Hoe Hoe Hoe, the season for giving is almost upon us!
A few years ago when I had a ‘normal’ job as well as a seedling flower farm, my husband bought me a rotavator for Christmas - it’s yellow and built in 1983, still in good working order and still a very prized item. When I went back to work and talk turned to Christmas gifts, my present was greeted with astonishment, to the extent that a colleague said she’d leave her husband if he did anything so outrageous. I was a bit puzzled, if quite amused. It was the perfect gift for me, though not at the top of anyone else’s list. Flower farmers generally have slightly different taste in festive treats to other professions!
We don’t want just more stuff, but lovely sustainable gifts are always appreciated. If anyone needs any ideas for this season of good will, here are a few suggestions for the flower farmer in your life:
Anything from Turtle Doves - recycled cashmere woollen gloves, hats and scarves made in the UK. We work outside in all weathers, cashmere is not a luxury it’s a necessity. Oh yes it is!
Lovely scented bath oil - the only way to get properly warmed up after a long day in the cold. Carol’s favourite is Olverum and is based on Eucalyptus.
A massage subscription - to keep us moving and ease aching muscles
A seasonal cookbook - to make use of any fruit, veg or herbs we grow, and also keep us healthy. A pledge to cook some of the recipes would also be a delicious gift!
An inspiring garden design book, with lots of pictures, possibly by Dan Pearson
A beautiful handmade notebook
A gift voucher for a workshop place - willow weaving, ikebana, silk dyeing, tile-making, something creative but practical
A natural dyeing workshop?
And then there are the things that you’d like for your business, but maybe you just can’t justify yet. Claire’s lists have had Propagators, Gro lights, and greenhouse accessories for the last few years, or maybe that piece of machinery that you need like my rotavator. Plus don’t forget you can never have too many flower farming / floristry books.
Christmas falls conveniently at the perfect time of year for most of these ideas - there aren’t many things we enjoy more than planning and preparing for spring, while keeping warm and mobile during the cold dark days of winter.