A favorite gift on the receiving end came some years ago when Ben & I first moved to our farm. Our family had decided that for our holiday gifts that year, it would have to be something you made, had in your possession already, or an IOU for a future service. I was about to start my new garden. Son Mike & daughter-in-law Em gave me a treasure map with clues. The whole party accompanied me to track down the gift secreted in the bottom of the barn: 5 big bags of well rotted horse manure.
If you have no horse manure some other ideas.
1.Do you have any compost you can share with a New Yorker who has treasured houseplants? Wrap and label it prettily, give it your brand name/logo, and you've given a treasure.
2. Take a cutting from a favorite houseplant, root it, plant it in one of those many extra pots you have, washed to be impeccably clean. Add a plant name, a little story about the plant, care instructions, and voila!
4. A nicely printed gift certificate for several hours of weeding/and or pruning to a person who hates those chores. Or if you live close by, a visit or two of plant or garden care while the giftee goes on vacation.
6.What's your best idea for a no-cost garden gift? Betsy, are you reading? I hope you've been saving those tasty dried petals for me from your apothecary rose. I need them for a dessert I want to try.
7 comments:
Those are all great ideas!
ellen,
my mom in california had already emailed me this morning (before i'd even seen it) to say how much she loved this column. do you think she's hinting? =)
very happiest holidays to both of you!
ckk
AMB sent me this note: Did my gift arrive? If you have many unopened packages,you can identify mine
by the smell. Ask your doorman if a pail of manure is downstairs waiting for you. I am sure he will be relieved when you claim it.Happy Chanukah!
And Betsy sent this:I loved the column. Don't worry, I have a little jar of Apothecary petals just for you. (ed. note: hinting really pays off)
Cindy,hinting is good. Remember the theme, spend no money.
And the best to you also.
Garden gift ideas are "Priceless"
This is not zero cost, but I'm making some small gingerbread houses and will decorate with bird seed, etc.
Shady, Your houses are surely in the spirit of zero cost.
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