Want to give the gift of handmade, but not so handy with a needle and thread? Here are five DIY gifts for green thumbs to make.
DIY gifts sometimes get a bad wrap (think icey-pole sculptures from kindergarten), but these are all 100% useful ethical gifts that everyone will be thrilled to receive.
Here are five ethical gift ideas that are all easy to throw together if you’re green thumb.
A fruit tree
Okay, well… maybe you needed to start planning this one six months ago when winter grafting was in full swing. But, if you’re an avid plant propagator like me chances are you may have a few spare baby trees potted up and ready to go.
This really is the gift that keeps on giving. For decades. So, as the old saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is now!
A pumping pot of basil
Who wouldn’t love a pumping pot of peppermint for their kitchen counter?
Any herbs will do but peppermint, basil and thyme are popular contenders. Check out our article on the 4 herbal teas to grow at home.
Bonus idea: try your hand at making our delicious recipe for herb infused honey.
Jar of goodness
Does your garden produce tomato chutney, berry jam or golden honey? Well, I’m pretty sure most people would be happy to receive a jar of any one of these .
Garden scrap stock powder
While it might sound scrappy, this is a really nice and fancy gift if you write “homegrown artisanal organic broth powder” on the label.
To make your own, dig up woody carrots, stalky leeks and garlic, shooting celery and fennel, plus lots of herbs. Chop into small pieces and dehydrate until hard. Grind in a spice mill or morter and pestle. Add tumeric and salt to taste. Then jar it up and stick on fancy labels. Ta-dah! (Probably our favourite of the DIY gifts.)
Wildflower seed bombs
Seed bombs are the perfect gift for lazy gardeners (or those who really can’t garden at all).
Harvest mature seeds from your favourite wildflowers (at our place this includes cosmos, borage, calendula, poppies, cornflowers and nasturtiums). Mix with compost and a small amount of clay soil.
Next, add enough water that you end up with a sludgy dough. Roll into balls and allow to dry under cover. You can pop them in pretty bags or decorate with petals and they will be ready to gift.
The recipient really only needs to toss them into their garden and wait for them to grow. You can also try this with hardy herb seeds.
So, if you’ve got the time and the inclination there’s plenty of DIY gifts to be had from a bountiful garden. And all of these ideas are 100% good for the world, and good for your recipients.
