Loving Nature's Garden » Green Community

Garden gifts for Green Gift Monday

Alison Kerr — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:05:04 +0000

“Last year on Cyber Monday consumers spent nearly $890 million dollars online. Imagine the difference we could make if just a fraction of that money was spent on responsible, meaningful holiday gifts.” – Nature Conservancy, 2010.

Gifts are one of the best ways we know to show people we care. Some people shop early and pick out perfect gifts as they come across them. For those of us who haven’t planned ahead though there’s a temptation to get the job done by picking up a good enough gift that’s not exactly Earth friendly. Avoid temptation with these 5 ec0-garden gifts.

Beaver Lodge by finchlake2000

1. Beaver rain gardening

Beavers aren’t just cute they are the ultimate rain gardeners. Most kids know about beavers cutting down trees and building dams; what is less known is the benefits beavers bring. Trees cut by beavers are not gone, they grow back. This is called coppicing.

Coppiced trees open the woodland canopy leading to an increased diversity of plants, insects, and animals. And beaver dams create new wetlands, reducing the risk of flooding and supporting endangered wetland plants and the wildlife which depends on them. Beavers are so useful that the Scots have invested over $1 million to bring them back.

You can adopt a Scottish beaver through the Scottish Wildlife Trust – your gift recipient receives a certificate, fact sheet, stickers, and a giant poster. Combine your Scottish beaver gift with a trip to visit a local beaver dam with your loved one for double the fun.

Garden fresh vegtables by Sbocaj

2. Food-growing freedom

There is no freedom as basic as the freedom to grow your own food to feed your family. While we, in developed nations, may take the freedom to garden for granted, worldwide, seeds, basic gardening tools, and know-how are out of the reach of many. When you give to Heifer International your gift becomes an investment which is passed forward.

A garden basket gift from Heifer International includes chickens, trees, and bees. Alternatively, you could support your local, non-profit community garden with a donation. Then, while you are at it, gift your friend of family member their own set of seeds, basic gardening tools and know-how and help them get started with the fun, healthy hobby of gardening.

Rainforest by Robboguy

3. Rainforest products

The rainforest has been called the lungs of the Earth. It’s no news that the rainforest is under ever-increasing threat. While indigenous people have been sustainably farming and harvesting from the rainforest for generations the sad truth is there is money to be made from cutting down the rainforest.

You and I can address rainforest threats by supporting projects which fund rainforest preservation. Do you know where your coffee comes from? Coffee can be shade-grown or plantation grown. Family farmers who grow shade-grown coffee support the rainforest while adhering to organic and fair trade principles.

Give a gift of rainforest preservation with a donation to the Nature Conservancy – adopt an acre of Costa Rican rainforest. Then support sustainable rainforest farming with a gift of Audubon Shade Grown Coffee or fairtrade chocolate covered brazil nuts.

Farmers' market by empracht

4. Farmers are gardeners

Small-scale organic, sustainable farmers are really large-scale gardeners. Their growing methods have more in common with the way you grow veggies in your own back yard than they do with large-scale farmers who depend on tractors, combine harvesters, satellite technology, chemical fertilizers, and government subsidies to maximize their corn and wheat harvest.

When you give a gift grown locally and sustainably you are giving twice.

Find your local farmers’ market and seek out healthy gifts. For a larger investment you can gift a CSA (community supported agriculture) membership to your friend or family member. Find farmers markets and CSA schemes at Local Harvest.

Vintage jewelry by Sherry's Rose Cottage

5. Thoughtful art

Art is arguably what makes us human. Local artisans use sustainably grown woods, natural materials, scraps, and discarded items and make them into something beautiful. You can feel good giving recycled, vintage, and fair trade items as gifts. Respect artisans who respect the Earth.

Find artisan crafts on Ebay, Etsy, from local Amish and Mennonite communities, and at craft fairs and church sales. You may even find some great garden art.

I hope my top picks for Green Gift Monday will give you plenty of alternative gifts for the people you care about. Many can even be ordered from the comfort of home, saving you time and mileage.

Kid tip: kids are attracted to the things they see. Help kids pick out Earth friendly gifts by showing them nature and gardening all year long.

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Are we secretly scared of nature?

Alison Kerr — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:01:20 +0000

McDowell Sonoran Preserve by Dru Bloomfield

Nature, red in tooth and claw. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

I’m driving down Metcalf Avenue. A sign catches my attention:

Deer Creek Preserve.

Ah, nature! Perhaps I should stop off to enjoy it.

