Christmas the time for giving and many of us are finding that the Christmas of 2008 is going to be a tight one.
Basically, though I like Christmas and all the things that go with it, I really do not like the commercialism that has developed over the last half century and with that in mind I really do not go out for Christmas in a big way. Of course my family says I make up for it all year long by making a little Christmas whenever I think someone needs it.
Those organic gardeners who harvest and preserve the fruits of their labors have wonderful food gifts to share this holiday season with any friend or neighbor regardless of whatever holiday they celebrate.
Everyone welcomes homemade jams and jellies or preserves and it is quite easy to spruce them up with a swatch of colorful material that you have pinked the edges with using your trusty pinking shears. Then tightly tie it on to the top of the jar using a colorful piece of yarn or ribbon.
Make sure you create a lovely hand designed label either on your computer or by hand and it is always good to list any other ingredients you have added to your home made food gift just incase someone is allergic to something. I always like to add a lovely recipe card for my favorite scones when I give this type of gift.
This is also the time I take out those wonderful zucchini and pumpkin breads I baked at the very last end of fall and put into my freezer. I bake them right in disposable aluminum baking pans and then when cooled I vacuum seal them and they will easily last until Christmas. Just before delivering them, I take them out of the freezer, break the vacuum seal, put them into nice seasonal bags and add a gay tag, a nice label with all the ingredients on it.
For those of you with bountiful nut tree or apple orchard harvests then it is very easy to make up a nice basket of nuts, apples and perhaps a couple of recipe cards with your favorite apple pie recipe or nut cookie recipe.
It does not take much to add those special little touches and you will be surprised how much your gifts will be appreciated. Plus it will save a lot of your personal budget at this time of year.
Each fall at the end of the harvest I consider some of my Christmas list and make notes of the folks who would appreciate this type of garden gift.
"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,
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