Make this Christmas season better for the planet. When shopping for gifts (or, why not, items for yourself) between December 8 and 12 2008, stop by the new Bio Park Sofia in Business Park Sofia for its first holiday bazaar.

Available for purchase are various products of organic origin - including ones produced in Bulgaria - like foods (chocolate, bread, yoghurt, wine, baby food), cosmetics and clothing, and gift items that were produced in ways that respect the environment.

Throughout the week, various demonstrations will show visitors how certain products come into being on their shelves (think how to bake bread, or how to make cheese), and two exhibitions (Земята отдолу/The Earth from Below; Рила - чист и свята/Rila - Clean and Holy) will add to the nature-aware atmosphere.

Participating in Bio Park Sofia bazaar are organisations like the organic farming initiative Bioselena, environmental awareness website Gorichka.bg, certifier Balkan Biocert, the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, fair trade company Ten Senses, the winery Terra Tangra, the western Stara Planina organic farm Chemernik, Hipp baby foods and more.

Tennis champ Magdalena Maleeva was to open the bazaar on December 8; through the creation of her Bio (Био) line of food products - her Био Кисело мляко/Bio Kiselo Mlyako was the first organic Bulgaria yoghurt to receive any type of significant market presence - she has been a key player in bringing organic products to the Bulgarian consumer and in creating a Bulgarian organic label, along with supporting local producers who practise organic and environmentally friendly methods. Most recently, Maleeva created the brand Harmonica to cover the Bio Bulgaria mark and local organic foods.

At the official opening ceremony, celebrity chef Uti Buchvarov prepared a traditional roast lamb - organically raised, of course. Cooking demonstrations carry on until 2pm on the 8th.

On Tuesday December 9, Bio Start - Velingrad will demonstrate how to make raspberry jam. Wednesday sees the preparation of traditional Bulgarian sirene (feta) cheese, presented by Encho Kostov of Kostovi EMK - Suedinenie; on Thursday, organic coffee will be served up, and on Friday, wine distributor Bibendum and Terra Tangra will hold a tasting of organic wines. All demonstrations take place from noon to 2pm.

The bazaar is open from 11am to 6.30pm.