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12 BEST Sustainable New Years Decorations & Party Ideas

Today on my blog, I’m sharing my 12 best ideas for sustainable New Years decorations for people who are excited to throw a New Years Eve party, but don’t know where to start! Here at PunkMed, I try to share my real world approaches to being more eco-friendly and sustainable, while also avoiding over-complicating things.

This blog post is all about sustainable New Years decorations.

I’m Your Eco-Friendly BFF, Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! From my homebase in Boston, Massachusetts, my team and I share my best tips, tutorials and recommendations in the areas of sustainability (including eco-friendly decoration ideas!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Think of me as your eco-friendly BFF, someone who shares helpful and actionable tips and advice–all while remaining non judgemental and supportive. I get that trying to incorporate more sustainable practices in your life can be overwhelming, and I’m here to help you along.

Hi, I’m Leslie (she/her). I hope you find helpful ideas for your sustainable New Years party decor on my blog today.

Sustainable New Years Decorations

When we talk about sustainability, people often have this idea that you can only be a “sustainable person” if you only eat granola, sew your own clothes (and dye them using vegetable dyes), and avoid buying anything.

And, while watching out for over-consumption is important, I want you to know that there are other ways to be more sustainable in your life that don’t require that you live a monastic life. One of the things you can watch out for is being able to REUSE items more than once, and avoid buying items that are single use.

This can be a bit more difficult when it comes to New Years decorations, which is why I’ve written this post!

Alright, let’s get to it!

#1 Sustainable New Years Decorations: High Quality Tassel Garlands

Sustainable New Years Decorations

Looking at various options for New Years decorations, the pickings are not sustainable–latex and shiny plastic abound!

So, if you know that  you want to host New Years Eve parties (and other celebrations!) for years to come, then I recommend investing in a higher end tassel garland that’s ethically made!  We don’t want to lose the pizzazz and sparkle of NYE, but we can be a bit more thoughtful as we go about it.

I love that MementosEvents can make a NYE garland in whatever colors you choose (including gold!), that can be used for years to come (as long as it’s stored properly).

Snag this sustainable New Years decor here!

#2 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Reuse Christmas Wrapping & Decor

Sustainable New Years Decorations

This second sustainable New Year’s decor idea may raise some eyebrows, but hear me out!

While I love using eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper, I know it wouldn’t be very kind of me to stipulate that people only give ME gifts using it. (Will I strategically give out rolls of recycled Christmas wrapping paper in the future? Perhaps!)

If you celebrate Christmas, you can strategically snag various wrapping paper bits (especially bows and ribbons!) and get creative with them for NYE decorations!

From cutting out your own tassel garland to your own pennant flags, there are a lot of DIY party decor ideas out there!

Another (related!) option is to poll your besties and see what New Years decor they’ve already purchased. Many people find themselves hosting or have a box of party decor ready to go! Getting creative with your decor–and co-planning decor with your friends–can be fun!

#3 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Wood or Cardstock Signs

Sustainable New Years Decorations

I know I keep harping on one-use New Years Decor–sorry not sorry!  Thinking over different options for New Years decor, I realized that one could easily buy a New Years celebratory sign like this one. You could use it as both home decor and party decor (love that), and then store it knowing it will look great in the years to come–unlike plastic decorations that can get awkwardly crumpled!

Check out this sustainable New Years decoration here!

#4 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Reusable Backdrop

PartyDelight Sparkly Gold Sequin Backdrop, Photography, Christmas Backdrop, 6Ft x 6Ft

For my next sustainable New Years decorations idea, I’d like to suggest getting a photo backdrop (we love NYE selfies), but, instead of getting a backdrop with the year (ex: 2023), I recommend that you get a backdrop you can use for the next few years!

Even better if the backdrop can be used for other get-togethers during the year!

I avoid getting New Years Eve party favors that have the year on them, because they’re single use! With this simple change, you can have a more sustainable New Years Eve celebration.

Check out this sustainable New Years decoration here!

#5 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Break Out the Fancy Dinnerware & Flatware

Most New Years Eve celebrations that I’ve attended have had plastic flatware. There’s something about throwing a party in the USA that makes people think you have to break out the plastic.

It’s so ingrained in us!

Instead of doing that, I encourage you to get out regular silverware for people to use (place settings can also help) to avoid using plastic forks, knives, spoons, etc.

And, if you received fancy dinnerware for your wedding (my sustainable wedding tips here!), then I encourage you to actually break out the fine china and use it! Life is short, friend!

#6 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Skip Tinsel and Go for Beads!

Glitter String Curtains - 2 Pack - 200 Strands of Gold Sequin Glittering Joy - Glamourous Doorway and Room Divider For Sparkling Beaded Curtain Look - 79x39 Day/Night/Party Decor to Dazzle Guests

We all love the bright tinsel that is used during the holiday season, but this type of New Years party decor really only lasts for one night!

It tears so easily!

Instead of buying a tinsel curtain, I recommend finding a beaded curtain. It’s the same aesthetic (and fun to walk through!) and can be used for years to come.

Get this sustainable New Years decoration here!

#7 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Reusable Confetti Cannon

Ultimate Confetti Reusable Confetti Cannon Refill, 1/4 Pound Confetti Metallic, Gold

Ok, I’ll be honest–before writing this blog post, I didn’t realize that one could buy a confetti cannon?!

The things you learn on the internet!

And, not only can you buy a confetti cannon, you can get a confetti cannon that is reusable! With a reusable confetti cannon, you can celebrate midnight on NYE for years to come!

And if you’re looking for more sustainable confetti ideas, have your guests throw wildflower seeds or lavender confetti, or even shake eco-friendly streamers.

Get this sustainable New Years decoration here!

#8 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Biodegradable Streamers

Sustainable New Years Decorations

Ok, not everyone loves to twirl streamers for a New Years Eve celebration, but I think they’re fun!

What I don’t love is seeing crepe paper all crumpled up the next day and thrown in the trash, knowing it’s filling our landfills.

Luckily, for those who MUST have crepe paper at their NYE party, there’s a biodegradable option from Party Connoisseur!

Shop this sustainable New Years decoration here!

#9 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Compostable Dinnerware & Flatware

250 Piece Compostable Paper Plates Set with Extra Long Utensils, Sugarcane Fibers Disposable Dinnerware Set, Eco Friendly Biodegradable Plates, Spoons, Forks and Knives for Party, Camping, Picnic

Ok, sometimes you’re the well-meaning guest at a New Years Eve party, and because you’re not hosting – you can’t really demand that the host use actual dishes and flatware.

In these situations, I go for a “more green” choice, which means choosing something that isn’t optimal, but is better than what we’ve been doing.

In this case, choosing biodegradable paper dinnerware, over heavily bleached options!

Shop this sustainable New Years idea here!

#10 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Thrift Champagne Glasses

My next sustainable New Years idea was inspired by photos I saw of a sustainable wedding (I wish I had saved that link!).

For the champagne toast, the sustainability-minded couple thrifted champagne glasses – and each guest had a unique champagne glass! Guests loved this idea, and it made for some pretty lovely pictures!

This is a great option instead of using disposable plastic champagne flutes or cups!

#11 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Replace Balloons with a Bubble Machine

Bubble Machine, Automatic Bubble Blower Electronics 18000+ Bubbles Per Minute Bubble Maker for Kids with 2 Speeds, 8 Wands,Plug-in or Batteries Bubbles Toy for Outdoor/Indoor Party Birthday (Black)

It’s a bummer that there aren’t really truly eco-friendly balloon options! Don’t believe the marketing behind balloons – after doing a bit of online research, you’ll also likely realize that balloons just aren’t good for the environment.

But, in the spirit of creative solutions, what if we replaced balloons with a bubble machine?

A bubble machine (or even bubble wands made out of dry cleaner hangers!) will provide much more joy and fun at your sustainable New Years Eve party than latex balloons!

Check out this sustainable New Years Eve decoration idea here!

#12 Sustainable New Years Decorations: Have Guests Bring Their Pyrex!

Pyrex Simply Store 5-Pack (3,4 & 6-Cup) Mixed Sized Glass Food Storage Set, Round & Rectangular Containers With Lids, BPA-Free, Dishwasher & Microwave Safe

One of the toughest parts about planning a sustainable New Years Eve celebration is figuring out how much food to order.

And, while you know I love my counter compost caddy, I’d much rather folks eat the food!

For this reason, I recommend inviting and reminding guests to bring their own (reusable!) food container, so they can take a few goodies home with them to enjoy!

My favorite reusable food containers are here!


This blog post was all about sustainable New Years decorations.

Check out these helpful sustainability guides next:

Looking for more helpful sustainable living tips? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts that are packed with the very eco-friendly ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for learning how to be more eco-friendly in the new year! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and tips for sustainable living.

11 Best Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper to Shop

Today on my blog, I’m sharing the very best eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper to shop online. Eco-friendly wrapping paper is such a critical part to a more sustainable Christmas! Here at PunkMed, we believe in living life to the fullest–fully enjoying the holidays–while also doing our best to reduce our impact on the planet.

This blog post is all about eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper.