Nature names no nature

Don’t let names fool you -

South Creek, Fieldstone, Shadow Brook, Tallgrass Creek, Forest Creek, Heatherwood, Silver Crest, Sandstone Creek, The Woods of Cherry Creek, Valley View, and Deer Creek Preserve

- all of these are new developments in Overland Park, a rapidly growing, relatively new city in the Kansas City suburbs.

Nature sells

Clearly nature sells. But if we love nature enough to be attracted by her names why are we drawn to her in name alone? With so many development names evoking scenic creeks, how come developers are not preserving, restoring, and creating natural creeks within these developments? Is anyone actually planting native tall grasses at Tallgrass Creek? Where are the native plants and the birds, bugs, and critters they support in all of this love of nature?

When you get to thinking, it makes no sense. It surely got me wondering – is the human desire to pave over and plant neat clumps of exotic plants and shrubs driven by ignorance, convenience, marketing, or something more insidious? Could we be secretly scared of nature?

What do you think? What reason do your friends and neighbors give for having non-nature gardens?

Kid tip: ignorance is a driver of fear. Grow your love of nature by visiting with her in your garden and learning her ways together.

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12 Ways to Get Your Greens

Alison Kerr — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:44:58 +0000

Greens in My Garden 04/10

Are you growing your own green vegetables? What about meeting the challenge of eating your daily quota?

Most of us don’t grow enough for 100% of our vegetable needs. We simply don’t have the garden capacity or know how (yet). Eating locally grown vegetables, no matter the source, can inspire and inform your green gardening.

12 Ways to Go Green and Local

Fortunately there’s plenty of choice when it comes to getting hold of locally grown green vegetables to munch on. I’ve tried a number of routes, including the garden ones (of course). What about you? Below are twelve ways I know of getting local greens. I’d be interested to hear of any other ways to add to the list.

3 Ways to Grow at Home

Experienced gardeners, and adventurous sorts, will want to grow as much as they can at home. What could be better than having fresh greens just a step away? Get digging and learning and involve the whole family.

In your own back garden – whether you use containers, raised beds, or plant into the ground, this is a great way to get at least some of your greens.
Garden coaching – when you are new to gardening you might need the boost of having someone help you get set up. A growing number of garden coaches across the country are helping homeowners get started by working with them and planting for them.
Indoor growing – indoor container gardens can be used to grow greens, tomatoes (if you have enough light) and herbs. Beans, grasses (some kinds only), and seeds can be sprouted for a fresh, green addition to your diet.

A Green Neighborhood

Gardening is a great way to bring people together. Whether you are lacking space in your own garden, or you just relish the company of others who want to grow, here are two community ways to grow greens.

Into the neighborhood – there’s a recent trend to move out of your own back garden and set up gardening relationships with neighbors. If a neighbor has space and you need more room to grow, this option is worth exploring.
Allotments and community gardens – allotments and community gardens are not only a way to get space to grow your own vegetables, they’re a way to build community. Nonprofits, community centers, schools, cities and even employers have been known to provide space for vegetable growing. Find out what is happening near you.

Greens from the Farm

You might have heard of community supported agriculture – it’s one of the ways to get green vegetables direct from the farm. There are four ways that I know of. Kids love to meet farmers and pick out fresh food for the family.

Community supported agriculture (CSA) – with a CSA you purchase a share in the farm for the growing season and in return you receive a weekly bag or box of produce during the growing season.
On the farm – some farms will allow you to visit and pick your own, pick up your CSA box, or simply purchase. This is not as common as you’d think, largely because farmers are often too busy to be around for visitors.
Farm Co-ops – distinct from CSA because a farm co-op combines produce from a number of farms. I’ve been part of a farm co-op and I loved the arrangement: lower deposit than with a CSA; higher variety; weekly choice of items; less liable to crop failure (the farms were spread out enough to remove localized weather problems from the equation).
Farmers markets – your local farmer’s market may have a great selection of seasonal vegetables, provided you get there early. It’s a wonderful place to meet, chat, and learn about growing and growers in your area and the place to get your questions answered.

Three More Ways

Let’s face it, working men and women may just not have the time they’d like to have to shop around for green vegetables. There’s a growing market to cater to busy professionals and serve up local farm veggies for their convenience.

