The Garden Gift Guide: 8 Products Your Favorite Gardener Will Love (You For)

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The best part about gardening gifts is they can be super practical and fun at the same time. This garden gift guide will help you find the perfect present for the gardener in your life so they can get growing!

1. Gardening is for Everyone T-Shirt

   If you’re looking for a thick, structured tee that’s also super soft and breathable—look no further! This unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt ticks all the boxes and is made of 100% ring-spun cotton. The regular t-shirt style will complement most looks and fit you to a tee. Tap to shop

2. Ergonomic Pruning Shears

   A compact high-performance pruning tool. The compact size combined with a rotating handle bring a new level of efficient power and exceptional maneuverability. Tap to shop

3. Herb Drying Rack

   Made from stylish and sustainable woven bamboo, this four-tier herb drying rack provides plenty of room and air circulation for naturally drying herbs, leaves, and flowers. Its classic, understated design fits with any style and has a great look that you’ll be excited to showcase on your countertop or kitchen island, filled with herbs during gardening season, or as an eye-catching (and mouth-watering) tower for fruits and veggies. Tap to shop

4. Seed Starting Trays

   6-Cell Trays are rigid, yet flexible and practically unbreakable to last the rest of your life. Proudly made in the USA from recycled, UV-treated, and BPA-free. Each individual cell features an air pruning side slot on all four corners to discourage root circling and encourage better root growth and the bottoms of each cell are also open providing air pruning at the lower end of each cell. Tap to shop

5. Harvest Apron

   No one likes juggling tools or running back and forth from the shed or the workbench. This garden apron allows you to focus on the task at hand, with everything you need right at your fingertips! Three small chest pockets in addition to the large harvesting pouch Unique strap design keeps the weight off your neck and shoulders allowing you to comfortably carry up to 65lbs. The adjustable strap allows for the apron to fit most heights, it can be easily adjusted to comfortably fit anyone from 4’6” up to 6’4”. Made from durable, industrial strength cotton canvas. Tap to shop

6. Vertical Planter

   Make gardening accessible and enjoyable with this five-tier vertical planter. This vertical garden planter is perfect for growing a wide variety of small and large plants including vegetables, herbs, flowers, root crops, and more. 30 total planting pockets each with a 10” depth. Made from high-quality, food-grade, UV-resistant, BPA, BPS & PVC-free plastic. Tap to shop

7. Reusable Fabric Grow Bags

   BPA-free grow bags are great for growers with small spaces. The permeable felt allows excess water to drain away while encouraging root pruning, creating a denser, more fibrous rootball. Growers can also utilize grow bags to produce in locations with poor soil, high weed pressure, or lack of drainage. These bags are much thicker than average grow bags, ensuring you can grow for years worry-free. Tap to shop

8. Olla Watering System

   This watering system works by using ancient terracotta olla technology and combining it with modern watering systems. The porous terracotta lets water seep through it, slowly watering your plant’s roots. Your plants get water when it needs, where it needs – at the roots. Which means plants get 100% of the water they need, with more than 61% less water lost to evaporation, that traditional drip lines waste. Tap to shop

Eco Friendly Gift Ideas

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Holiday waste is a huge problem, both for our budgets and the environment. Americans spent around $15.2 billion on unwanted holiday gifts in 2019, and 4% of them ended up in the trash. Think about it - how many trash bags have you probably filled with just wrapping paper in your life? A lot of it can’t be recycled or composted even if we wanted to because it uses shiny plastic coatings or glitter that won’t break down. This is a huge problem that we can easily avoid by simply changing some habits and using fabric or kraft paper wrapping instead. The plus side is fabric wrapping can be reused year after year and kraft paper is totally recyclable and compostable!

That number doesn’t even include all of the wasted packaging and wrapping materials that end up in landfills. Each year Americans alone use 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper valued at over seven billion dollars. Fifty percent of that wrapping paper ends up in a landfill. That's 2.3 million pounds of used wrapping paper clogging up landfills.

I know I’m not the only one who struggles after the holidays are over to try and absorb all of the generous gifts into our home and our lives. As much as I’m grateful for the thought, and know that I am privileged to be loved by so many people who want to express that love through gifts, it is a challenge when the gifts themselves don’t fit into my life. An eco-friendly gift, however, will always bring me joy and be a useful addition to my home.

For a truly zero waste eco friendly gift idea, consider an experience instead. This can be anything from paint night to skydiving, a museum membership, massage or a baking class. Experience gifts allow you to deepen your bond with the gift recipient and create lasting memories that you can look back on for years to come.

Whether you’re looking for green gifts for your teenager, sustainable gifts for your parents or eco christmas gifts for your spouse, this guide has all the best eco friendly gifts you could need for everyone on your list.

