DIY: Homemade Holiday Gifts from the Garden
Harvesting vegetables from your garden is one of the most rewarding parts of growing your own food. One thing that is even better – sharing your homegrown treasures with your friends and family! Homemade gifts are always well received and make the recipient feel the love that went behind creating them (and it doesn’t get more handmade that growing your own supplies). Below you will find a variety of ideas that will hopefully inspire you to create your own homegrown holiday gifts for your loved ones. All of these gifts are easy to make and will also give you experience preserving your harvests. Make you gifts look festive by adding some ribbons or get even more creative by designing your own holiday labels.
1. Pepper Jelly
Hot pepper jelly makes a wonderful gift, and since peppers frequently come in shades of red and green, it will be gleaming with holiday colors. Pepper jelly is a great way to preserve peppers, and it is also customizable to the peppers you have on hand. You can also control the spice level by using different combinations of hot and sweet peppers. Pepper jelly is also extremely versatile and can be used in many different ways. Click here to get the recipe and learn 12 ways that pepper jelly can be used. Include some cheese and crackers to make the perfect gift!
2. Pickled Vegetables
Pickling vegetables is another great way to preserve your harvests, and a jar full of colorful snacks also makes a lovely gift. In addition to cucumbers, you can also pickle green beans, onions, carrots, peppers, beets, radishes, okra, and more. There is nothing like seeing a colorful jar full of homegrown treats in the middle of winter. Click here to get a quick recipe for fridge pickles, or you can also find a variety of recipes in cookbooks for canned pickles that can be stored in the pantry all year. Add a festive serving platter to complete the gift.
3. Tomato-Related Goodies
There are so many ways to preserve your homegrown tomatoes, and most of them also make great gifts. Tomatoes are beautiful and come in a variety of colors that make for a beautiful gift presentation. Give the taco-lover in your life some homemade salsa, chips, and a unique bowl. You could also create a gift basket with some homemade tomato sauce or “sun-dried” tomatoes along with some pasta adorned with a bow (and maybe a nice bottle of wine). Or maybe some bruschetta in a jar and crostini? Click here to get five different recipes that you can use to create your own tomato-inspired gifts.
4. Homemade Seasoning Blends
If you have a dehydrator at home, another fun way to preserve peppers is to dry them which also allows you to store them for a year or more. After the peppers are dry, you can use a spice grinder or blender to turn them into your own homemade seasoning blends. You can also get really creative and add additional ingredients such as dried and ground onions, garlic, lemons, and more. This is a great holiday gift for anyone who loves spicy food!
5. Homemade Bread
There are a variety of vegetables that you may be growing in your garden that are perfect for baking homemade breads. Carrot, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and even cucumbers can be turned into sweet and tasty breads or muffins that are perfect for gift giving. Bake them in the peak of the growing season and put them in your freezer to store until the holidays!
6. Seeds and Greetings
Saved seeds from your own garden is the gift that keeps on giving. Include your seeds in an envelope with variety information (and planting instructions would be nice, too) tucked into a seasonal greeting card. There are many benefits to saving your own seeds, and it is also a great way to share the gift of gardening with your loved ones. You can encourage your friends and family to discover the joys of gardening, and they will also think of you every time they harvest! Beans, peas, peppers, and tomatoes are all excellent choices for seed saving, and always be sure to only save seeds from open-pollinated varieties. Complete the gift with a nice set of gardening tools and give it that festive feel by decorating the seed envelopes.