Hi there! I’m Leslie

I’m Leslie, the founder of PunkMed! I live with my husband in Boston, Massachusetts, where I enjoy urban homesteading (I love to garden), sustainable fashion and, this month, celebrating the holidays in an eco-friendly way. On PunkMed, I and my team share my best tips, tutorials and recommendations in the areas of sustainability (including thoughtful gift ideas!), non-toxic products, and outdoor living. My goal is to make it less overwhelming for you to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

In today’s post, I’m sharing a list of eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper. My team and I came up with this idea, after we were talking about the MOUNTAINS of paper that are made each Christmas morning.

Also, really quickly, I just want to say: As you read this list, please do not give into the temptation to throw out your current (not so eco-friendly) wrapping paper! You’ve already purchased it, so be sure to use the remainder of that up.

Let’s get into talking about ALL things eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper!

Hi, I’m Leslie (she/her). I hope you find the best eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper below!

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper

At PunkMed, we like to share with you the type of information we look for when creating a shopping guide. My blog post guide focuses on eco-friendly wrapping paper, but there are a few ways we can define “eco-friendly.”

Also, as a special note, I can’t personally vouch for ALL of the different options for eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper that have been listed. That would be a lot of wrapping paper to try! . 😉 However, I have used my years of experience celebrating Christmas in a sustainable manner, to put together this super helpful list of eco-friendly wrapping paper options.

Watch out for tape!

All of our eco-friendly and sustainable Christmas efforts will go to waste if you use non-recyclable tape on recyclable wrapping paper!

It’s kind of like when people fail to wash out their cans and plastic bottles for recycling–tape can often result in the item not being recycled!

Be sure to use recyclable tape when wrapping your gifts with eco-friendly wrapping paper!

#1 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Compostable Wrapping Paper with Soy Inks

Drunk Santa Claus Christmas Wrapping Paper | Eco-Friendly, Recyclable Gift Wrap for Drink Lovers | Double-Sided Newspaper Design with Gift Tags | Biodegradable, Compostable, Soy-Based Ink

First up on my list of eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper, the finish on this sustainable wrapping paper caught my eye! Doing a bit more digging, I was excited to see that this eco Christmas paper is compostable (I love all things compost, see my guide here!)

This eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper comes in flat sheets (much easier to store than rolls) and is REVERSIBLE! I love that. In some families, you can designate a specific kind of wrapping paper per each person, which I think is so fun!

Product Specifications:

  • Environmentally Green Newsprint on Quality Newspaper Presses
  • Eco-Friendly, Recyclable, and Compostable
  • Soy-based Natural Inks & Biodegradable Packaging
  • Made in the United States of America (USA)
  • Double-Sided, Two Designs in One: Santa’s Party & Empty Champagne Bottles
  • 3 Large Folded Sheets (21.5″ x 34″ unfolded)

Shop this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#2 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Recyclable Wrapping Paper

The Doodle Factory Set of 10 Christmas Gift Wrapping Paper with Tags - Eco Friendly, Made in UK, 100% Recyclable -Designed for Women Men and Children

I have burst the bubble on a number of people when I share that most Christmas wrapping paper you get at the store is *not* recyclable. Fortunately, you can buy specially made eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper that is recyclable, like this fun Christmas paper from The Doodle Factory!

I love the vintage-inspired wrapping paper, and it was designed in London!

Product Specifications

  • Total Number of Sheets: 10 sheets of Christmas themed gift wrapping paper with matching tags.
  • Sheet Size: 50cm x 70cm 1
  • Eco Details: Paper made in the UK on 100% recycled paper. Plastic wrap made from eco-friendly, biodegradable compostable plastic substitute.

Buy this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#3 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Recyclable Rolls of Paper from Hallmark

Hallmark Recyclable Christmas Wrapping Paper for Kids with Cut Lines on Reverse (4 Rolls: 88 sq. ft. ttl) Kraft Brown with Christmas Lights, Deer, Snowflakes, Red, Green, Blue Stripes (0005JXW1212)

Next up, I wanted to be sure to include eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper that is on ROLLS. A number of the other options in my guide feature wrapping paper that has been folded (for easier shipping), and not everyone prefers to iron their wrapping paper!

Product Specifications

  • Total Number of Sheets: 4 rolls
  • Sheet Size: 88 sq ft (total of all rolls)
  • Eco Details: Crafted from high-quality paper materials, Hallmark’s eco friendly wrapping paper is made with paper from well-managed forests. Give a gift to the environment this holiday with sustainable kraft wrapping paper that can be recycled

Get this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#4 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Already Recycled Christmas Wrapping Paper

SmoTecQ Christmas Gift Wrapping Paper, Made from Recycled Kraft Paper, 10 Pack 70X50CM Folded Sheets with 10 Gift Tags

For the next item on my list of eco-friendly wrapping paper, I thought it would be fun to include this Christmas wrapping paper. Unlike other items on this list that are easily recycled, this eco Christmas wrapping paper was made FROM recycled craft paper. Put another way, it’s already been recycled!

Product Specifications:

  • Total Number of Sheets: 10
  • Sheet Size: 27.5 x 20 inches (70×50 cm)
  • Paper comes folded

Purchase this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#5 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: DIY Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

Bryco Goods 18' x 1,200' Brown Kraft Packing Paper - Versatile for Different Arts and Crafts Projects - Pin Up Your Work Or School Notes - Create Vision Board for Your Bedroom - Everything in A Roll

Ok, this next option for eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper is a bit of extra work, at least in my experience!

You can snag a roll of biodegradable paper, and then use plant-based inks to decorate the paper! This is a great activity to do at a family Christmas party or while watching Christmas movies with your partner. 

Here’s what you need:

Please note that plant-based ink takes a bit longer to dry than regular inks! While this can be a little annoying, we want to be sure to use plant-based inks so the paper can be recycled.

Shop this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#6 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Fabric Wrapping Paper from Fab Rap Shop

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper presents wrapped in red and blue Christmas fabric

Next up, I wanted to share even MORE sustainable Christmas wrapping paper.

And that involves skipping paper ENTIRELY, and going for fabric!

Fabric wrapping paper is eco-friendly in that your recipient can still unwrap their gift–but instead of using it once, you can use it for years to come! You can even GIFT this eco-friendly wrapping paper this Christmas, wrapping a gift in it, with the added bonus of your recipient now being able to be a bit more eco-friendly for next year!

Buy this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#7 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Fabric Gift Bags

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper - 3 gifts wrapped in different holiday fabric with red bows

My next eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper idea is also fabric, except this time, we’re using bags!

I love how Kari Smyth Design on etsy added bows to their sustainable Christmas bags, making it more fun for the recipient to open!

From the shop: “It’s a ReWrap! Made by moms for moms to make the holidays easier for them and better for the environment. Each perfectly imperfect bag is stitched with love by a mom near the stunning shores of North Lake Tahoe.”

Get this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#8 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Seed Paper

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper - Seed Paper with Pine Trees

Ok, this next eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper option blew my mind! This Christmas wrapping paper is compostable (we love that), and it has seeds embedded in it!

Come spring, you can take your wrapping paper out into nature and plant some wildflower seeds! How cool is that?!

Product Specifications:

  • Sheet Size: Each sheet measures 20 inches by 30 inches with a full deckle edge.

Purchase this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#9 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Check Your Local Thrift Store

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper - woman wrapping presents

It may sound kind of silly, but many thrift stores are inundated with Christmas decor. From Christmas pajamas worn once or twice to donations of Christmas ribbon and other wrapping.

It can be hit or miss (not all thrift stores even accept donations of Christmas decor), but it never hurts to pop in! You may be able to at least snag some Christmas ribbon for your presents that you can save from a landfill, and use for years to come!

#10 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Personalized Santa Gift Sacks

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper - red fabric sacks with monogrammed names and a reindeer flying

This next eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper is another alternative to paper, featuring personalized bags. Adding a bit of personalization can help younger (and sometimes senior) family members get a bit more excited about going sans traditional wrapping paper.

From the maker: “Personalized Santa Sack for the special people in your life. Fill it with Christmas gifts and leave under the tree to open on Christmas Day, or personalize for a special Christmas Eve treat bag. These are beautiful quality 100% cotton that you can use year after year.”

Buy this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

#11 Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper: Vintage Silk Scarf

Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Paper - woman holding up a green and cream silk scarf

I debated including this last (well, close to last!) eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper idea, but I decided to just go for it!

For fashionistas, especially those who love vintage fashion, you can surprise them by wrapping their gift in a red or green vintage silk scarf. They’ll be absolutely delighted when they realize they have two gifts in one!

Get this eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper here!

This blog post was all about eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper.


Read these eco-friendly Christmas guides next!!

Looking for more helpful ideas and tips for an eco-friendly Christmas? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts that are packed with the very best gift ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for finding eco-friendly ideas for the holiday and the new year! Join me on Pinterest here to get all of my gift guides and tips for sustainable living.

13 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions in 2024 | Best Ideas for You!

Today on my blog, I’m sharing 13 eco-friendly New Year resolutions for people who want to be more sustainable in 2024, but don’t know where to start. Here at PunkMed, I try to share my real world approaches to being more eco-friendly and sustainable, while also avoiding over-complicating things.

