Hahaha *slaps knee*. I swear, my puns get worse with every title I make up.

Let’s face it. We’re no angels. Well, maybe you are but I sure as hell could use all the points I can get to climb a few rungs up Jacob’s ladder. So, in a feeble attempt to make up for a year of being bad, it really wouldn’t hurt to do something good once in a while.

By this time, every blog out there is probably urging you to make your holidays meaningful by making a donation to charity in the name of a loved one. “Sure,” you’re thinking, “but how do I know that my contributions are really making a difference?” Or, in my case, I’m thinking, “Sure, but I want my contributions to keep on passively giving while I continue to live my life of reckless badness.”

How about a gift that keeps on giving in the form of livestock?

Heifer International makes it ridiculously easy for you to donate farm animals, such as cows, goats and flocks of geese, in the name of your loved ones. The best part is that these one-time donations are meant to grow and sustain families and communities for lifetimes.

Here are just a few choices you might consider:

Llamas can be an immense economic contribution to families for their wool, transportation, little damage to local terrains and low-maintenance food requirements. $150 for whole llama or $20 for share.


Bees are inexpensive to maintain and require little space, yet can double crop yields for villages. $30


Geese are inexpensive and low-maintenance with potential for great economic yield. $20

For more choices, check out their gift catalog and read more about how each gift helps families and communities in a sustainable way. While you’re there, you might also want to browse their list of ongoing projects.

Happy givings!

With love,

Al