Holiday Gift Giving

This year I challenge all of my family, friends and patients to support small, local and eco-friendly businesses when they are purchasing holiday gifts this year. Try to support as many small business owners as you can this holiday season, and find more creative, unique, earth and human friendly gifts in the process!

I have compiled a list of ideas to help get you started on alternative gift giving! Please post your favorite small or local business we should check out this year in the comments section as well!

                     Alternative Gift Giving Resources

• Etsy: One of my favorite sites for all things creative! They are a global community of creative entrepreneurs and inspired shoppers.
• Frontier Co-op: Sustainable herbs, spices, essential oils and related products, cleaning supplies, personal and beauty items, and hundreds of vendors with potential gift items such as toys, clothing, candles/incense, salt lamps, coffee/tea, kitchen items, etc. I do a special order with them at the end of every month, just email me your order and avoid shipping costs.
• Cricket Gift and Book Shop: Right around the corner from Blueberry Gardens, they have a great selection of gifts and books and have been around for 47 years!
• Lehman's: USA made goods for a simpler life. Categories such as Farm and Garden, Health and Wellness, Home Decor, Kitchen and Food, Toys and Games..
• SERVV: Fairtrade, handmade, beautiful items made by global artisans. Their annual clearance sale is around Thanksgiving, physical store located in New Windsor, MD.
• Hungry Harvest: Give a gift of recovered produce, help to reduce waste and hunger.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to the markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. Local locations in Rockville and Bethesda.
• Alternative Gift Fair Weeks: Coming up in Takoma Park (December 3rd and 11th) and DC (December 6th)!!
• Imagine Childhood and Magic Cabin: AMAZING gifts for children!
• Chocolate and Tomatoes Farm: One of my favorite organic farmers, Mark Mills, who is at the Olney Farmers Market every week. He not only grows the best vegetables around, but makes amazing chocolates as well! The Olney Farmer's Market has a lot of other great, local farm and artisan vendors.
• Ricciuti's: My favorite local farm to table restaurant that highlights locally grown and seasonally inspired dishes. Give the gift of good food!
• Farm Match: Find a local CSA share to give as a gift! Many farms will do pre-orders for their spring produce shares.
• Thrifting and regifting is always a great option as well! Second Avenue in Columbia and Laurel, and Value Village in Wheaton are some good local thrift shops to try!
• Making donations to your favorite charitable organizations on behalf of your gift recipients is also a great idea, especially for those who already have everything they need and want. We are fundraising for our newly formed non-profit Mindful Medicine, and would greatly appreciate any support to help us get started! There are so many great organizations to consider.
  
• Handmade gifts are also great! I have been really getting into making lotions and oils, as well as delicious baked goods and herbal infusions!
  
• Give the gift of health! Many people would greatly appreciate a gift certificate for a  massage or acupuncture session to help relax and recharge. We all deserve self-care!
  

I wish you all a healthy and safe holiday season with less stress and corporate madness and more love, quality time with family and friends and local, sustainable gifting.