I know you actually WANT to act on your eco-friendly New Year resolutions, but we both know the more simple a resolution–the more likely you are to do it!

This blog post is all about eco-friendly new years resolutions

I’m Your Eco-Friendly BFF, Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! Based in Boston, Massachusetts, my team and I share my best tips, tutorials and recommendations in the areas of sustainability (including eco-friendly new year tips!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Think of me as your eco-friendly BFF, someone who shares helpful and actionable tips and advice–all while remaining non judgmental and supportive, as you figure things out. I’m certainly not perfect!

Hi, I’m Leslie (she/her). I hope you find helpful eco-friendly new years resolution ideas on my blog today.

Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions

In today’s post, I’m sharing different options for eco-friendly New Year resolutions.  My goal with this blog post is to present different *OPTIONS* for you to choose from, and I don’t think you should try to tackle all 14 of these at once.

That would be super overwhelming.

Instead, I encourage you to read through the whole post, and maybe check out a few of the linked resources. Then, when you’re finished reading, I encourage you to choose the resolution that feels EASIEST. When endeavoring to be more eco-friendly in the new year, I get that some folks want to be super, “hardcore,” shall we say, but it’s actually better if you start with one habit to start out your more sustainable new year, and then slowly add on other habits.

In fact, I recommend that you put a reminder in your calendar (I use Google calendar), to come back to this post every month or so and *add* a habit, if you’d like! This way, you can ramp up your sustainable new year resolutions over all of 2024. That way, you can avoid burnout.

Let’s get into it!

#1 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Swap Out Your Paper Towels

woman-cleaning-kitchen-countertop

Ok, to get my fun guide to eco-friendly New Year resolutions started, I wanted to start with something SUPER simple and easy to do. This resolution could be part of a larger “zero waste new years resolution,” but it also works as its own eco resolution!

In the United States, most households use a TON of paper towels. Some of my besties who are trying to be more green in 2024 have confessed to me that they go through 2 or 3 paper towel rolls in ONE week.

That’s a lot of trees, my friend!

But, instead of feeling bad and super guilty about this, we can instead choose a new path!

There are a few different options for this eco New Year resolution, so here are some ideas:

  • Get a roll of reusable paper towels, like this one, and then have a little basket under the sink for dirty ones. Every week or so, you can snag this basket when you wash towels!
  • If you know your family will NOT go for using cotton or reusable paper towels, try swapping out your disposable paper towels for a more eco-friendly alternative, like these recycled paper towels.

Finally, I’ve found that just by putting the paper towel roll *inside of* a cabinet, it gets used less. (I may be guilty of doing this during family holidays, shhh.) If paper towels aren’t readily available, people will often use a sponge or a dish rag!

#2 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Tackle One Room a Month

Ok, my next eco-friendly new year resolution is a BIT more involved, but it’s still pretty fun! Instead of trying to figure out how to be more sustainable or eco-friendly in your ENTIRE house starting Jan 1 (or whenever you start your new year resolutions), you can go room by room!

Every month in the first part of 2024, or every season (every 3-4 months), you can tackle a room in your house with the goal of making it more eco-friendly and sustainable.

From using eco-friendly products in your laundry, to tackling your backyard garden you’ve never really used–going room by room is more sustainable energetically AND a great sustainable new year resolution.

This process can look a variety of ways, but here are a few posts I’ve written from my own experience that you may find helpful:

Now, before you get overwhelmed (or overly excited, then burnt out!), remember that the goal here is small steps to lead a more sustainable life. You know that saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Well, neither is an eco-friendly home! Start small, where you are, and slowly build on past progress!

By 2024, you could totally transform your home–by going slowly and sustainably! 

#3 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Get a Counter Compost Caddy

Norpro 1 Gallon Stainless Steel Compost Keeper, Silver

Ok, this definitely isn’t the EASIEST eco-friendly new year resolution on the list, but I wanted to start with something a bit more out of the box, to get you thinking (and, dare I say, a little excited!).

Kitchen food waste made into compost can be EXCELLENT for your lawn, flowerbeds and vegetable garden (or your neighbor’s, if you’re not into gardening). Unfortunately, Americans throw TONS of perfectly good food into landfills every year, where it can’t be used by Mother Nature.

Instead of throwing away food scraps (or that bag of spinach you forgot about), you can put it in a sleek compost caddy, and then return those great nutrients to the earth.

Last year, I wrote this guide to compost caddies if you want to learn what’s out there, or you can just act on my top rec and snag the BEST kitchen compost caddy here!

#4 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Give Only “Green” Gifts

For the next easy eco-friendly New Year resolutions ideas, I wanted to offer a suggestion that is actually pretty easy to act on.

Make it a point in 2024 to ONLY give sustainable or eco-friendly gifts.

In the United States, we really “vote with our dollars,” and how we spend our money drastically impacts our planet. While it would be overwhelming to go 100% eco-warrior overnight, I think you could easily decide to “greenify” one category in your budget:

What gifts you buy.

I’ve written dozens (seriously, dozens!) of gift guides to help folks find more sustainable gifts, from sustainable gifts for Dad to super specific posts, like sustainable gifts for skincare lovers. By doing just a bit more research (often 2-3 minutes), you can find more sustainable and thoughtful presents for the loved ones in your life.

How we spend our dollars has a ripple effect, and your support of sustainably and ethically made goods is an excellent eco-friendly New Year resolution for the whole year!

#5 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Get Out the Drying Rack

Further down in my listicle guide to eco-friendly New Year resolutions, I share tips on how to make different rooms in your home more sustainable–including your laundry room!

Hang drying your clothes is an EXCELLENT eco New Year resolution for those new to being “eco warriors,” as it solves several problems at once:

  • Using a drying rack can lower your energy bill each month
  • Hang drying clothes can make them last longer (the weave of fabric and fibers gets stressed in a dryer)

Finding a good hanging rack can be hard, but my friend Brianne of The Huntswoman often recommends this drying rack for clothing. She’s piled multiple pairs of jeans, dresses, etc, on this and it hasn’t collapsed on her!

#6 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Add More Sustainable Designers to Your Wardrobe

Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions - test fashion subscription boxes

Ok, I’m going to be honest with you on this one–many sustainability and eco-friendly bloggers talk about how fast fashion is killing the planet (and it is!), but that type of approach usually turns people off and makes them shut down.

Guilting, nagging, lambasting, etc, is not an effective way to create change.

SO, instead of feeling guilty about your past purchases, you can commit to an eco-friendly resolution in 2024 to focus on purchasing more sustainable garments, as well as higher quality garments that can last a long time.

There are dozens of ways you can put this eco-friendly resolution into practice, including:

  • Testing out a fashion subscription company like Nuuly or Rent the Runway, instead of buying statement pieces you won’t wear that often.
  • Allocating a specific percentage of your clothing budget, let’s say 30% or 50%, to buying only gently used clothing on websites like Poshmark–or thrifting IRL!
  • Investing in higher end and quality items for clothing you wear a lot, for example, denim jeans or your winter coat, that you wear a lot.
  • Getting your shoes resoled instead of throwing them away (visiting your neighborhood cobbler can be pretty fun!)

You don’t have to do ALL of these different fashion and clothing eco-friendly new years resolutions, BUT you can pick one or two to start!

And, if you ever need recommendations for a specific eco-friendly fashion brand for a specific item, say bridesmaid dresses or leather jackets, always feel free to send me a DM on Instagram! I’m happy to help.

#7 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Swap Out Your Toxic Cleaning Sprays

Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions - DIY cleaning spray

For my next eco-friendly resolution idea, I wanted to share this guide I wrote on how to make your own all-purpose cleaning spray that is more eco-friendly.

I am NOT one of those people who is going to tell you to go 100% green with your cleaning products (bleach is a pretty cool modern invention!), but I *am* one of those eco-warriors who would argue that you can make a more sustainable option at home!

I wrote this blog post after creating an Instagram Reel with my tips and process. I keep this cleaner on hand for my counters and various surfaces–it’s so easy. (Also, honestly, in my experience, vinegar cleans so many surfaces in my home BETTER than store bought products.)

This is ALSO a really great and easy eco-friendly New Year’s resolution if you want to do it ONCE–and not have to think about it again for months. You can use your new year excitement to make this all purpose cleaner, and then USE IT–no reminders or check ins required.

Check out this post on how to make all-purpose cleaning spray here!

#8 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Start a Vegetable Garden

Ok, friend, if you do not enjoy the outdoors (or even hanging out in the backyard), it’s ok to skip this one! Gardening takes a good amount of time, and it’s ok to enjoy the local farmer’s market if you’re an indoorsy type of person.

If, however, you’ve been wanting to try growing vegetables for years, then starting a garden can be a really great eco-friendly new year resolution!

Not only do you benefit from having healthy vegetables to eat, you can also control the pesticides and other inputs into your garden. Additionally, sometimes our food is shipped across states–even the COUNTRY–to get to us, so growing your own food is a great way to cut down on greenhouse gasses.

I’ve written a number of posts on how to start your own garden, and I’ve listed them in order here:

And here are a few “advanced” posts for people who want to level up their vegetable garden in the new year:

As always, if you have questions about your vegetable garden, feel free to send me a message on Instagram! I’m happy to share my knowledge, as well as point you to other resources if I’m not the expert on your particular question!