Locally labeled produce – to meet consumer demand grocery stores are beginning to label locally grown food. I’m finding this increasingly at my local Hyvee during the growing season.
In-store farmers markets and co-ops – in the last year I’ve heard of both Hen House and Price Chopper offering opportunities for fresh, local, farm produce within their stores. I’ve not looked into the details, but I’ve seen something beyond the usual produce display advertised in their literature.
Door-to-Door delivery – I recently discovered Door-to-Door Organics who will deliver you a weekly box of organic fruit, vegetables, or both, to your door. Kansas doesn’t grow anything like enough fruit for it’s own population – I’ve been buying my fruit through this service. It’s working well.

How are you getting your greens? Are you happy with what you’re doing? What would you like to do different?

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Celebrate Earth Day in Your Garden

Alison Kerr — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:57:31 +0000

Birth Tree by woodleywonderworks

With today being the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, it seems appropriate for all of us Earthlings to celebrate Earth Day right where we’re at, in our gardens.

Do you already have Earth Day plans? Let’s think on this together a little. Let me know your thoughts too. I’d like to hear what you have to say.

What is Earth Day Anyway?

I’ve been celebrating Earth Day for years, but, until now, I’d never read about the history. Earth Day was conceived with the express purpose of putting the environment on the political agenda.

“…before 1970, a factory could spew black clouds of toxic into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and that was perfectly legal. …there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment.”

Pretty shocking when you think about, huh? 20 million Americans joined the first Earth Day protests in April of 1970 and succeeded in raising the issue enough to authorize the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency by December of 1970.

Let’s Be Thankful and Be Different

I’m all in favor of each of us using Earth Day to plant something, whether that be a pot of herbs, a butterfly plant, or a tree. But many of us already do that a whole lot at this time of year (if you don’t already, go for it, there’s no better day to get started)! I’ve got something different in mind.

Mmmm, an Earth Day Picnic

Let’s say you’re sitting in your back garden enjoying an Earth Day picnic – you have a sandwich, a glass of water, and some salad. As you slurp down water from your glass it suddenly occurs to you that the water fell down to earth from a cloud. The bread is made of wheat, which came from the earth. The egg in your sandwich came from a chicken which ate bugs, which fed on plants, which grew in the earth…

Thank You Earth

There’s no escaping it, every single thing which makes your garden, and indeed your very life, possible comes from the planet we live on and our wonderfully unique position with the sun powering us and the moon’s influence. It’s in our own best interests to take care of our own corner of the globe, if not the whole planet.

Take a Deep Breath

Breathe in the air in your garden. Drink of the clean, fresh water, dig in the dirt, admire the plants, trees, birds, and critters. Think about how the first Earth Day was a step to protecting our own future. Celebrate Earth Day in your garden. Tell others about how you feel. We have something precious to maintain.

You don’t have to join a crowd and go to a large Earth Day event, though it might not be a bad idea. Just don’t be afraid to let your local politicians know your thoughts on the environment. They can’t listen if you don’t talk.

Do you value clean air, safe water, and fresh food? What are you doing for Earth Day? Have you ever called your senator or representative?

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Kansas City Gardening for Africa

Alison Kerr — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:34:05 +0000

Grant and Paige Shadden - 2005

Grant and Paige Shadden are a sweet, young Kansas City couple who want to grow their own, healthy vegetables, in their own back yard. It sounds unremarkable.

But Grant and Paige know the value and power of organic vegetable gardening and they are doing something unusual. They are gardening in Kansas City for Africa.

Brookside, Kansas City, MO, 2010

I met with Grant and Paige Shadden at their modest Kansas City home, in the area known as Brookside, a part of Kansas City where residents are already known to be supportive of local businesses and organic eating ideals. It’s an area of smaller, less-groomed lawns, and good-sized, if slightly unkempt back yards. And Grant and Paige seem to fit there naturally, except that part of them doesn’t.

Square Foot Gardeners in an Urban Eden

Grant and Paige Shadden with Mel Bartholomew and Square Foot Gardening, 2009

Grant and Paige are Square Foot Gardeners. They didn’t just read the book, they trained at the Square Foot Gardening Foundation in Utah under the tutelage of Mel Bartholomew. And they are full of enthusiasm for fresh food, and growing it.

Grant and Paige are the owners of Urban Eden KC, an eco-focused local Kansas City gardening business. They’re ready to spread the knowledge of square foot gardening through coaching, and they’re also offering eco-friendly lawn care, with a push reel mower and an energy star, electric trimmer and blower. But that’s not all.

Vegetable Gardening For Africa

Grant and Paige have left part of their hearts in Africa, where they were house-parents at a Sierra Leone orphanage during the winter of 2006/2007. As Paige shared with me about one boy, John Sesay, who walked 3 miles to school on a crippled leg with no discernible muscle, her eyes filled with tears. She told me how John was smiling all the way home, because he had been at school and he loved learning so much.