Upgrade their disposable plastic water bottle to a metal water bottle that will last.

Upgrade their disposable plastic water bottle to a metal water bottle that will last.

Did you know roughly 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and other containers are tossed out (and not recycled!) every year. Plastic bottles make up a significant portion of this waste. They are also one of the main sources of pollution and pose a serious threat to our environment and the animals we share it with.

A reusable water bottle makes a great sustainable gift you can give to anyone on your list, since we all need to stay hydrated! You could pair this gift with a wellness journal and your favorite playlist for your friend or family member who likes to work out. My favorite water bottles are these black metal reusable bottles from Package Free.

Stock up their pantry with reusable glass food storage containers.

Stock up their pantry with reusable glass food storage containers.

Know someone who just moved into their first home, or is in the process of eliminating plastics in their kitchen? Reusable glass food storage containers are the perfect functional eco friendly gift idea! Make your green gift extra special by filling up those containers with a nice home cooked meal to get their gears turning on what sorts of things they could cook up to store themselves. I like these glass rectangular containers because they stack really well and utilize space in the fridge efficiently, plus they look great.

A zero waste drink kit you can make yourself

In the US alone, people discard 500 million straws every day, or more than 180 billion a year. That’s about 1.4 million kilograms of plastic sent to landfills (and the ocean) every day. Why not make a cocktail or mocktail kit that celebrates sustainability by including reusable straws, a travel tumbler and your favorite drink mix?

Help them carry their haul with ease

Help them carry their haul with ease

Did you know that plastic bags are used for only 20 minutes on average, but take hundreds of years to decompose? In that time, they can poison or kill countless wildlife. Grab some of these open market bags and a membership to a local CSA for a foodie gift that keeps on giving.

Tea is always the answer

Tea is always the answer

‘Paper’ tea bags almost always contain some plastic, and can be full of pesticides, toxins, and dioxins. Epichlorhydrine is the pesticide most often found in tea bags. It’s known to cause cancer in animals exposed to it. So why not introduce your friends and family to the magic of loose leaf tea with a gift mug full of your favorite herbal blends and a metal tea ball?

Make laundry time more pleasant with wool dryer balls

Dryer balls are a better option all around than toxic-rich fabric softener and wasteful, one-time-use dryer sheets. Not only are these products bad for the environment, their contents are also absorbed by your clothing, towels, and bedding, and then transferred to your skin.

Felted wool dryer balls are available here.

Clean up their act with Swedish dishcloths

Clean up their act with Swedish dishcloths

Single use paper towels are not the best option for cleaning up messes because they create a significant waste problem. 254 tons a year in the US, to be specific! One Swedish dishcloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels.

I use these Package Free Swedish dishcloths, which are made of 70% sustainably forested wood cellulose and 30% organic cotton. They are 100% natural, biodegradable - and they’re much cheaper than paper towels!

Make mealtime more eco-friendly with cloth napkins

Cloth napkins make even a pb&j feel a bit fancy, and they don’t have to cost a fortune to make an impact. Get your family a stack of these cloth napkins along with copies of your favorite recipes and they’ll be set for meal planning too!

Help them reduce their water bill with self care that helps you skip the shower

Help them reduce their water bill with self care that helps you skip the shower

Dry shampoo like this one from Package Free allows you to wash your hair less frequently, lowering water consumption in the shower and allowing you to use less shampoo overall. Spending just 3 minutes less time in the shower can help save over 6 gallons of water. If you buy a dry shampoo, look for one like this that does not come as an aerosol spray. Add this to a self care themed bundle with your favorite essential oils, moisturizer and washable cotton face cloths. Somewhere around 20 million pounds of disposable wipes are thrown away every DAY in the US. Most end up in landfills, and despite claims to the contrary, most are not biodegradable and do not rapidly break down.

Make spring cleaning a breeze with a reusable steam mop and cleaning pads

Swiffer mops are convenient and user-friendly, but have you ever thought about how much trash those single use pads generate? Not to mention the chemicals in the cleaning solutions or the plastic bottles that contain those solutions.

Disposable Swiffer pads are made from polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels, which are, of course, contributing to the degradation of our ecosystems and wildlife.

A great replacement is a steam mop. I find them so much easier to use: just add water and you’re good to go. Steam removes dirt and bacteria, and leaves my floors looking and feeling much cleaner. Plus, every time they clean their floors they will think of you! Click here for the steam mop we use at home.

Keep their food fresh for longer with reusable beeswax wraps.

Keep their food fresh for longer with reusable beeswax wraps.

You can make beeswax wraps at home using fabric, beeswax, resin, and jojoba oil, but in my experience it’s a bit of a messy and time consuming project. Regardless of whether you shop or make, they are great for wrapping sandwiches or snacks and cover bowls. They should last for about a year, and most are compostable. Here’s a link to the beeswax wraps that we use at home.