#9 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Check Facebook Marketplace FIRST

Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions -use Facebook Marketplace

This next eco-friendly New Year resolution may surprise some people, but hang in there with me!

Disposable furniture and home goods are starting to fill our landfills, for various fascinating reasons. We don’t need to go into those reasons in my guide to eco New Year resolutions, other than to say–instead of buying NEW, see if someone in your neighborhood is selling what you need!

With people moving often for new job opportunities, many people sell furniture and other home goods on Facebook Marketplace. You can often buy gently used furniture for 20% of what it costs new!

Now, I’m a fan of investing in great high quality furniture, but if you’re looking for bookshelves from IKEA or you want to test out an under desk treadmill–Facebook Marketplace is the place to go!

#10 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Put Reusable Bags in Your Purse

This next eco friendly New Year’s resolution may seem obvious, but many people fail to accomplish this sustainability goal because they don’t get specific enough.

In the last few years, various cities and counties have banned plastic bags, because they’re terrible for the environment. Deciding to only shop with reusable bags is a great sustainable New Years resolution. This is a little thing that has a BIG impact!

But how many times have you gotten to the checkout counter, and realized, “Crap! I forgot my bags!”

I hate that feeling!

I’ve tried a few different things to help me remember to bring my reusable bags into the store, including:

  • Instead of storing reusable bags in the trunk, fold them up and put them in the driver’s side door. If they’re where you can see them, you’re more likely to use them!
  • Keep a few of these smaller reusable bag pouches in your purse! These are great for quick runs to Target or Walgreens! 
  • Bonus points: if you’re grocery shopping and want to avoid those plastic produce bags, I like these reusable organic cotton produce bags as a sustainable swap!
  • Remember, it’s ok to go back to your car! When you get your cart the next time you’re at the grocery store, remember–it’ll only take a few moments to go get bags from your car. Plastic bags can take 1,000 years (literally, 1,000 years!) to decompose, and it’s worth a few extra moments to go grab your reusable bags.

#11 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Swap Out Your Makeup Products

Sometimes when it comes to eco-friendly New Year resolutions, I worry that people will dramatically THROW AWAY their non-sustainable products.

But here’s the thing! You’ve already *bought* that product, so it makes sense to finish using it.

The one (ish) exception to this is non-toxic beauty products. If you love doing your makeup each day, then you are likely putting products on your face that could have negative consequences down the road.

A great sustainable New Years resolution for 2024 is to begin swapping out makeup and skincare products for more ethical and sustainable options–that are good for YOU and the environment!

You don’t need to overhaul all of your routines TODAY, but you can get started. Here are a few guides I’ve written on clean beauty to help you with this sustainable resolution:

#12 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Buy Local Meat

Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions - Buy Local Meat

This next eco-friendly New Year resolution may surprise you–but hear me out! Many people, for various health reasons, eat meat.

I’m not going to get into a debate with my vegan and vegetarian readers on this one! <3

If you, like me, eat meat, then this is a great sustainable New Years resolution: Buy your meat locally.

Raising cattle, chickens, etc, can be very inhumane in the United States, as well as lead to problems for people who consume meat from factory farms. A great way to avoid this, and cut down on emissions on shipping meat, is to find a local rancher or farm in your area to support.

Many ranchers or farmers are part of co-ops, and a good number of these businesses deliver meat! (As well as eggs, cheese, produce, etc.)

Shopping local for your meat is a great eco-friendly new year resolution, that can also help small business owners in your community!

P.S. If you live in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or Maine and are looking for a FANTASTIC local meat share I can’t recommend Walden Local Meats enough. 

#13 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions: Encourage Your Office to Be More Sustainable

This eco-friendly New Year resolution may not be doable for everyone, but depending on what your 9-5 is, you can create MASSIVE change with little effort.

Taking a look at your office and department, you could influence choices like:

  • Buying printer paper that’s been recycled
  • Encouraging your work to set up a shredder system where an outside vendor takes paper to be recycled
  • Asking HR or People Ops if it’s possible to set up a composting system in the cafeteria
  • Buying more ethical or eco-friendly corporate gifts
  • Encourage employee swag or new hire gifts to include a nice reusable water bottle
  • Replace low quality branded swag given out at conferences with a donation to a local non-profit

With this sustainable new years resolution, it’s ok to start small! When it comes to this eco New Year resolution, I usually recommend that people approach these changes as being something the customers will like, new hires care about, etc. Unfortunately, “saving the planet” can be a hard business sell.


This blog post was all about eco-friendly new years resolutions

Read these eco-friendly guides next:

Looking for more helpful sustainable living tips? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts that are packed with the very eco-friendly ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for learning how to be more eco-friendly in the new year! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and tips for sustainable living.

15 of My BEST Gardening Gift Ideas for Men

gardening gifts for dad

Today on my blog, I’m sharing 15 gardening gift ideas for men that I think the gardening guy in your life will love. Here at PunkMed, we believe in giving thoughtful gifts that are ethically made and that your recipient will be delighted to receive! 

This blog post is all about gardening gift ideas for men.

Hello there! I’m Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! Based in Boston, Massachusetts, I and my team share my best tips, tutorials and recommendations in the areas of sustainability (including thoughtful gift ideas!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. My goal is to make it less overwhelming for you to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

In today’s post, I’m sharing an array of gardening gift ideas for men. My team and I came up with this idea, after hearing from multiple men in our respective lives that while men can appreciate pink and flowery gardening gifts, it may not be to their particular taste. Despite the gendered language in the title, we encourage you to give the gifts in this post to someone who would love your thoughtfulness, regardless of gender! (Between you and me, I was really thinking of the kinds of gardening gifts to give to the older men in my life, say over 50, who love gardening and urban homesteading.)

If you’d like gifts with a bit more flare and pizzazz, I definitely recommend that you check out 22+ Gardening Gifts for the Green Thumb in Your Life!

Let’s get into it!

Hi, I’m Leslie (she/her). I hope you find the perfect gardening gift on the blog today.

Gardening Gift Ideas for Men:

At PunkMed, we like to share with you, our reader, what type of information we look for when creating a gift guide. This blog focuses on ethical,sustainable, high quality products that are more sturdy.

Hey, we’re all about car camping, kitchen gardening, exploring the outdoors, and well, having a blast getting a little messy! We need sturdy and reliable products to keep up with our love of fun in the great outdoors!

Also, as a special note, because I’m not a man, I can’t vouch for all of these products as gifts for men. 😉 However, I have used my years of experience gardening in the Northeast (plus some input from friends in the Western United States), to put together this rad gift guide for men who garden!

Also, heads up–some of these gifts are for the more hardcore gardener, while others are gifts that are a bit more cheeky for the guy who likes to putz around in his yard while chatting with the neighbors. 

#1 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Auger Drill Bit for Planting

K-Brands Auger Drill Bit for Planting 2 Pack – 1.6 x 16 Inch & 3.5 x 16 Inch Set - Garden Spiral Hole Drill and Bulb Planter Tool - Bedding Plants, Umbrella Holes - 3/8 Inch Hex Drive Drill

Ok, first up on my list of gardening gift ideas for men, we have this auger drill bit for planting. I don’t have one of these myself, but the mom of one of my gardening besties in the Rocky Mountains SWEARS by hers.

This type of tool can help your fave gardener break up soil easier, as well as dig holes more quickly! This is a great gardening gift for the man who loves tech and new gadgets!

From the maker: “While this spiral drill bit is perfect for planting bulbs and bedding plants, as well as shredding up weeds and mixing fertilizer, it’s not just limited to garden work. Easily dig holes for fence posts, ground lights, outdoor torches, and umbrellas – all with one tool.”

Shop this gardening gift for men here.

#2 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Carhartt Mens Suede Work Gloves

Carhartt Men's Suede Work Glove with Safety Cuff, Brown, XX-Large

There are various types of gardening gloves, some meant more for looks and light pruning, and others meant for getting down and dirty.

These gloves from Carhartt are the latter. Carhartt is a trusted brand used by professional farmers across the USA, and these work gloves are perfect for the gardener who is reorganizing his plant beds, building a tool shed, or cutting back trees and shrubbery.

Snag this gardening gift for men here.

#3 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Compost Caddy

Norpro 1 Gallon Stainless Steel Compost Keeper, Silver

This next gardening gift for men is for the gardener who has ABSOLUTELY everything, and you can’t figure out what to get him!

This is my favorite compost caddy, and I use this in my own home! I wrote a longer post on compost caddy options here, and this caddy makes a great gift for gardeners who are serious about high quality fertilizer and creating plant food!

Snag this gardening gift for men here.

#4 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Gnomes & Dinosaurs FTW

Gardening gifts for men - Garden art

Ok, we just HAD to get a little cheeky with this gift guide. Gardeners love to have a sense of humor, and most are pretty down to earth (pun intended).

If the gardener in your life is known for his love of movies and media (from Jurassic Park to Marvel), he may enjoy this eyebrow raising gift for his garden. This gardening gift for men is available in two sizes, and here at PunkMed, we believe in going BIG!

