and kind of had a starting point for what it meant.  And then we created the kit out of that."

It's called "Change: A starter kit."  This gift pack to yourself, a friend, or someone you love, comes with several items - all geared to a greener lifestyle.  "The bag is made from remnants and recycled material, and it's to replace paper and plastic."

There's also a tree sapling to plant in your yard, a fairly traded organic hot cocoa mix, a treeless journal, a recycled pencil, and the easiest first step to going green...a compact fluorescent bulb.

"We believe that one person can make a difference.  And sometimes it's just really hard or overwhelming to know where to begin, and that's what this kit was created for.  To be that starting point, that jump off spot and to make it really easy and feel good and maybe even fun."

Another great place for green gifts is Sarasota Green Marketplace.  They have a dual-flush toilet...less water used to flush for number one, a little more for number two.  You can also find recycled wine bottles that now work perfectly as glasses, and dozens of other gift ideas.  Sarasota Green Marketplace is at the corner of Tuttle Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.

At Sarasota Architectural Salvage, a treasure for your home awaits.  This business saves and recycles what others might send to the landfill.  It has hundreds of gifts for under $20.  Sarasota Architectural Salvage is off Central Avenue just north of 10th street.

There are links to all three of these businesses to the upper left of this story.