The Harrowsmith team has rounded up our top sustainable gift picks for 2024 – because giving back to the planet can be just as fun as giving to your loved ones.
I fell in love with L’Occitane en Provence products when I was fortunate to travel to Europe with my husband’s family many years ago. Not only are do they have their B CORPTM certification, I am transported back to the south of France every time I wash my face. However, it is this hand scrub that is a game changer—perfect for the gardener in your family.”
– Karine Ewart, editor-in-chief
Shea One-Minute Hand Scrub, $16.50, loccitane.com
“This is a great gift idea for anyone with dogs.”
– Yolanda Thornton, publisher
Power Cap Unisex LED Hands Free Beanie Toque, $27, marks.com
Speaking of pooches: Head over to our No-Fail Dog Biscuit recipe!
“I would like to recommend a company called NoMiNoU out of B.C. The company uses recycled plastics and other mindful materials to create their clothes. The leggings are the best I have ever purchased. High-quality fabric, stitching and finishing.”
– Madeleine Hague, contributor
Tundra Legging, $120 nomidesigns.ca
These adorable mini-beeswax food wraps are perfect for wrapping leftovers, small bits of kitchen prep and the butter on your countertop. They are great stocking stuffers or workplace Secret Santa gifts. They come in several whimsical patterns; I think the Market Fresh Print is my favourite.”
– Chef ILona Daniel, food editor
Reusable food wraps, $13,50 for the mini set.
mindyourbeeswraps.com
From our Friends at Farm Boy™
Perfect for any coffee lover, these locally roasted, organic, free-trade beans are delivered to stores weekly, so they’re always fresh. Farm Boy™ Whole Bean Coffee, prices vary, farmboy.ca
“Nothing sustains me better than my annual garlic bulb purchase. (Veseys carry some of the best seeds.)
Garlic grows and stores well, and almost never lets you down…and it tastes wonderful! Garlic sustains us and connects us to the land. If Eaton’s was the anchor store in the shopping mall, garlic is the anchor of the garden.”
– Michael Schultz, contributor
Most public libraries in Canada offer free seeds in the spring! If you don’t have a library close to you, you could start a seed exchange with your neighbours. Better yet, host a seed gift exchange during the holiday season. If all else fails, head to your local nursery.
“Vancouver’s Winterluxe recycled cashmere mittens are a luxurious gift made from recycled cashmere sweaters. I bought a pair at the One of a Kind Show a few years ago. So pretty and really cozy, but not at all bulky.”
– Meredith MacKinlay, creative director
Recycled cashmere mittens, $40
winterluxe-recycled-cashmere.myshopify.com
“I love the idea of recycling old skis and snowboards to give as gifts. It lets you build something useful and it also tells a story about when you bought the skis and the adventures you had with them, as well as the importance of recycling. I had friends who made a “shots ski!” I’ve participated in this activity at weddings, winter parties, etc. Lots of fun! You can use any drink you want.”
– Heidi Welker, business strategy specialist
“I am a big fan of Ortovox, the European outdoor and mountain gear apparel and gear producer. I wear their clothes on all my karibu tours. They are sustainably produced from the ground up and their gear and designs are incredible. I love their commitment to animal welfare, and they only use 100 per cent sustainable merino wool for all their clothes. This is my favourite hoodie!”
– Andrea Mandel-Campbell, contributor
Fleece light hoodie in Pacific Green, $270
ortovox.com
“I discovered refilleries when I was at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., but unfortunately learned that some people (including my friends and fellow students) tend to shy away from them. While the environmental payoff is immediate, some find the financial investment a bit daunting at first. Now that I have graduated, I love giving gift cards from local refilleries to my loved ones to help them get started on their journeys.”
– Milla Ewart, editorial assistant
“My daughter Heather owns Food and Shelter Goods, a company dedicated to handmade, sustainable items, including the Slow Living Subscription Box, on her website. One of our personal favourites is this wooden coffee maker handmade in Toronto, using locally sourced FSC-certified wood milled in Ontario. A great gift for campers, travellers or any java-loving friend, especially if paired with locally roasted coffee.”
– Mark Cullen, gardening editor
Pour Over Coffee Maker, $84
foodandsheltergoods.com
