Gifts from the garden

Story by AB Bishop

Homemade gifts promote creativity and sustainability, and are usually budget-friendly. Here are some tasty gift ideas using ingredients from the garden.

Flower and herb pots

Give the gift of potential with a flower or herb pot. You can grow them from seed, but if you’re time-poor (it is the festive season, after all), buy punnets of small seedlings. Small punnets cost under $5 and usually hold six-to-eight seedlings. Large punnets are even more economical. Tubes of single plants from native-plant nurseries are $4-ish.

Jars of picked veg

Small jars of pickled vegies might just be the perfect festive season gift! They fit easily into a picnic basket, and taste as good as they look, bringing tangy flavours to the charcuterie board. Use any vegies and whatever herbs and spices you have. Let recipients know to eat them within two to three weeks.

Herb butter

Herb butter is a snap to make using any fresh herbs. It lasts for up to a month in the fridge (slice and freeze for up to three months). Pop a piece onto barbecued meat or vegies, or any hot meal, or spread on delicious fresh bread.