The Holiday Guide
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 09:46AM The holidays are upon us, so if you don't have all of your gifts in order you'd better get cracking. This year, instead of sticking to your same old gift-giving regimen, why don't you try something a little different? Whether for the gardener, cook, or food lover in your life, here are a few ideas that are sure to please.
Gift Ideas:
Read Em and Weep: Make sure everyone on your Christmas list is well-read and has a good book to curl up with this holiday season. Here are some of our favorite books on food. They're sure to inspire some healthy New Year's Resolutions...
1. Omnivore's Dilemma- Michael Pollan
2. In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
3. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Barbara Kingsolver
4. Coming Home to Eat - Gary Nabhan
5. The End of Food - Paul Roberts
How Does Your Garden Grow:
Tom Stearns and the folks over at High Mowing Seeds are offering a variety of holiday seed packages this year, the best of which is the White House Garden Holiday Collection featuring 18 of the same vegetable and herb seeds grown on the Presidential turf. And if that doesn't strike your fancy, they are also offering an Heirloom Vegetable Lovers Holiday Collection, featuring 10 unique heirloom vegetable seed varieties, and the Kitchen Herbs Holiday Collection. Perfect for the seasoned or budding gardener in your life!
Deck the lawns with bouquets of arugula! Fa la la la la la la la la.
Yee Haw Industries Letterpressed farmer's market cards
Everyone needs notecards. Besides, don't you love getting a handwritten letter in the mail every once in awhile? Encourage your friends and family to keep in touch with these handmade letterpress cards from Yee Haw Industries in Knoxville, TN. They've got a nice selection of vegetables and fruits to choose from.
Satsumas from Petals from the Past
Instead of putting oranges or clementines into Sally's stocking this year, why not try satsumas instead? Seedless and easy to peel, they're great for the little ones. Plus, this is the best citrus you'll ever taste. You'll be eating these the entire holiday season, I guarantee it. Pick up a 5 lb box at Petals from the Past in Jemison, AL. While you're there, peruse their selection of fruit trees (Persimmon, Meyer Lemon, Fig, and Pomegranate to name a few) and other botanicals, check out their gardening supplies, and plan to come back next year for the U-pick season.
Keep Them in the Kitchen:
Keep your favorite cook in the kitchen this holiday season with the new cookbook from Chris and Idie Hastings of Birmingham's Hot and Hot Fish Club. Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita and Southern Table are also must-haves for any home cook who wants to re-create some of the signature dishes of the author's Bottega restaraunt and cafe or Highlands Bar and Grill.
Josh and Beth over at Birdsong Community Farm in Cullman, AL are selling laying hens this holiday season (that's some of their prized poultry to the left). With a few of these ladies, you'll have fresh eggs galore, and you'll never have to wonder which came first. If you need a place to keep your flock, they're also selling a chicken coop. Skeptical about keeping chickens? Just read Susan Orlean's piece in the New Yorker about her conversion from city slicker to chicken whisperer...
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three laying hens...
A CSA subscription from your local farmer.
Nothing beats a membership in a local CSA (community-supported agriculture). By investing in a local farm, you will receive a weekly share of whatever your farmers are growing (carrots and greens in the fall, tomatoes and squash in the summer, strawberries and salad in the spring). Length of the CSA season will vary by farm. Spots often open up in the winter time, so be sure to check Local Harvest to find a CSA near you.
For the Christmas Feast:
A Christmas Turkey from Bates Turkey Farm.
For this year's holiday feast, try one of the hickory smoked whole turkeys from Bates Turkey Farm in Fort Deposit, AL. These birds are naturally grown and locally raised. And if you don't want to mess with the whole bird, they also sell a mean turkey breast. Be sure to pick up some turkey sausage for your Christmas Eve brunch, and some turkey jerky for Uncle Bill's stocking. Make sure you order your holiday bird before December 21, the last day for shipping.
A Holiday Brisket from Boutwell Farms
If turkey or ham is not your holiday culinary preference, try a beef brisket from Boutwell Farms in Clayton, AL. Orders can be placed online, and deliveries are made at various spots around the state. Check the website for drop off locations. They've got pastured pork and poultry too!
Year End Giving
Before you spend up all your dough, please consider making a year end contribution to one of the worthy organizations listed below. They are all doing great work and are in need of your support!
1. Your local Alabama food bank
2. Jones Valley Urban Farm
3. Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network
4. Sand Mountain Seed Bank
5. Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners
Have a great holiday!
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