My Favorite Holiday Gifts (really what I’d like to get) – With a BIG Eco and Vegan Slant
I don’t actually NEED anything but more love and peace in my life but I do like to get gifts. This list is not all inclusive but it covers a lot of ground.
Foodies
If you are buying for someone with special tastes, check out South River Miso. They have amazing miso and incredible miso tamari. I have at least 8 jars of miso in my refrigerator. This is top of the line miso –it’s very salty so not good for heart patients or others with sodium intolerance issues but for the rest of us, oh boy, and they even have soy-free miso… South River Miso
If you are seeking amazing preserves, check out a local to-me source DaVero. The fruit is intense and tasty; a little goes a long way:Â DaVero Preserves
What about the rich gift of avocados? Check out Will’s Avocados
Love beans but want something different?
Check out Rancho Gordo for heirloom beans, quinoa, wild rice, some herbs
Purcell Mountain Farms also has heirloom beans and the best selection of lentils around. They also sell grains. You likely know that i encourage you to buy organic when you can.
Tea and More
I love hot beverages for most of the year, my favorites are:
Teeccino which come in bags or loose. I like the new roasted dandelion blends or those with ramon nuts.
Maccacino – an easy to drink blend with Peruvian Maca, a root known for promoting vitality. Such as great alternative to coffee.
Pukka Tea has beautiful boxes and wonderful organic tea. I especially like Love, Womankind, Elderberry and Echinacea and the herbal chai
Heard about the healing benefits of turmeric? Check out Spice Pharm Turmeric or Chocolate Drinks
Herbs and Spices
Mountain Rose Herbs carries organic products of all types but mostly spices and herbs
Whole Spice Napa Valley has very fresh herbs and spice blends. I love the coarse harissa spice and they have a hummus blend.
Sweets
Chocolates, two of my local companies run by young people who offer different types of bars and more are
Firefly Chocolate: check out the bay nut bar and maca bar
Phi Kind Chocolate which makes chocolate with alternatives to sugar
Want something more natural? What about dates?
Flying Disc Ranch offers a wonderful variety of organic dates
Check out Oasis organic dates
DIYers
Let them learn sprouting – I recommend buying seeds from The Sprout House
Check out The Veggie Queen Salad Sprout Mix  and there are many more. I buy the more exotic seeds such as fenugreek and clover from The Sprout House and buy more the more regular ones like lentils, French green lentils and chickpeas from my local store.
Sproutmaster Mini Triple – this little 3 tiered plastic box device is wonderful for making near perfect looking and tasting sprouts:
Rita Galchus, the owner of The Sprout House, wrote this book on sprouting. A book can really help when someone gets going: Home Grown Sprouts
Kraut Source Kit for anyone who wants to ferment get them this so they can make many types of fermented foods.
Whatever you do, be sure to give love to everyone who needs it. There are many people less fortunate than we are and love is good all year long. I am grateful to you. Happy Holidays.
Leave a Reply