Meet Postcarden, 2010's Mini Zen Garden

Remember when those mini Zen gardens used to be all the rave when it came to desk accessories? (Hey, cubicle dwellers need to work with whatever we can get.) Prepare to meet the next wave of eco-friendly, bringing-nature-to-your-desk, kitsch: Postcardens.

What are they, exactly? Why, just what they sound like. Picture a postcard — we know, what a quaint notion in this day and age — that sprouts up into a mini garden. It's like an eco-friendly Chia pet! But really, for the best possible description of why to love the Postcarden, we'll let the charming innovators speak for themselves:

"For our first product we looked at the most universal gift — the greeting card. We felt that this conventional card lacked surprise, bringing only a momentary enjoyment. The arrival of a greeting card or letter in the post can always brighten up your normal mail and bring pleasure but once opened its role becomes commonplace and static."

"Postcarden was created to be more playful, curious and interactive. It encourages you to bond, live and grow the greeting on day by day basis. Over time the card reacts to you and your environment evolving in beauty and charm."

If you're looking for a great gift that literally keeps on giving, consider a Postcarden. Need some more incentive? The products are "printed in Wales by the friendly and dedicated team at Ethical Packaging and the seeds and inner tray are also sourced nationally. [They] commission and work closely with a variety of talented artists to illustrate the front of each PostCarden, all depicting the inner scene in their own style." Adorable and environmentally-friendly? We're sold.

Photo courtesy of Postcarden.