I heard how aid sent to Africa often doesn’t reach the people it’s for. What good is food for undernourished children when it’s siphoned off before it gets to the kids? Yet there is soil in Africa, space around schools and communities where food can be grown, when basic tools, seeds, and know-how are available.

A Vegetable Gardening Mission

Grant and Paige Shadden in Fall

Grant and Paige have made it their mission to take vegetable gardening to Africa. They are planting tomatoes and squash in Kansas City to earn the money to return to Africa.

They are teaching Square Foot Gardening on two continents. And they are changing the world for the people they touch, one raised bed garden at at time.

I leave you with a quote from the blog of Grant and Paige Shadden, “This is what we wish we could do full-time… empower neighborhoods and whole communities to grow their own sustainable gardens and set them up for success!”

How do you share your gardening? Is there something you’d like to do that you’ve not managed yet?

Square Foot Gardening, written by Mel Bartholomew, an engineer turned gardener, is currently (April 2010) ranked #67 in Amazon.com Best Selling Books list. Get all the inspiration you need for your own garden adventures, subscribe to Loving Nature’s Garden by e-mail – don’t miss a thing.

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Raise Your Glass to Real People

Alison Kerr — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:37:20 +0000

Champagne! by maiptitfleur

Before you read any further I’d like to invite you to grab a glass and pour in some liquid you love – organic wine, bubbly, tap water, freshly squeezed lemonade, anything you like.

I’d now like you to raise your glass to real people, sharing real stories, and bringing about realistic change. People much like you. Or, if you prefer, you can wait just a bit to raise your glass until you know what I’m talking about.

Pedal Powered Change

This post is my contribution to sustainablog’s Pedal-a-Watt Powered Blogathon this weekend. The long-running green blog (and new green shopping site) is publishing for 24 hours straight to raise funds for the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Northeastern Missouri.

We All Love a Good Story

Jeff over at sustainablog asked me to write about “Radical Sustainability, Ordinary People“. To me this is what eco-blogs and eco-bloggers are all about.

Every news producer knows the power of human interest stories. A real story is often enough to keep you watching through almost thirty minutes of TV news just to get to the personal story at the end, the story they teased you with right at the beginning, along with the sensational disaster stuff.

Is it a Real Story?

Seemingly, somewhere deep in our psyche is a belief that there’s something out there we’re missing, a secret we’re not party to, a way to do things better, with less effort, some kind of everyday miracle, the secret to being our very best person, the closeted hero we’re longing to be, for whom anything is possible.

And that “real life” story in the news just might hold the key, so we’ve got to keep watching. But the trouble with TV news is that it only tells part of the story, it’s not really real.

Real Heroes are Really Human

And we’re all too willing to believe any story of someone who fits the hero mold and is extraordinary, beyond human even. Yet, at the same time, I know I’ve longed to hear real stories, of real people, making real change, in their own communities.

Eco-bloggers are ordinary people doing remarkable things in their own back yards and inspiring others to do the same. They’re not edited by someone else, they’re not cut down to soundbites:

Crunchy Chicken is prepared to freeze her buns, but she failed at no-poo. She gives you the whole story.
Peak Oil Hausfrau cooks in her solar oven, but she also admits to driving a car, and she gets really frustrated when she can’t get her message across – when someone just doesn’t get peak oil.
The Green Family are a true inspiration with their zero waste, but they also get sad when they lose a pet, and they don’t pretend to have a daughter who has eschewed all material possessions in some strangely inhuman fashion.
And No Impact Man even had grief from his wife, who just didn’t buy into his plan for a No Impact Lifestyle at first.

And, yes, I do sometimes think all of the above people can be extreme. It’s hard to live that kind of commitment without it becoming consuming. But the point is they are real people, raising kids, showing us what is possible. And that’s what Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is also about, real people, finding real solutions and sharing them.

So, if you didn’t already, please raise your glass to ordinary people like you doing remarkable things. Thank you for what you do Jeff at sustainablog; I’m sending a big green hug to all the eco-bloggers and everyone they inspire. Keep doing what you do. You are making a difference.

Now, go join the fun at sustainablog’s Pedal-a-Watt Powered Blogathon: read post contributions from around the green blogosphere, leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for some great green prizes (including kids books provided by me, Alison), and join in the Tweetchat at #susbppb.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Garden Giving

Alison Kerr — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:40:36 +0000

I already know that you are a giving and sharing type of person. The question is, are you ready to do some garden giving?