From the maker: “Each dinosaur eating garden gnome is made of long-lasting resin and hand-painted with UV resistant paint so that it doesn’t fade in the sun and water, making it solid and lasting.”

Check out this gardening gift for men here.

#5 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Customizable Garden Sign

Gardening gifts for men - garden sign

Next up, we have a thoughtful gardening gift your guy can hang on the side of his home or on his fence. There are versions of this sign that can be planted in a garden (kind of like those realtor “FOR SALE” signs), but in our experience those tend to blow away–or not last very long!

This is a great gardening gift for a grandpa, new home owner, a newly wedded man, or someone who is retiring to work more in his garden!

Get this gardening gift for men here.

#6 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Gardening Knee Pads

NoCry Professional Gel Knee Pads for Work with Soft Foam and Gel Cushion — Heavy Duty Cap, Adjustable Straps & Military Grade Rivets — Perfect Construction Knee Pads for Men or Knee Pads for Women

When I first saw this next gardening gift for men, I have to admit, I raised my eyebrows a little bit.

“Aren’t knee pads just for… rollerblading?”

Turns out, these kinds of knee pads can be VERY useful for gardening, especially if your gardener doesn’t like to drag around his mat while he gardens. I know that when I use a gardening knee pad, it always seems to be on the opposite end of the yard!

A special note when buying gardening knee pads–you’re going to want to go for QUALITY, here. These knee pads will be in the dirt, probably get drenched with water, etc. We selected these knee pads based on the number of reviews (over 31,000 at time of publishing) and the 4 star rating on Amazon.

Shop this gardening gift for men here.

#7 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Funny Gardening T-Shirt

Gardening gifts for men - funny gardening t-shirt

Who doesn’t love a funny t-shirt? This t-shirt from Tee Shirt Season on etsy is a great gardening gift idea for your guy, being funny–but not obnoxious!

Available in up to an XXL, in both a hoodie and t-shirt. (I’d probably go with the t-shirt.)

Snag this gardening gift for men here.

#8 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Mixed Bag of Oyster Shells

gardening gifts for men - oyster shells for soil

Ok, this next gardening gift idea for men is for more of a HARDCORE gardener. Being in Massachusetts (and loving Cape Cod), I can tell you that many gardeners use oyster shells in their garden.

This is a great gardening gift for someone who says they “hate stuff.” This a consumable gift idea, perfect for the minimalist gardener. Your gardener can smile and think of you as they use this bag of oyster shells in their garden, thankful it can be used up!

Check out this gardening gift for men here.

#9 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Legacy Tool Belt from Carhartt

Carhartt Legacy Standard Tool Belt, Brown, One Size

You know I had to bring Carhartt back, as they make so many great gifts for men who love to garden.

This Legacy Tool Belt from Carhartt can be used to carry different tools, as well as odds and ends your gardener may find himself using. Some gardeners prefer gardening aprons, and this is a multi-functional tool for the gardener who loves to garden and build things!

Get this gardening gift for men here.

#10 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Nana & Papa’s Garden

gardening gifts for men - pavers stone customized

This next gift is sentimental, and can be a perfect gift from a family or the kiddos of a gardener. This personalized garden stone can be used as a stepping stone in a garden, as well as a daily reminder of how much you love your gardener!

Up to 10 names can be included on this thoughtful gardening gift for men!

Shop this gardening gift for men here.

#11 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Carhartt Apron

Carhartt mens Firm Duck Apron Belt, Carhartt Brown, OFA US

Next up on my list of gardening gift ideas for men, I wanted to be sure to include this Carhartt apron! 

Aprons can help keep a gardener clean and (more) dry, as well as holding various items that one needs to carry around while gardening. I love this brand because of its durability!

Check out this gardening gift for men here.

#12 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Another Gardening T-Shirt

Gardening gifts for men - fun t-shirt

Listen, I love t-shirts! This next t-shirt makes a great gardening gift for the Dad who regularly drinks his coffee out of a “Dad of the Year” mug.

From the maker: “This classic unisex jersey short sleeve tee fits like a well-loved favorite. Soft cotton and quality print make users fall in love with it over and over again. These t-shirts have-ribbed knit collars to bolster shaping.”

This tee is available in up to a 5X!

Get this gardening gift for men here.

#13 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Bee Seed Bombs from Plantables LLC

Gardening gifts for men - seed bomb

This next gardening gift is perfect for the gardener who plans his flowers and plants around supporting the ecosystem his garden is in!

These “Bee Bombs” are seedbombs filled with flower seeds that support bees (and other pollinators)! This is another great “consumable gift,” perfect for the gardener who doesn’t want more stuff, thank you very much! (It’s also a great gift for the guy who loves a little bit of chaos and fun in his garden!)

From the maker: “Bee Bombs are seed balls made from clay, compost, and seeds for flowers that benefit bees other pollinators. Bee Bombs are easy to plant because they are not actually buried in soil, just placed or thrown on the soil surface, anywhere you would like to grow beautiful flowering plants and support these important insect populations.”

Shop this gardening gift for men here.

#14 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker

ANERIMST Unique Gifts for Men, Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Waterproof Wireless with Torch LED Light, Birthday Gift for Boyfriend Him Dad, Cool for Garden, Patio, Outside (Black)

I’m almost to the end of my guide to gardening gifts for men, I wanted to be sure to include this outdoor bluetooth speaker.

While airpods are great, it’s easy to lose them while gardening– or to accidentally get them wet! A bluetooth speaker can easily hook up to your gardener’s phone, so they can listen to music, podcasts, etc, while gardening.

Heads up, I don’t think this is a good gift for a gardener who loves his solitude!

This gift can also be used for backyard BBQs and other festivities in your gardener’s space!

Get this gardening gift for men here.

#15 Gardening Gift Ideas for Men: Vegetable Gathering Basket

Tierra Garden GP184 Colander Trug

Finishing up my list of gardening gifts for men, I wanted to be sure to include a gathering basket! This is a perfect gift for vegetable and herb gardeners. I put together a whole guide on gathering baskets, and this plastic harvesting basket can be used when rinsing off vegetables.

Check out this gardening gift idea for men here!


This blog post was all about gardening gift ideas for men.

Read these eco-friendly gift guides (written with men in mind!) next:

Looking for more helpful gift ideas for gardeners? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts that are packed with the very best gift ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for finding eco-friendly gifts! Join me on Pinterest HERE , to get all of my gift guides and tips for sustainable living.

15 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts That They’ll Actually Use

Looking for sustainable housewarming gifts for that special person that just moved into a new place? These gifts will help them get settled into their new home, and just happen to be eco-friendly!

Here at PunkMed, I really want you to be able to find a more sustainable gift for every occasion so we just had to cover housewarming gifts!

In my experience, housewarming gifts tend to be last-minute, picked-up-at-the-grocery-store type deals. As such, they may not be something the recipient even wants or needs–so they end up in the garbage! (Yeah, not super sustainable!)

When putting together this list of best housewarming gifts, I thought back to a time when I just moved into my apartment and what I may have needed at the time but wouldn’t necessarily have thought of first. This includes fun things like decorations, fancier kitchen gear, and serving ware!

With that the first priority, I then set out to find sustainable options of those housewarming gift ideas. As always, my team and I judge gifts on their sustainability in terms of materials, impact on the Earth, and longevity.

However, we are a small team and can’t do it all, so if you are looking for more information on the product’s sustainability, look on the manufacturer’s website!

Alright, happy shopping for housewarming gifts people actually use!

This post is all about sustainable housewarming gifts.

Hey there! I’m Leslie, Founder of PunkMed

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability (including sustainable gift guides!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for readers to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

And, as someone who is a sustainability content creator (my Tiktok is HERE), I putting together gift guides for my readers. I put together this list of thoughtful housewarming gifts, and I based it heavily on what *I* would like to receive as a gift back when I just moved into my apartment! That said, I haven’t tried EVERY gift on this list (that would be… a lot of stuff!), so please make sure to do your own research before purchasing!

Let’s get into it!

Hi there! I’m Leslie (she/her.) I hope you find the perfect housewarming gift on the blog today.

#1 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Recycled Glass Champagne Flutes

These champagne flutes have a funky silhouette and wavy detailing to keep the party going. Made from recycled glass, these champagne flutes make wonderful sustainable housewarming gifts!

Due to the handmade quality no two glasses are the same, and can vary in detailing, color, and size up to two inches. These flutes come in a set of four, and are hand-crafted in Bogota, columbia.

We recommend you hand wash these glasses to maintain their quality over time, and these flutes should be handled carefully.

#2 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Custom Doormat

Need a housewarming gift in a hurry? While other shops make you wait weeks or months to get your order, 48 Hour Monogram will have your doormat order ready to ship out in two business days! 

Custom doormats are a great way to infuse your personality into a new home and nothing quite says ‘welcome to our new home’ like a personalized doormat!

These customizable doormats are made with rubber coated coir, making them one of our favorite green housewarming gifts for sustainable homes!

#3 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Mia Macrame Rainbow Wall Hanging

The Mia Macrame Rainbow by Village Thrive is sure to brighten any space. I could honestly see this as a sustainable housewarming gifts, or a gift for a new parent to decorate a nursery!

