I saw Halloween candy on sale last night and it caught me off-guard. I had to stop and remember what month it is. Ah, yes. September. Time for the kids to go back to school and the retailers to bring out all the fall and winter holiday goodies. It’s always a little shocking to see the pumpkins and then the red-and-green get rolled out onto the sales floor. It seems so early. The holidays seem so far away.
I am not one of those very organized people who start shopping for next year’s Christmas gifts during the after-Christmas sales. I am more the type who remembers on December 10th…
We’ve cut down on gift-giving a lot, as well, on both sides of our family. I like that. I like that our celebrations can be about fellowship and relaxation rather than scurrying around, panicked, with a smoking credit card in hand.
But there are a few special people in my life who merit a thoughtful gift, and I like to have something to take as a hostess gift for the holiday activities. (I love Christmas parties.) Here are a few ideas that will make great, thoughtful, and sustainable gifts: they just require a little forethought and a bit of work ahead of time.
- Narcissus or hyacinth bulbs in bloom. You can force these bulbs in winter, but you need to give yourself usually eight to twelve weeks to get them blooming. November is a little too late. Some bulbs need a brief period of refrigeration before you can force them, so they need a little more time. You also need time to collect (and modify) containers to hold these lovely flowers in. If you can’t find the bulbs locally, you’ll need to order them; from order to arrival could be a week to ten days. So if you want to give bulbs in bloom, start on them now.
- Homemade preserves, jams, or jellies. Peaches are still in season in my part of the country, and apples and pears are at their prime. If you have a local pick-your-own farm, take advantage of a great gift opportunity. Pick now and reserve part of your produce for a batch or two of homemade goodness. I love homemade peach jam. I’m thinking I might try apple butter this year, too.
- Anything “crafty” you make yourself. For you seasoned crafters, you might only need a week or two to get your supplies and whip up a few special items. For people like me, time is the all-important ingredient. I need to think about what I want to make, find the items I need, and give myself plenty of time to make it with care. I tend to oversimplify the process, so I need extra time to adjust to things I didn’t plan for.
- Annie | My Bio & Articles
What sustainable gifts have you given in the past? What will you give this year?
Image Credit: geishaboy500.
My mom usually started her knitting season in July, and by October she had already at least 10 scarves ready for christmas gifts. She made me a couple of quilts with old clothes to use as blankets for watching TV.
Thank you, I have already started to make some gifts for Christmas, but I found your ideas really helpful. It would be good if you could link us to some tried and tested recipes for preserves.