**Updated December 2023**
In typical Forks in the Dirt fashion, I have gift ideas for you that cover a lot of ground. You could even say gifts from the ground up. So, here’s my lovingly curated, Mix + Match, Handmade, Local, Always Learning + Eco Friendly Holiday Gift Guide.
Homemade
Calendula Salve:
Calendula Salve is a super healing and soothing balm great for cold northern winters. I make it with my homegrown Calendula Resina, but Mountain Rose herbs has high quality herbal products.
Soap:
I love gifting homemade soaps, especially when it contains some of my own floral or herbal infused oils! I keep it simple and usually have make the hot process soap. We go over this recipe in detail in our book, Small-Scale Homesteading.
DIY Cocktail Infusing Kits:
These are super simple to make but are really a big impact gift. The recipes I share are some of my favorite, but you can get creative – just don’t forget to make a few extra for yourself! All recipes can be made into teas for N/A options.
Towels:
I had so much fun making these Veggie Print Towels. Being able to find organic cotton Tea Towels sealed the deal for me. Plus my kids wanted to help with this project!
Canned Goods:
My Apple Recipes for homemade apple butter, apple sauce or dried apple rings, make great Christmas gifts with locally grown produce. I also give away my Sweet Relish and Dilly Beans as gifts.
SHOP LOCAL FOOD
Not all of us have the time or energy (raising my hand right now) to make all the things each and every year, so I also LOVE supporting local farmers and crafters anyway I can!
Shop the WBL Winter Farmers Market (or other local farmers markets) and stock up on locally made with love gifts!
Buy A CSA
– Buying a family a Community Supported Agriculture share for the next year is a great way to show that family AND a farmer that you care! Many local farms are updating their CSA order forms as I write! Some SOLID local farmers to buy shares from include:
All Good Organics
Big River Farm CSA
The Good Acre’s Farm Share
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions to garden related associations are a great way to support a person’s passions and a cause. These give the opportunity for leaps in learning, connection and endless way keep growing! What other local garden clubs and or organizations would be a good fit for your friends and family?
Minnesota Horticultural Society:
For me the MN Horticultural Society membership is a no-brainer. It means I get copies of the award winning “Northern Gardener Magazine” along with discounts at local garden centers, and access to great online and in person classes. They’ve also got some fun items in the SHOP!
Seed Savers Exchange:
The Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization that works to keep seed diversity growing. You’ll get the inside scoop on upcoming classes, catalogs and events.
Fresh Cut Flower Subscription:
Sarah’s Cottage Creations also has an amazing Flower Farm that delivers fresh cut bouquets around the Twin Cities. This is such a great way to show someone lots of local love!
CLASSES
Marine Mills Folk School has classes for everyone on everything from growing microgreens to keeping bees, carving wooden spoons and weaving baskets!
Online Cooking Classes are a great way to introduce friends and family to new menus and new skills!
Local Chef Matt Ellison teaches a variety of individualized classes via his Company, Chef’s House.
Online Garden Classes:
by yours truly at Forks in the Dirt
Vegetable Garden Planning Class
BOOKS
OK, so I have a thing for books… Nothing quite compares to flipping open to a page to find that bit of info, recipe or inspiration. Below are some of my most loved Garden and Local Food books.
Each of these would make great gifts for the right person, and a great addition to any gardener or foodie’s library!
Small-Scale Homesteading
by Michelle Bruhn + Stephanie Thurow
This is our book… And it is full of Inspiration + Information to get you started on your homesteading journey! Chapters on Gardening, Preserving the Harvest, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, and Healthy Home Projects!
The Garden Maker’s Book of Wonder by Allison Vallin Kostovick
Fun mix of projects, tips and appreciation for gardens, what they produce and how to PLAY with them.
Plant Grow Harvest Repeat by Meg McAndrews Cowden
Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabbour
Extend Your Seasons and succession planting garden game.
The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman
Game changer cookbook for how we look at our local foods and how we eat them.
Gaia’s Garden – Toby Hemenway
This really was the first book I read on Home Scale Permaculture. Describes how to create self-sustaining backyard eco-systems naturally.
The Perennial Kitchen by Beth Dooley
This book (which is on its way to me, looks to be full of not only amazing new recipes, but also talks about how where the food comes from adds a depth to the dishes that starts and ends with the soil.
(see also cooking classes)
No Dig Gardening– by Chares Dowding
This is the bible of No Dig, No Till garden How To written by the guru of No Dig Gardening himself. Step by Step. Charles makes you feel like this is attainable because it really is! This has changed my garden game in so many ways!
The Farmer and the Chef by the Minnesota Farmers Union
Written as a love letter to Minneota farmers and the amazing foods they produce, Claudine Arndt, Bruce Miller and Katie Cannon weave stories and recipes to warm and feed your soul.
Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser
This is the perfect Science-based stepping stone to help you understand the power of plants. This book gave me the tools to understand a deeper connection to companion planting.
Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden by Gilbert Wilson
This is a compilation of stories interpreted by Wilson from Buffalo Bird Woman. I’ve gleaned both practical “How To” knowledge along with a deeper appreciation of how Indigenous people were able ot work with nature to grow good food.
My coauthor and friend, Stephanie Thurow Gets her own section because I love all three of her books!
Can It & Ferment It – My first cookbook on fermentation, I go back to the recipes time and again!
Weck Small Batch Preserving – This book gives you ideas on how to preserve those small harvests, or farmers market finds in delicious ways!
Weck Home Preserving – This has great fermenting and canning recipes along with essential from scratch recipes like syrups, dressings and vinegars.
The Story of More By Hope Jahren
Hope originally hails from Minnesota so I’m sliding this one into the local category- because it is an eye-opening book about the behind the scenes science of climate change. A YA version was just released!!
Amazon Storefront
While I don’t love Amazon and what it stands for, it is a simple way to gather my favorite items in one place. So I’ll link HERE for you to browse what I already use in my home; from the garden to the kitchen. Feel free to buy from a local shop instead of Amazon- I’m all about supporting the small, local businesses!
I just dropped a lot of options! This isn’t meant to overwhelm… I hope these gift ideas either make a good fit or are a springboard for other thoughtful gifts that go beyond a little bling… And if this list did give you other ideas, I’d love to hear what they are!
Happy Holidays to you all!
Dig In,
Michelle
I'd love to hear your thoughts!