It may seem silly to talk about Christmas gifts in the middle of Julyyet, it makes perfect sense! Nature is most generous during the summer and I can’t count how many times I’ve said “I should give one to my parents or my friends” while I was making jam or preserves.

Homemade Christmas gifts are sustainable!

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel there are more and more people stepping away from the overconsumerism that surrounds Christmas. Hence, homemade gifts are getting popular again. Yay! You can always find good last minute DIY present ideas or shop for sustainable gifts any time of the year, yes. But you can also prepare your gifts now. I gathered a few ideas that I have already made or plan on making soon.

Houseplants as Christmas gifts

This one may not be for everyone, but if you have a plant aficionado around you, you can grow a plant yourself from cuttings or from seed. It should be big enough by Christmas.

Jam, marmelade, syrups and fruit pastes 

Strawberry jam, redcurrant jelly, mint syrup, quince paste… These homemade treats may feel boring if you grew up with a garden and fruits by the kilos like I did, but I am biased. Keep in mind that tasty berries and perfectly ripe fruit is a luxury in the city. From what I remember, people were always super happy when my mom gave them some. Besides, you can get super creative when it comes to flavours and even include herbs in your creations.

Pickles and preserves make great Christmas gifts 

Same thing here. Not everyone has a garden and even if they do, they rarely grow the same fruits and veggies. If done right, pickles are delicious and fruit preserves are a great way to enjoy summer flavours in the middle of winter.

Fruit wine and homemade liquor

This takes time to make and hard to find on the market, which makes it a pretty unique gift but most importantly, it tastes delicious! To make your own booze, you can either directly ferment the fruits like you do with with rhubarb or redcurrant or you can soak them in alcohol.

Dried fruits and vegetables make creative Christmas gifts

image via sustainable cooks

The name speaks for itself. It can be classics like apple chips or sun-dried tomatoes or why not something a little more exotic like chillies. In order to make them you can either use a dehydrator or your good old oven

Herbal tea and dried flowers for cocktails for a classic Christmas gift

Who doesn’t like rosebuds in their gin & tonic or a good camomille tea before bed? All you have to do it pick some plants, dry them and find a nice container.

Infused vinegars and oils for sophisticated palates

How do you pimp a salad? Take some white wine vinegar and soak edible flowers that smell good in it for a week or two. If you’re not so much into vinegar, you can also do this with herbs like basil or rosemary in olive oil.

Flavoured salt and dried herbs

Got a herb garden? How about making your own spice mix? Just dry and grind them to create your own blend or mix a with quality salt. Use 3 parts salt for one part spices.

Pressed flowers always look great

image via FloralCollage

Nature is beautiful during the summer so why not harvest flowers and foliage and press them? You probably have an old frame somewhere or you can always find one in a thrift shop

DIY seed bombs are fun to make and fun to use

I saved my favourite for last. Seed bombs are fun and you can make them very easily by harvesting wildflower seeds yourself and using paper you have at home. If you click on the picture, you will see a very easy recipe.

These are only a few ideas to prepare in advance. When the time comes you can always decide to combine a few different things to create a gift hamper and even add fresh cookies or thrifted items. And remember, it’s the intention that counts!