Every year I plant radishes in the spring, even though I’m the only one in my house who eats them. I’m glad I do this because I get to share the harvest. I have at least 4 friends who love radishes and who haven’t the time or resources to plant their own. I love growing them to give away.

Dana at RoscommonAcres.com has the same idea, though not necessarily with radishes. But Dana is taking giving one step further this spring. She would like to encourage all of us to plant some extra seeds and to find a family in need to share the harvest with.

I’m a little daunted by the idea of finding a family in need, someone outside the circle of people I already know and give veggies to. However, yesterday when I put my lettuce, kale, pea, and radish seeds in I did plant extra. I filled up my two whole raised beds with early spring vegetable seeds for more food than my own family can eat.

Garden giving is a great idea. I’ll have to wait and see what kind of harvest I get this spring; I don’t want to promise food then not be able to deliver. If you like the idea of growing a little extra, do go over and look at Dana’s article on Share the Harvest. To encourage us all to give this a try, Dana is offering a $15 gift certificate to Territorial Seeds to one participant.

Have you ordered your seeds yet? What are you planning to plant?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Garden Friends in February

Alison Kerr — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:45:32 +0000

Writing about gardening has brought me many wonderful garden friends. Here are some of the gardeners who touched my life in February.

Debi of Go Explore Nature is new to gardening. Debi is a student on my Step by Step Gardening course. She is taking up gardening with the same enthusiasm which she puts into all of her outdoor adventures with her two boys. You can read about Debi’s adventures in the school garden. Oh, to be in California in February!

When I wrote about I’m a gardener because… Debi shared that the death of her dad has brought her to gardening. I really love the comments I’ve received on that post. They have given me many connections with other gardeners. Suz of Slow Family Online was inspired to write a wonderful post about who brought her to gardening which prompted some equally wonderful comments at her blog.

While you are over at Suz Lipman’s blog please do read her About Slow Family. She writes of how she wants to do things with her family, rather than dump her kids to be entertained while she runs errands. Be sure to catch the part where she talks of walking the girl scouts. And of course she loves to garden and observe nature.

I have another great friend who believes in getting kids outside. Shannon Baer of Backyard Mama doesn’t just write about getting outdoors, she runs an outdoor-focused preschool. Of course Shannon loves to garden too. She’s making her seed order up this week – despite that, she took time out of her busy schedule to talk with me on the phone. It is always nice to put a voice to an online face. Shannon has a gardening mentor and she helped me with research for Lesson 4 – Mentor, Mentor of Step by Step Gardening.

Jenny of J Peterson Garden Design is new to my list of garden lovers. When I wrote about Who’s Yard is it Anyway. Jenny came over and commented. Jenny and I share a love of books by Sally Wasowski. I asked Jenny to recommend a favorite post at her blog and she pointed me to garden evolution, which showcases how synergy with one of her clients produced a beautiful garden.

Jenny also sent me to visit East Side Patch where I discovered a fellow American from Scotland who mixes science fiction and gardening in his blog. Truly a unique combination and worth a visit!

It would be remiss of me not to mention Carole Brown at Ecosystem Gardening and Rachel Matthews of Successful Garden Design with whom I have contact several times a week. Really, I have too much to say to about them to say more. I’ll save it for another time.

These are some of the garden lovers in my life. Who inspires you?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

3/50 Supporting Local Business

Alison Kerr — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:26:56 +0000

Corner Drugstore by Orin Zebest

The 3/50 Project is a project which emphasizes supporting local business, something we all need to do for a green community.

It’s about keeping money in your local community and it’s about commitment through one simple action.

Here’s What You Do

#1 – Choose 3 local brick and mortar businesses to support. These should be locally owned and not franchises.

#2 – Each month decide which ONE of the 3 businesses you’d like to spend with. Spend a total of $50 at ONE of these businesses.

#3 – That’s all that is involved. Over the year you are committing to spend $600 total with locally owned non-franchise businesses.

Why Support Local Business

According to The 3/50 Project website “For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores $68 returns to the community.”

I like that this project reminds us about supporting local business without telling us to stop shopping online or to change our other shopping habits.

Whom are You Supporting?

Put your thinking cap on. Are you going to do this? What questions do you have about it? If you’re looking for a good definition of which businesses qualify you can find it at The 3/50 Project – What’s an Independent

Unless you just happen to be supporting local businesses already, though maybe not with a specific commitment, you’re going to have to do some research.