Is wrapping paper eco-friendly?

There’s no point in negating any positive impact you might see from buying green gifts by wrapping your sustainable gift in traditional wrapping paper. Every year Americans use 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper. A good bit of that ends up in a landfill. Wrapping paper with glitter, foil, plastic, texture, bows, tape, or sticky tags on it cannot be recycled.

What To Use Instead of Wrapping Paper

It used to be common to use the comics from newspapers, and that’s still a fun option. Any part of the newspaper will do, really.

Save the brown paper that comes in the cardboard boxes shipped to your house. Everyone loves a brown paper package tied up with string! Brown shopping bags are also perfect for this look.

Sheet music, book pages, posters, and magazines can all make pretty wrapping.

Using fabric as wrapping is a fun option.

A pretty tin is a great way to package a present. You can often find them at thrift stores.

If you do use disposable wrapping paper, be sure it’s paper only. Use paper bows and tape and don’t forget to recycle!

Homemade Gifts For Everyone on Your List

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Most everyone loves a handmade gift, and in these times of over-consumption it is more important than ever to be mindful in your gift giving this holiday season.

Holiday waste is a huge problem, both for our budgets and the environment. Americans spent around $15.2 billion on unwanted holiday gifts in 2019, and 4% of them ended up in the trash. Think about it - how many trash bags have you probably filled with just wrapping paper in your life? A lot of it can’t be recycled or composted even if we wanted to because it uses shiny plastic coatings or glitter that won’t break down. This is an issue that we can easily avoid by simply changing some habits and using fabric or kraft paper wrapping instead. The plus side is fabric wrapping can be reused year after year and kraft paper is totally recyclable and compostable.

That number doesn’t even include all of the wasted packaging and wrapping materials that end up in landfills. Each year Americans alone use 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper valued at over seven billion dollars. Fifty percent of that wrapping paper ends up in a landfill. That's 2.3 million pounds of used wrapping paper clogging up landfills.

I know I’m not the only one who struggles after the holidays are over to try and absorb all my presents into our home and our lives. As much as I’m grateful for the thought, and know that I am privileged to be loved by so many people who want to express that love through gifts, it is a challenge when the gifts themselves don’t fit into my life. A handmade gift, however, will always bring me joy and be a useful addition to my home.

And who really enjoys the stress of holiday shopping? Dealing with shipping delays or crowded shopping centers isn’t my idea of a good time.

You can even take it one step further and choose to do experience gifts instead - this can be anything from paint night to skydiving, a museum membership, massage or a baking class. Experience gifts allow you to deepen your bond with the gift recipient and create lasting memories that you can look back on for years to come. 

Whether you’re looking for DIY Christmas gift ideas, Chanukah gift ideas, zero-waste gift ideas, food gift ideas, or just the best homemade gift ideas out there for anyone on your list, you’ve come to the right place.

50 DIY gift ideas for everyone on your list

1. Candles - Making candles is as simple as melting wax, adding scent if desired, and setting a wick into the wax before it hardens. Throughout the year, collect containers suitable for candles. This could include jars or tins, things you bought food in or found at a thrift store. Candle Science is a great source for purchasing candle-making supplies. I like to use their Golden Bran 464 soy wax when I make candles. 
   
   

2. Coasters: You can make coasters out of tiles or slices of wood. For instructions on making tile coasters with Mod Podge and paper, check out It All Started With Paint
   
   

3. Vanilla: To make homemade vanilla, simply slice vanilla beans down the middle and let them sit in vodka for a month. Distill into a pretty jar and tie a ribbon around the top.
   
   

4. Ornaments: You can make ornaments by doing small embroideries and framing them with mini embroidery hoops like these circles or these oval ones. Other ideas for ornaments are painting wood discs, or using colored air dry clay. 
   
   

5. Calendula balm: Use homemade calendula oil to create a balm. Package it in an attractive tin.
   
   

6. Playlist: In the old days, making a mix tape for someone was a big deal, and the same is true these days of making a playlist. Take time to choose meaningful songs, and the recipient will feel the love.
   
   

7. Wreath: With a wreath form, some floral tape, and dried flowers, you can put together a beautiful wreath for any season.
   
   

8. Tea: Make your own teabags using cloth drawstring sachets and homegrown or purchased dried herbs. Mountain Rose Herbs is my first choice when buying herbs. If disposable tea bags aren’t for you, mix your desired herbs and gift them in a Ball mason jar with a pretty reusable lid. 
   
   

9. Cookies: Who doesn’t want to get cookies? No one, that’s who. Package them in a compostable paper box or a reusable tin.
   
