Mother's Day isn't just about gift ideas. This day has roots in the United States' antiwar and abolitionist political traditions. In 1870, activist and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, appalled by the carnage of the Civil War, called for a global council of women to pursue the aims of world peace and the "amicable settlement of international questions."

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies," she wrote. "Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause." In 1872, she began advocating for a Mother's Day for Peace.

Gift ideas for Mother's Day can follow in this tradition. Here are some of them.

The History of Mother’s Day

A generation after Ward Howe's proclamation, a West Virginia woman named Anna Jarvis successfully campaigned for a national holiday. However, rampant commercialization soon overtook it, lasting to the present day.

Jarvis spent the rest of her life—and money—campaigning against the holiday. In 1943, after she began organizing a petition against Mother's Day, she was placed in a sanitarium, the costs of which were paid for by the floral and greeting card industries.

Unsurprisingly, flowers and cards are still the go-to ideas for Mother's Day gifts today.

Honoring the Spirit of Mother’s Day

Not everyone has a mother or a mother they are close with. This holiday is for anyone who desires to protect and care for others. Speaking out against war, fascism, the destruction of people's homes, and the planet we live on is what Mother's Day is about.

Whether you do this with your biological mother or other people in your life is irrelevant. Let's bring the original meaning of Mother's Day back!

Take Action

Getting involved in a movement for direct material change is undoubtedly among the top 10 Mother's Day gift ideas.

Peace

All over the world, people are working for peace. Organizations like Another Mother for Peace and Jewish Voice for Peace are among the many in which you and your loved ones can participate.

"For my mother's day gift this year, I don't want candy or flowers, I want an end to killing." - AMP

National Bail Out

The National Bail Out is an abolitionist collective that organizes the Mama's Day Bail Out, freeing mothers and caregivers to celebrate Mother's Day with their families.

Pass on Cut Flowers

Anna Jarvis passed out white carnations on the first Mother's Day because they were her mother's favorite flower.

Today, carnations — not to mention other cheap, highly commercialized floral arrangements — are the least unique of all Mother's Day gift ideas.

Store-bought cut flowers carry a high ecological cost. "As many as 80% of all cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported," writes one study, "with the majority coming from Columbia, Ecuador, Holland, and African countries, such as Kenya, that have the climate for year-round cut flower cultivation." The industry's labor force is primarily poor and female and struggles with harsh labor conditions.

Cut flowers are also subject to much less stringent regulatory controls, which can lead to intense chemical applications and the diversion of valuable water resources.

Plant a Garden

Instead of industrially produced cut flowers, one of the best Mother's Day gift ideas is to plant a garden for your mother or loved ones.

You can grow beautiful edible vegetables, like purple sweet potatoes, speckled-leaf lettuces, or heirloom collards. Flowers like violets, marigolds, and calendulas are not only edible and medicinal; they're also beautiful. Unlike cut flowers, live plants are a gift that keeps giving.

If access to land isn't possible, you can create a container garden on the fire escape or the front steps. You could also bring edible houseplants! Seeds, potting soil, garden gloves, and a watering can are excellent gift basket ideas for Mother's Day.

The pStyle

Living plants need fertilization to grow well, which leads us to our next gift idea!

The pStyle is a handheld, rigid-plastic device that allows people to pee standing up without removing their clothes.

What’s the pStyle For?

People use the pStyle for many reasons. It's easier when you're camping—you don't have to squat. Using the pStyle through heavy winter clothing like ski bibs is a cinch. You can stay fully hydrated out there, too!

If you're hesitant to talk to your mom about peeing, don't be! She's most likely thinking about it already. The pStyle is a lifesaver for people with painful knees or other common physical conditions that make bathroom trips uncomfortable.

The pStyle also makes it easy to collect the fertilizer we all make every day - urine! One gallon of urine contains 0.05 lbs of nitrogen, 0.008 lbs of phosphorus, and 0.017 lbs of potassium.

Collecting Fertilizer

Our friends at the Rich Earth Institute are working on practical ways to recycle urine into fertilizer to mitigate water pollution and support sustainable agriculture. They've created this easy-to-use guide explaining how to use urine in your garden.

A stand-to-pee device (or STP device) like the pStyle is perfect for their five-gallon collection system. The pStyle is also easy to use with do-it-yourself pee jars.

Practical Garden Tools

Garden tools vary widely in terms of quality. It can be overwhelming trying to find a decent tool that will last. Fortunately, Earth Tools, a family business in Owenton, KY, sells the best garden tools, from hand tools to hoes and walk-behind BCS tractors. They have curated a collection of outstanding tools that make a great addition to any gift basket.

Reimagine the Day

There are plenty of Mother’s Day gift ideas that don’t involve flowers and cards. Think outside the box and go back to the roots of the holiday.

If you want to know more about the pStyle, check out our website or contact us for more information.