Gift Guide for Gardeners
- egn
- Dec 2, 2022
- 7 min read
Gift giving is my love language so there's often a Yule tide row or two when I set a limit and then proceed to smash through that limit and shower everyone with what I see as love, but what Chip notes is a broken contract. IN years gone by, he's ended up feeling bad because I have less presents but he's onto me now and has also come to understand how much I love finding the perfect pressie for each situation.
So this year Chip and I are trialling a new Santa stocking situation. To keep things fun and festive - we've decided to buy our own Santa sack presents and keep them a secret from the other person until they're opened on Christmas Day. I don't know how I came up with this (admittedly quite ridiculous) concept but I'm excited to give it a go. Somehow it seems really interesting to see what someone will gift to themselves.
Chip's agreeing to this because he's probably come to realise it's a complicated web of things that have made me this way; tradition and birthday grinchness (my birthday is about a week from Christmas) mixed in with some other weird traits that I've inherited.
In the Christmas sense I am most like my Granny Pat who was responsible for the vol-au-vents and pavlova, Christmas decorations, outfits for all, gifting including to those who may need it most- and it was always completed whilst wearing purple sunglasses and a laugh that cackled up the hallway.
Also he's accepted that it's going to happen now and also dabbles in a bit of rule breaking himself. This year however, I may have just checkmated myself because I'm unlikely to give myself way more presents than anyone else - in fact- it will probably be the opposite.
There is a point of weakness in my plan. The fact that the 'gardening gift genre' exists. It's like a magical world of amazing garden things that whisper to me - promising to make my garden experience superior- like suddenly I'll have the knowledge and magic touch of Costa if I just own some Japanese secateurs and take another permaculture class.
SO- I present to you some really cool shit for the gardener, mini gardener or wannabe green thumb in your life.
Aside from the usual things, every year I plant exotic vegetable varieties that are not suited to my climate and I have no idea how to use. Additionally, I'm so haphazard with my planting that I do not remember what I've planted where, so that's also helpful when a random thing pops up and I have no idea how to tend to it.
Next season, that isn't going to be a problem because I'm actually going to take on some of the advice I've learned in the permaculture courses I've taken and WRITE IT DOWN. This simple yet beautiful Journey of Something planner looks like it may have to make an appearance in my Santa sack because it will be the perfect place to record all the info about pests and diseases, layout and harvesting.
Speaking of permaculture courses and resources - Milkwood have the best offerings. Milkwood is run by Kristen Bradley and Nick Ritar who are experienced growers, beekeepers, picklers, teachers, learners and community builders who have taken over 2000 students through a range of courses that have Permaculture as their guiding light.
Also making an appearance is David Holmgren, who is one of the co - founders of permaculture who has, for the last 40+ years been considering, designing with, writing about and teaching permaculture principles.
Although the courses are a little more expensive - they would make a really lovely gift for a special occasion- and they also have a book 'Milkwood' that would make the perfect Santa sack addition for the permaculture curious.
While we're on the subject of permaculture- the Pip Magazine subscription is a really lovely gift that includes 4 issues, a Kitchen garden planner with a 'when to sow poster' and some other goodies. Each issue is delivered upon release - which is every three months. I've now had a subscription for a few years and I ask my sister to renew it for my birthday gift every year.
The magazine focuses on growing, eating, building, thriving, foraging, making and designing and is one of the most lovely publications. There's some thought provoking articles but also plenty of practical stuff to get your hands into. Aside from giving a gift that keeps on appearing throughout the year, supporting print media is very important so that we can continue to have loads of talented people putting together loads of interesting things purely for our enjoyment and learning.
The Japanese secateurs at Heaven in Earth are an ergonomic dream. They are everything you've come to expect from Japanese workmanship- good quality and aesthetically schmick. They are strong, sharp and simple. I bought a pair of these as a gift for a very special person and he was super impressed.
Heaven in Earth also have some other really cool stuff- one of my faves being the metal hanging herb dryers that are hanging outside my window laden with peppermint and calendula as we speak.
I've learned that not all hand scrubs are not created equal. I stumbled across Vasse Virgin during a visit to the Barossa Valley for a Tourism conference. We were given a list of must visits and the colleague I was with was keen to visit. I wouldn't have bothered but when we got there - it was an aromatic and tactile delight.