Each wall hanging is thoughtfully handcrafted by artisans in Bali using traditional heritage techniques passed down for generations.

Plus, Village Thrive is committed to providing their artisans a sustainable income and aspires to create opportunities and lift families out of poverty. 

#4 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Candles from Brennan Candle Co.

Brennan Candle Co. specializes in unique scent blends and a clean, minimalist design that will fit in any home. 

The signature collection features scents that are perfect year-round, and the limited edition collections bring the beauty of each season into a home.

Brennan Candle Co. is a hand poured candle company with clean-burning products made with 100% soy wax, are vegan and cruelty free. Brennan Candle Co. is a woman-owned business based out of Denver, Colorado. These gorgeous candles make perfect eco friendly housewarming gifts.

#5 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Recycled Spanish Wine Decanter

Red wine needs to breathe. This decanter from the brand Newly is perfect for everyday use or used as a pitcher, and makes a beautiful, sustainable housewarming gift for new homeowners. 

All of Newly’s home products consist of 100% recycled materials and shipped in 100% recycled packaging. This process saves 2250 gallons of water, uses no chemicals, and creates nearly zero carbon dioxide. 

Newly also pays living wages to all the artisans who craft their elegant home products.

#6 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Shasta Kitchen Towel Set

An intricate knit draws its inspiration from nature’s beautiful contrasts, like those seen near Mount Shasta. These environmentally friendly towels are sustainable housewarming gifts designed with eco-friendly people in mind.

Shasta pays homage to the classic pin check knitting pattern, using a unique knit that’s durable and absorbent. Salt and pepper stitch creates a knitted grid pattern for a casual, modern look. Twisted yarns make these especially dry to the touch. 

These towels are made exclusively by fair trade and earth-first manufacturers using organic cotton and responsibly sourced linen.

#7 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Blue Stripe Apron

These handwoven aprons from Will and Atlas are perfect for cooking or crafting and make wonderful sustainable housewarming gifts. They stand up to daily use and get softer with each wash.

The Aprons feature vertical stripes and are full size with two deep pockets and wide ties.

Each Will and Atlas product is handwoven in Bangladesh by artisans in remote and rural communities using traditional heritage techniques. All artisans receive fair, living wages and work in safe working environments that adhere to fair trade standards. 

#8 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Geo Porcelain Candlestick Holder Set

These candle holders offer a modern aesthetic to any new home or apartment. Each is hand crafted using non-toxic glazes, making these candlestick holders perfect eco friendly housewarming gifts.

Based in Lakewood, Ohio, ceramicist Lauren creates ceramics influenced by nature, abstract art, and Japanese pottery. Using a slip casting technique to achieve their geometric shapes, Lauren glazes each piece with handcrafted glazes. 

Plus, Lauren HB Studio is a sustainable, women-owned business that provides their employees with a living wage.

#9 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Eco Friendly Housewarming Gift Basket

Looking for something thoughtful for a new home owner? Interested in quality items that are all natural, eco-friendly, toxin free and useful around the house?

These gift box options make for a perfectly thoughtful and sustainable housewarming gift. Boxes include options with a zero-waste dishwashing set that includes a dishwashing bar soap, palm brush, your choice of ceramic ramekin or bamboo soap dish, an 8 ounce soy scented candle, crocheted cotton pot holder, organic goats milk soap, and more. 

Plus, these gift boxes arrive in a decorative white box complete with festive crinkle paper and your own personalized message.

#10 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Personalized Live Edge Wooden Charcuterie Board

Wood has an inherent warmth and inviting quality perfect for gathering and entertaining. These live edge charcuterie boards make luxurious green housewarming gifts.

With a live edge, black walnut wood is exquisitely shaped to focus on the unique grain and natural edge of the board. Finished with mineral oil and a beeswax buff for superior shine, these boards can be used to prepare the spread and to serve your guests. 

As an extra touch, you can personalize your charcuterie board with the recipient’s name to memorialize this exciting milestone!

#11 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Upcycled Tablecloth and Napkin Set.

Shopping for that special someone that loves to entertain and enjoys a good tablescape? Gift premium quality and timeless designs with this upcycled tablecloth and napkin set from Hilana. 

Made in Denizli, Turkey and handwoven by a collective of weavers from surrounding mountain villages, each piece features heritage textile techniques and is composed of 50% regenerated cotton upcycled from clothing manufacturing waste and 50% virgin cotton.

Hilana’s innovative production process is zero-waste and chemical-free, making their products eco-friendly housewarming gifts. They also produce long-staple Turkish cotton fibers without water waste, and use less electricity than creating a new garment.

#12 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Recycled Rubber Coaster Set

These durable recycled rubber coaster sets by Slash Objects are perfectly sustainable housewarming gifts.

Consideration of materials, design process, and product longevity are all elements that drive Slash Objects’ mission. Their breathtaking recycled rubber placemats, storage baskets, and coasters are all made from 100% post-consumer recycled rubber, an eco-friendly solution to reducing material waste.

As a bonus, Slash Object makes all their products in Brooklyn, NY with materials sourced from local manufacturers.

#13 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Porcelain Olive Oil Bottle

These modern handmade porcelain olive oil bottles from the Bright Angle are versatile sustainable housewarming gifts. Use them for olive oil, dish soap, syrups, and more. 

The Bight Angle specializes in modern home decor and dishware made with stunning, translucent porcelain intended to last several lifetimes. 

This brand makes all their porcelain mugs, planters, vases, and pots in Asheville, NC with raw, natural materials from the nearby mountains. 

#14 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Dutch Oven

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt., Cerise

Trying to find the best sustainable housewarming gift for a new home owner? The Le Creuset Signature dutch Oven is a classic housewarming gift that is built to last. 

The durable enamel is easy-to-clean and resists dulling, staining, chipping and cracking.

This dutch oven is compatible with all cooktops and oven-safe up to 500°F, as well as dishwasher safe.

#15 Sustainable Housewarming Gifts: Stoneware Serving Tray Set

The Oval Stoneware Serving Tray Sets from Convivial are wonderful sustainable housewarming gifts

Each tray set is designed as a statement piece for serving bread, cheese and charcuterie. Each piece is made by hand with Convivial’s proprietary sand clay and finished in their signature ivory glaze. The glaze on the rim of each piece has been removed to allow the warmth of the sand clay to be highlighted.

Founded with sustainable ideals in mind, Convivial strives to create locally made, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible ceramics. 


This post was all about sustainable housewarming gifts.

Read these sustainable gift guides next:

Looking for more eco-friendly gifts for other occasions? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts on eco-friendly and sustainable gift ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for finding sustainable gift ideas! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and sustainable living tips.

How to Save Tomato Seeds for Next Year

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s likely the end of the growing season and you’re wondering how to save tomato seeds so you can plant them again next year. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to save tomato seeds.

What is seed saving?

Saving seeds is one of my favorite gardening practices.

It is simply the practice of collecting seeds from the plants in your garden and storing them, so that you may start grow those plants again from seed the next growing season.

Why save seeds?

It’s immensely gratifying to witness the entire lifecycle of a plant, from seed to pollination, to fruit and then seed again.

Saving seeds from your favorite plants means you get to carry on the genetics of particularly tasty or disease resistant plants.

Plus, seed saving is the ultimate money saver! No need to buy seeds from the local hardware store when mother nature produces them for you for free each year at the end of the growing season.

Finally, seed saving is the ultimate sustainable gardening practice. If you have fruits and vegetables growing in your garden, you already have everything you need to start saving seeds–no equipment, middle men, and fossil fuels necessary!

This post is all about how to save tomato seeds.

Hello there! I’m Leslie, Head Honcho at PunkMed

Hi there! I’m Leslie, the founder of PunkMed. I’m so glad you found my blog post! If you have questions or suggestions regarding this post and my suggestions, please feel free to DM me on Instagram or drop me an email! I love to hear from my readers.

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability, urban homesteading (including gardening!), and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for readers to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

And, as someone who is a sustainability content creator (my Tiktok is HERE), I love merging the worlds of sustainability and gardening. Seed saving is one of the most sustainable gardening practices, but I realize many home gardeners have either neither heard of it or find it too intimidating. In this post, I’m here to show you just how easy seed saving can be!

Let’s get into it!

@lesliefowle Did you know that tomato seeds need to be fermented before storing them for next season? Here’s how to save tomato seeds! 🍅 #PepsiApplePieChallenge #gardening101 #gardentok #gardentips #tomatogrowing #tomatogarden #seeds #seedsaving #seedsavers #seedsaversexchange #seedsaversunite ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

How to save tomato seeds

Saving the seeds of some plants is as simple as letting the fruit or seed pod dry out at the end of the season and collecting the dried seeds.

Unfortunately, saving tomato seeds requires some extra steps.

Namely, tomato seeds will require a fermentation step before drying and storing for planting next year.

If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry–we’ll walk you through it step-by-step.

Materials

  • Ripe tomatoes from the garden
  • Mason jar
  • Paper towel, cheesecloth, or other breathable fabric
  • Elastic band

#1 Choose your tomatoes. At the end of the growing season, select a few ripe tomatoes (depending on how many seeds you want!) from which to collect your seeds.