   

10. Plants: Take cuttings from your own houseplants, root, and pot up in a bowl, cup, or pot from the thrift store.
    
    

11. Cloth napkins: Use fabric scraps or repurposed fabrics to create cloth napkins
    
    

12. Beeswax wraps: Mountain Rose Herbs has instructions for how to make the very best beeswax wraps.
    
    

13. Rope baskets: Check out Happiness is Homemade for step-by-step instructions on making rope baskets, without sewing a stitch.
    
    

14. Hand warmers: Simply sew two pieces of fabric together to form the shape you want, then fill it with rice to make hand warmers that can be heated in the microwave.
    
    

15. Sugar scrub: Mix ½ cup coconut oil with ¼ cup sugar for a simple sugar scrub. Package it in a glass jar, like these from Mountain Rose Herbs.
    
    

16. Jelly: Homemade preserves are always appreciated! Get your Christmas gift-making done in summer and have more time for fun in December.
    
    

17. Granola: Follow my recipe for homemade granola.
    
    

18. Peanut brittle: Peanut brittle can be made in the microwave, making it a great gift idea to do with kids.
    
    

19. Write a story or poem: Give a little piece of yourself by writing something just for them.
    
    

20. Bind a journal: Binding paper can be done by beginners. Check out Skill Share for instructions. 
    
    

21. Knit a mug cozy: Ravelry hosts endless options of styles that are free to download.
    
    

22. Homemade game: Make a homemade board game. Think creatively – pretty pebbles make good pieces to move around the board, and sturdy cardboard can be used for the board itself.
    
    

23. Pendant: Make a pendant with polymer clay, and hang it on a pretty ribbon.
    
    

24. Macramé: A macramé hanging plant holder is a classic, and doesn’t need to be too complicated. Check out Sarah Maker’s simple tutorial.

25. Affirmation cards: Everyone could use some good thoughts to brighten their days. Use colored, blank index cards or pretty bits of decorative paper to share some.
    
    

26. Marbled greeting cards: Marbling paper is simple, fun, and only slightly messy.
    
    

27. Soap: You can make cold processed soap using lye, or create bars of soap with the melt and pour method, which uses a premade soap base.
    
    

28. Bookmarks: Use decorative or marbled paper and add ribbons, tassels, or other pretty bits and bobs.
    
    

29. Keychains:  Drill a hole in a good-looking, small rock or a sanded tree branch to make your own keychains.
    
    

30. Scrunchie: Scrunchies are a great beginner sewing project.
    
    

31. Stenciled tote bag: A simple white tote, some paints, a stencil and a sponge are all that’s needed to make a custom tote bag.
    
    

32. Ring bowl:  Make a small ring bowl using white air dry clay. Once it’s dry, paint it however you’d like.
    
    

33. Decorated glass: Use glass markers to decorate vases, glasses, or bowls.
    
    

34. Walking stick: Search out a stick of the right length, with a bit of a curve on one end. Sand until smooth and apply mineral oil.
    
    

35. Washi tape headbands: Check out The Crafting Chicks for instructions to make washi tape headbands. 
    
    

36. Bath tea: For a relaxing gift, make Pumpkin and Princess’ bath tea.
    
    

37. No-sew flannel scarf: This no-sew flannel scarf is simple enough for anyone to make.
    
    

38. Lavender eye pillow: Sew two pieces of fabric together and fill with lavender buds for a soothing, sleepiness inducing eye pillow.
    
    

39. Seeds: Save seeds from your summer garden and package in homemade paper envelopes. 
    
    

40. Pressed flower tray: Use craft glue to carefully apply your pressed flowers to a wooden tray. Arrange them in the way you’d like, then pick each flower up one at a time, brush it with glue, and put it back in position. When everything is placed, use Mod Podge to give it a clear finish.
    
    

41. Terrarium: Use a glass container and small plants and mosses to create a terrarium.
    
    

42. Recipes: Create a box of hand-written recipes to share.
    
    

43. Mittens: Use felted sweaters to make mittens by cutting to shape and sewing.
    
    

44. Chocolate covered spoons: Make delicious chocolate-covered spoons using this Betty Crocker recipe
    
    

45. Peppermint bark: All you need for this project is chocolate melted in the microwave and crushed up candy canes. Spread the melted chocolate on parchment paper and sprinkle with candy.
    
    

46. Butter: Impress someone with homemade butter. No one needs to know all you had to do was use a mixer to beat cream and add a little salt.
    
    

47. Decoupage soap: Count on Mod Podge to think of every possible item that can be decoupaged! 
    
    

48. Hot chocolate bomb:  Throw some chocolate their way with this recipe from One Good Thing.
    
    

49. Jersey knit bracelet: This is a neat way to repurpose t-shirts
    
    

50. Chalkboard coffee mug: Martha Stewart has a very simple idea for adding some individuality to a coffee mug.