Should you pay $42 for a tub of hand scrub? The answer is yes. It's thick and nourishing and grainy and rough all at once. It also lasts a long time because you only need a small amount to get the job done. So please splurge and whoever is lucky enough to receive this will be a repeat customer for sure.
A visit to O&M Exchange Stores in Nundle is like stepping back in time, and into the future all at once.
It is a dream, packed with the most beautiful homewares and surprises. Last time I was there I purchased a heavy green mason and cash mixing bowl, some of their own brand tea (black ginger leaf) and some opinel bits and pieces.
In this treasure trove, aptly based in historic Nundle, you will find something for every gardener. I love everything but a perfect stocking stuffer for a curious kid - or big kid is a bird nesting pocket. These would look lovely dotted around the garden and protect small birds from harsh weather should they get caught in the La Nina situation we're experiencing at the moment.
Settler Hives was started by backyard beekeepers, young Toowoomba based couple Roger and Hayley Mason. Their designer seed packets are just so dandy and contain a myriad of different things to grow. My pick this year are the wild flowers (to feed the bees) and the herbs and garden greens- to feed yourselves. They also have seasonal seeds and subscription seeds so there's lots to choose from.
Little Veggie Patch Co have a large variety of seeds and other garden bits and pieces. I'm currently eyeing off the Sophie Conran Harvest basket that will carry, *wishful thinking* bountiful amounts of produce from the garden to the kitchen sink.
They also have lots of other essential gardening goodies that could make an appearance in this year's stockings- insect hotels, kid's gardening gloves and forks and trowels, gorgeous mini watering cans and a very sweet corduroy snailo cap that any kid would think is rad.
Once the veggies get to the sink, they'll need to be scrubbed. Especially if they're potatoes or carrots!
Saison are a vibe and stock Redecker- there's a veggie gift set that has everything you need in a sturdy metal tin, It includes a copper scrubbing cloth, a vegetable brush, a pot scrubber, a mushroom brush and a hot potato peeling set. All Redecker brushes and kitchen supplies are hand-crafted with great attention to detail in Germany - not to mention, are aesthetically gorge.
If you're spending long days in the sun and want to protect your precious skin whilst rocking bit of a Byron Bay effortlessly cool hippy hinterland vibe, Will + Bear hats are for you.
He's also come to realise it's a complicated web of things that have made me this way; tradition and birthday grinchness (my birthday is about a week from Christmas) mixed in with some other weird traits that I've inherited.
You could also gift one of their other hats to say, your old man or any old man, if he needs to replace the ten year old holey promotional mitre ten bit of shite he's currently mowing the lawn in.
For any 2380 local lads and lasses - you obviously know Suzie Thibault's Goodness and Gracious. An expansive local gift and clothing store that has everything you could ever need and then some.
Excitingly for Christmas lovers, there is a literal Christmas Shop inside their normal shop and there's plenty of quirky bits and pieces. I recently purchased a dual weather predictor with a Galileo thermometer and a storm glass- and this cloud weather station is part of the same range. A bit of fun for the weather obsessed gardener who has everything. There's actually been quite a bit of wet weather this year- so when the glass goes cloudy- it's time to yell to Marge about the rains.
I came across Nestling and Nook because we holiday close to where they are based at Tea Gardens and I was madly googling nearby toy shops for last minute birthday presents.
I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw their darling range - the most beautiful, practical creative and educational toys - honestly - there is everything here a kid could ever need and the most beautiful things to spark their imagination. If your little one likes exploring in the garden, they'll love the wooden dual magnifier which lets them magnify anything buggy or woody or leafy they've found. Also, you will not leave with one thing in your cart. P.P.S Add them on socials- Em (owner) and her sister in law Sara run Nestling and Nook and they are hilarious and real and all round just a delight to follow.
That should be enough to get you started- and speaking of getting started - I had better get my skates on so my own Santa sack is filled with the quirky bits and pieces of my dreams, because at this current time, I have a grand total of 0 ideas for myself. Who'da thought I might be kind of hard to buy for?! Happy gift hunting gardening lovers and lovers of gardeners.
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