Choose tomatoes whose genetics you will want to carry on to the next year. Does the fruit look ripe and tasty? Was the plant disease-free? These will make excellent tomatoes to plant again next year.

#2 Cut tomato in quarters lengthwise. You’ll want to expose the pockets of seeds.

#3 Scoop out the seeds. Using a spoon, scoop out the tomato seeds (with the surrounding tomato liquid) into a mason jar. You’ll want enough tomato flesh and liquid to cover the seeds. If you have a particularly dry tomato and there isn’t enough liquid, you can add just enough water to cover the seeds.

#4 Cover the mason jar. Cover the mason jar with a paper towel, cheesecloth, or other breathable fabric to keep bugs out. Secure the cover with an elastic band.

#5 Let ferment. This part is easy! Place your mason jar of tomato seeds and liquid sit for 2-6 days to ferment. You may want to place this concoction in a pantry or some other place that’s out of the way because it’s going to stink! (This is normal!)

#6 Watch and wait for a mold to form a layer on top of the liquid. Yep, this part is kind of gross. You’ll know the fermentation process is complete when a layer of mold has formed on top of the tomato seed mixture. Again, this will stink!

#7 Rinse seeds. Place the seeds in a fine mesh sieve and rinse with water in the sink. You’ll want to completely rinse the seeds so they are clear from their flesh or other tomato-y bits that may be hanging around.

#8 Dry seeds. Blot and dry seeds on a paper towel. Let the seeds air dry on the paper towel in a sunny, dry place for a few days.

#9 Store seeds. Only when the seeds are completely dry can you think about storing them. I like to place my seeds in paper baggies and place them in my favorite seed storage container. Make sure you label your seeds with the plant and the year (so you aren’t completely lost next year!)

Next Steps: How to start seeds

That’s it! Now your seeds are dry and ready to grow next year.

I wrote a whole blog post on my favorite seed starting tips, if you need help with the next leg of your journey. Make sure you bookmark this post for the next growing season when you’re ready to plant your tomato seeds!

I’m confident seed saving and starting will become one of your favorite annual gardening practices.

This post was all about how to save tomato seeds.

Read these gardening tips next:

Looking for more helpful gardening how-to posts? Below, I’ve shared a number of gardening and urban homesteading hacks.

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for planning your garden! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my urban homesteading and sustainable living tips.

17 BEST Gifts for Food Foragers | Gifts We Love!

Hey friend! If you’ve landed on this blog post, it’s probably because you’re looking for gifts for food foragers for the aspiring or current food forager in your life.

“Food foraging” as a pastime has really taken off in the last few years, thanks to creators on TikTok and Instagram. This is a fun hobby for folks who love trying new foods, people who are passionate about the environment and those who just wanna get out there and EXPLORE!

This blog post is all about thoughtful gifts for food foragers!

Hello there! I’m Leslie, Head Honcho at PunkMed

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability (including sustainable celebrations!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for readers to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

And, as someone who is a sustainability content creator (my Tiktok is HERE), I love foraging content and creators. I put together this list of thoughtful gifts for foragers, and I based it heavily on what *I* would like to receive as a gift as a foraging nerd! That said, I haven’t tried EVERY gift on this list (that would be… a lot of stuff!), so please read all of the info on the product pages before purchasing.

Let’s get into it!

Hi there! I’m Leslie, the founder of PunkMed. I’m so glad you found my blog post on gifts for food foragers! If you have questions or suggestions regarding this post and my suggestions, please feel free to DM me on Instagram or drop me an email! I love to hear from my readers.

#1 Gifts for Food Foragers: Customized Trowel

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

I wanted to start off this gift guide for foragers with something a bit unexpected–a customized trowel!

Many food foragers find themselves, well, digging in the earth! A customized trowel is a thoughtful gift that encourages that spirit of adventure!

From the maker, Precision Memory: “The Garden Trowel works quickly and comfortably through both soft soil and rough ground. Ideal for digging, turning, and spreading soil, prepping beds, and planting seedlings.

Constructed with an ergonomic, heat-treated stainless steel blade and comfortable walnut handle: a duo worthy and capable of a lifetime of use.”

Get this gift for food foragers here!

#2 Gifts for Food Foragers: Foraging Mesh Bag

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

Next up, a gift almost every food forager could use – a foraging mesh bag!

Utilizing a mesh bag for foraging can help keep your forager’s finds whole. Shoving them in a bookbag or other bag can result in the find being crushed–and not in a good way!

I found a good number of foraging mesh bags online, and I opted to share this mesh bag from A Fine Company Shop on Etsy. I like that there are two compartments, the strap over the shoulder is adjustable, and that this company is a “star seller”!

From the maker: “An important thing! The shoulder strap has a quick reset system with a large Fastex release buckle. If you carry the bag over your shoulder and you have filled the bag in full, the release buckle allows you to quickly remove the bag from yourself.”

Snag this gift for food foragers here!

#3 Gifts for Food Foragers: Foraging Knife

OPINEL No.8 Mushroom Folding Knife Gift Box – Foraging Knife & Sheath in Pencil Box

If your food forager is a bit new to the space, they may not have a foraging knife (usually used for mushroom foraging)! There are many different options when it comes to a foraging knife, and not all foragers are comfortable carrying one.

You may have to do a bit of sleuthing around to figure out if your forager needs one (and, perhaps, what kind of knife they would want). I liked the presentation of this foraging knife with a sheath!

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#4 Gifts for Food Foragers: Foraging Field Journal

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

When I found this gift for food foragers, I was instantly SO STOKED! As a scientist myself, I love my lab notebooks–and this is such a fun gift for a food forager.

Your food forager can fill it with sketches, recipe reviews, locations of different plants, and more!

From the maker: “This field log is undated, and arranged into ‘trips.’ Each trip has a section for writing down the location, date, habitat info, specimens found, recipes, and miscellaneous notes.” Your forager can take spore prints, press flowers or herbs in the pages, etc.

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#5 Gifts for Food Foragers: Mushroom Foraging Tee

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

This fun t-shirt for food foragers gave me a little grin, so I had to include it! This t-shirt print is a little sassy, and will delight a mischievous forager! We love the line illustrations of different mushrooms on the front!

This t-shirt goes up to a size 3XL! 

Get this gift for food foragers here!

#6 Gifts for Food Foragers: Handmade Acorn Earrings from Silk Purse Sows Ear

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

Not all foragers will be into jewelry, but this pair of acorn earrings is perfect for the food forager who loves jewelry! 

Made by Silk Purse Sows Ear (located in Edinburgh, Scotland), these earrings are gorgeous!

From the maker: “These beautiful green acorn earrings are made from a pearl with an antique copper bead cap. The tones of the tarnished red copper with the warm olive green of the gemstone look great together. I have added some coordinating ear wires in antique copper which match the darkened red of the acorn perfectly.”

Snag this gift for food foragers here!

#7 Gifts for Food Foragers: Mushroom Picking Rucksack

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

Ok, my friends of foragers! This is probably the most INTENSE foraging situation I’ve seen. This rucksack kit comes with *three* baskets to make foraging easier, enabling families or groups of friends to go foraging together.

I was really impressed by the customer reviews of this product, so be sure to take a look through those!

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#8 Gifts for Food Foragers: Flower Press Kit

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

Next up on our list of gifts for foragers, I found this lovely flower press kit that has everything a forager needs to begin pressing flowers they find on their wanderings.

This kit from Textures Factory includes:

  • 1 Pine-Wood Handmade Flower Press (17x23cm)
  • 1 Silk Printed Herbarium to collect your pressed flowers.
  • Stickers to identify your plants.
  • Blotter to dry the plants and keep them in your herbarium
  • Cardboard sheets for your press
  • Chrome scissors.
  • Step-by-step illustrated Handbook
  • Instructions in English
  • Screen Printed Organic Cotton bag.

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#9 Gifts for Food Foragers: Foldable Flower & Greens Basket

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

In a previous blog post, I put together a gift guide featuring different kinds of gathering baskets for the vegetable farmer or urban homesteader!

As I wrote this gift guide, I kept thinking back to that post, and this specialized basket I included! 

This basket is great for a forager who doesn’t have a lot of extra space (maybe someone who lives in an apartment and escapes to the wilderness each weekend), and makes it easier to collect flowers, grasses, and the like!

Get this gift for food foragers here!

#10 Gifts for Food Foragers: Edible Plants Prints

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

If your food forager is all stocked up on gathering bags, baskets, t-shirts and books–it may be time to snag a few prints for them!

A set of prints on edible plants is a great gift for a food forager, enabling them to bring the outside into their home! I loved these prints from Daves Office on etsy, a business that’s received the “Star Seller” notice from the platform.

Your forager may appreciate something more minimalist (or maximalist), so don’t be afraid to poke around etsy and look at prints!

Snag this gift for food foragers here!

#11 Gifts for Food Foragers: Mushroom Necklace

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

Another great gift specifically for mushroom foragers (or mushroom fans) is this lovely necklace from Pieces of KA.

From the brand: “All Pieceofka jewelry is NICKEL FREE as well as being made with high quality materials and plating.”

Get this gift for food foragers here!