Do let me know what you find out and the businesses you decide to support. I’m still working on my list.

You can support your local bookstore and have the convenience of shopping online by visiting IndieBound.org.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

50 – 40 = 10 Gifts to Green the Earth

Alison Kerr — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:16:57 +0000

Its Future is in our Hands - Live Earth by Aussiegall

Say “No” to gifts which cost the Earth and “Yes” to gifts which make our homes, families, communities and planet a better, and more sustainable, place, a greener Earth. The future is in your hands.

This list of gifts to green the Earth currently contains 10 ideas – I have a list of 50 ideas to publish here. Please bookmark this page and check back as I add more information. I’ve put in the section titles to give you an idea of what I’ll be sharing – there will be 5 gifts in each section.

50 Gifts to Green the Earth

I’ve put together a list of gifts which have a positive impact in our homes, gardens, and communities. I hope you find something here for everyone on your gift list. Choose wisely; the time taken to choose a suitable gift is as precious as the gift itself. You may want to bookmark this page, or subscribe to my RSS feed – I will be adding links to bring this up to 50 and updating as time goes on.

The Gift of Knowledge

Many of our wasteful habits come from a lack of knowledge of how to do things differently. Give the gift of knowledge with a training course or apprenticeship for your loved one. Don’t forget to offer babysitting services too if necessary.

These 5 suggestions for the gift of knowledge are just a starting point:

#50 – Permaculture Training – permaculture training transforms both thinking and understanding. It’s about design and how we can live sustainably at the home and community level, completing the cycle, and allowing nature to provide for us in both home and garden.

#49 – Nature Gardening Course – check county extension offices, local nature organizations or gardening centers for classes on wildlife gardening, garden water conservation, and gardening with native plants.

#48 – Fruit and Vegetable Gardening Know-How – fruit and vegetable gardening and edible landscaping are growing in popularity. These are great ways to re-connect with the Earth and bring your family fresh, healthy food. Check with community gardening organizations as well as arboretums and extension offices for suitable classes.

#47 – Home Cooking, Canning and Preserving – cooking a meal from scratch is the best way to reduce the need for food processing and packaging. Canning and preserving are how you save the local harvest from garden and farm. Both are ways to increase your consumption of locally produced foods. Find courses at local community colleges and extension service offices.

# 46 – Home Maintenance and DIY – many home and garden projects can result in energy savings. Look for training in weatherproofing, home maintenance, and DIY. Check community colleges, extension services, and local home improvement stores for suitable classes. A new skill could be just the ticket as a gift.

The Tools of Independence

In an industrialized society many tasks become specialized and removed from the average person in the community. Yet there is satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment to be gained from owning and using basic tools and taking care of some of our own needs.

These 5 suggestions for the gift of independence are just a starting point:

#45 – All I need is a spade and a hoe – people-powered gardening tools are re-usable, require little maintenance, no fossil fuels, and can last a life-time or more. Basic wood and metal spades, trowels, hoes, and rakes never go out of fashion; every gardener needs a basic collection.

#44 – Cook with the sun – for those living with an abundance of sunlight many days of the year are good for sun oven cooking. You can purchase a pre-made summer alternative to your indoor oven, build a DIY oven, take a collapsible one with you for camping, or cook for a whole neighborhood.

#43 – Do the Can-Can – while many consider a freezer indispensable, low-tech food storage techniques, such as canning, have been around for much longer. They’ve stood the test of time. Robust and proven canning equipment is a re-usable way to store the local harvest.

#42 – Grind Your Own – depending on where you live local, organic whole grains such as wheat, corn and oats may be available, but they won’t be much use to you without a way to grind them. Whole grains have a long shelf life, as opposed to whole flours which spoil after a fairly limited period. A grain mill, preferably hand-powered, is a great tool of independence.

#41 – How-to Book – while much information is available online, books remain wonderful tools for learning a new skill toward independent local living. Consider books on topics such as homesteading, cooking, canning, gardening, and home maintenance.

Conservation Begins at Home

Conserving our native plants and animals requires commitment, effort, and funding. Whether you are funding conservation in the backyard, county, state, or country of your loved one, a gift toward conservation will make a difference.

The Gift of Labor

Share a Skill

The Gift of Life

Fair Trade = Respect

Give Time to Volunteer

A Local Gift is a Double Gift

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Be sure to attach a tag or note which says, “I love you. Together we can make the Earth a better place for our children and grandchildren.”

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).