I know it’s a little early to start thinking about Christmas – BUT – I have a really good reason to. Every year for Christmas I try to think of special gifts to give to certain people, I will admit, they are not for everyone. Some people don’t care for a mason jar of dried flowers for teas, or paper envelopes full of seeds for the next years garden – but some do – you know who you are!

It may take a little extra care and time on your side for these extra special gifts – but that’s what make a great gift really special – the love you add to them!

Here are some garden grown ideas for your Christmas list!

Give gift of tea:

Have a tea lover among you? I always have chamomile, echinacea, peppermint and lemon balm are some of my favorites to use. And easy to dry. Most are harvested in the morning and sit on a plate or mesh sheet in a warm area of the house until dry. When dried, they are scooped into a jar and the next batch is started.

Give the gift of spices:

Have a person on your list that loves to cook? How about home grown/dried herbs to add to their favorite meals. Really all I can think is Italian…ooh. What a great present. Little bottles of dried herbs maybe even with a nice bulb or two of garlic! Every year I make homemade garlic powder from my hard-neck garlic, and a few lucky people get bottles every year.

Give gifts of seeds:

How about another gardener or just someone who loves flowers? If you noticed someone admiring a certain plant, wouldn’t it be nice to give them seeds from that plant. Most are pretty easy to save, a little search online or a book can easily show you how. I am always keeping flower seeds for the next year, but I usually keep too many and give them away to friends and family.

Give gifts of food:

Love to can your garden treasures and have a foodie? There are a ton of fun recipes you can use to make all sorts of fun gifts. Relishes, pickles, jams, the variety is endless!

Time to get planning!

Dawn