#12 Gifts for Food Foragers: Stackable Drying Racks

CHICOMFY Wooden Pasta Herb Drying Rack Stackable Food Dryer with Net Multipurpose 2-Tier Noodle Vegetables Dryer Holder (Two Tier)

Your food forager will LOVE this gift if they’re a fan of drying herbs and other foraging finds. I selected this drying rack because it’s eco-friendly, using natural wood.

Your food forager can easily assemble, use, and then put away these flat stackable drying racks!

Snag this gift for food foragers here!

#13 Gifts for Food Foragers: Foraging Basket Backpack

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

This next gift for food foragers in the wilderness can be pretty polarizing! Some foragers love a wicker basket backpack, and others… not so much!

This foraging basket from Mother Earth Mushroom is designed for, you guessed it, mushrooms! “These baskets are made of wicker, which can help dispense the mushroom spores through their holes as you walk through the forest. Which makes the mushroom basket very eco-friendly.”

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#14 Gifts for Food Foragers: Wildflower T-Shirt

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

While many foragers love foraging for food, they may love a shirt with wildflowers on it a bit more than mushrooms!

This black t-shirt from Magpie and Pippy is available in up to a 3XL, in multiple colors! I love the forest green!

Get this gift for food foragers here!

#15 Gifts for Food Foragers: Mushroom Terrarium Lamp

Gifts for Food Foragers

This next gift for food foragers features mushrooms, of course! This retro lamp is so fun, bringing a bit of the wonder of the outdoors into your forager’s home.

This gift is perfect for a terrarium lover, as well as those who love a bit of fantasy and whimsy.

Snag this gift for food foragers here!

#16 Gifts for Food Foragers: Lily of the Valley Lamp

BEST Gifts for Food Foragers

The mushroom lamp above got me thinking about other kinds of fun terrarium lamps, and I just had to include this Lily of the Valley lamp!

Check out this gift for food foragers here!

#17 Gifts for Food Foragers: Crew Neck Sweatshirt

Valley Cruise Press was founded in 2014 with the mission to bring the work of some of their favorite illustrators to life. In fact, I heard of the brand when they featured Boston-local artist Krista Perry’s designs on some of their throw blankets.

I’ve followed the brand since then, and have coveted their cozy crew necks for a while now. This one that simply reads “PLANTS will get the point across!


This blog post is all about thoughtful gifts for food foragers!

Read these eco-friendly gift guides next:

Looking for more helpful eco-friendly gift guides? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts on eco-friendly and sustainable gift ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for finding eco-friendly gifts! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and sustainable living tips.

14 Eco-Friendly Gift Baskets for Christmas

Today on my blog, I’m sharing over 14 eco-friendly gift baskets for Christmas that make excellent gifts. Here at PunkMed, we believe in giving thoughtful and ethically made gifts that your recipient will be delighted to open!  In 2022, we’ve seen a rise in the popularity of gift baskets, so we knew it was time to write a post with the very best eco-friendly gift baskets we could find!

This blog post is all about eco-friendly gift baskets for Christmas

Hello there! I’m Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability (including sustainable celebrations!), urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for you to live an adventurous and sustainable life!

In today’s post, I’m sharing some cute eco-friendly gift baskets. To be 100% upfront, I have not personally tried all of the products on this list. That would be an overwhelming amount of gift baskets, after all!  Instead, I and the PunkMed team have done our very best to research and present you with the most eco-friendly options.

FYI: Most eco-friendly gift baskets actually come in boxes, not baskets!  If you really love a basket, we recommend snagging an ethically made option from our friends at MadeTrade, or cleaning one from your local thrift store! 

Let’s get into it!

Hi there! I’m Leslie, the founder of PunkMed!

Eco-Friendly Gift Baskets for Christmas:

At PunkMed, we like to share with you, our reader, what type of information we look for when  creating a gift guide. 

For this gift guide, we looked for information on:

  • Where the gift basket is put together (location), as well as what types of wrapping paper and materials are used to put the gift basket together
  • The items within the gift basket, specifically the ethical or sustainable practices used to make them
  • Other sustainable or eco-friendly efforts on behalf of the brand

While we can’t (and don’t!) back up what each brand shares (that would be a whole investigation), we do try to do our best and due diligence! 

Eco-friendly gift baskets make a great sustainable corporate gift, as well as a great gift for the people on your list that are tough to shop for!

#1 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Custom Organic Bathrobe & Towel

First up on our list of eco-friendly gift baskets, we had to start with this eco-friendly gift basket from Eastern Woven–as we are just OBSESSED with the aesthetic of this gift box. 

This gift basket is the perfect Christmas gift, containing a cozy organic cotton robe, matching towel and various bath accouterments (we love the natural loofah sponge!) for the spa lover in your life.  With the robe available in up to an XXL, we wouldn’t mind getting this gift under the tree! (Hint hint!)

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket here!

#2 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Luxury Clay DIY Mask Kit

Shopping for people who love skincare can be a bit intimidating (we wrote a whole blog post on it!), so I was so excited when this kit came across my path!

This Luxury Clay Mask Kit from Cotton and Feather encourages the recipient to play (who doesn’t love a little face paint), while also targeting different areas of their face with a different mask.  Called “multi-masking,” your skincare lover will adore this thoughtful gift, and I bet they’ll love “nerding out” reading all about the products.

From the brand: “All our powders are ground in-house and are completely natural, pure and smell delicious, packed full of vitamins antioxidants and anti aging properties, a real treat for the skin.”

Snag this eco-friendly gift basket here!

#3 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Organic Tea Gift Set

It’s time to talk about eco-friendly gifts for tea lovers!  While many a tea lover adores getting a new sophisticated (or sassy!) mug, there really is only so much kitchen cabinet space to go around!

For this reason, an eco-friendly gift basket–stocked full of goodies–can be a great gift for your tea lover.

I landed on this organic tea gift basket from Joy Gift Box, as the maker has paired a specific tea with a candle scent–how cozy!!

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here

#4 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Cheese Lover

This is the second time we’ve written about this Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box, and the PunkMed team and I are NOT sorry! Not one bit!

The beautiful packaging combined with yummy cheese makes this an excellent gift for the cheese lover on your list.  (And if *you* are the cheese lover you’re shopping for, we won’t tell a single soul!)

From 52 Foods: “Everything inside ‘em comes straight from Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont, where—get this—there’s a 22,000-square-foot, seven-vaulted cellar for aging cheddars and blues.”

Snag this eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here!

#5 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Zero Waste Kitchen Essentials Bundle

Next up on our list of eco-friendly gift basket ideas, we have a great gift basket for a young couple, high school senior or other folks who are starting a new phase of life (and may want kitchen basics)!

This eco-friendly gift basket from ZERO WASTE MVMT contains a few super helpful products for eco-friendly folks who care about the planet, but aren’t sure where to start their plastic-free journey.  

This gift basket contains:

  • 3 Pack Natural Loofah Sponge 
  • 5x Reusable Snack Bags
  • 1x Wooden Dish Brush
  • 1x Solid Dish Bar
  • 1x Cedar Soap Tray 
  • 2 Pack Eco Dish Cloth

As with all eco-friendly gifts, you want to be sure your recipient is truly interested in “going green”!  Giving a gift like this can come across as a bit, well, judgmental if the recipient hasn’t expressed interest!

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket here!

#6 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: For the Chef

Of course I could NEVER put together a gift guide with eco-friendly gift baskets for Christmas, without talking about gifts for the chef in your life!

I love working in the kitchen (especially making sourdough bread), and half of the fun of baking and cooking is trying out new tools and gadgets.

This eco-friendly gift basket from DYARI Handicrafts is perfect for the person who loves to cook, featuring an assortment of carved tools for the kitchen.

This set comes with:

– Olive Wood 6 Utensils Set (Salad Set, Spatula, Spatula with holes, Corner Spoon, Risotto Spoon)

– Olive Wood Salt Keeper

– Olive Wood Scoop

– Olive Wood Juicer / Reamer

– Olive Wood Plate / Bowl

– Olive Wood Rustic Mortar & Pestle

– Fresh Spices (Whole Cumin, whole Tumeric, Ground Ras el-Hanout) 20 grams each.

DYARI handicrafts didn’t have much info on their sustainability practices, so we encourage you to reach out via a message to inquire about their practices.

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here!

#7 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Bee Lover

Does your eco-warrior love to watch documentaries about bees, or plant their summer kitchen with bee-friendly plants?

If so, then you simply must check out this Honey Bee Box Set from Ozarks Originals Store!  

This gift set for Christmas includes:

  • Honeysuckle Candle (4 oz.)
  • Honey Almond Lip Balm
  • Almond Honey Comb Soap
  • Chamomile Wildflower Honey Soap
  • Almond Honey All Purpose Balm (1 oz.)
  • Honey Rosemary Aromatherapy Spray (2 oz.)

We also appreciate how transparent the brand is!  Here’s what they had to say about their eco-friendly practices: “We create all of our Honey based products with local ingredients from the Ozarks and we give back with every sale. A percentage of each Honey Bee Gift Set is donated to the Honeybee Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to help bees, while increasing access to organic, sustainable food in under-served communities. At Ozark Originals we’re passionate about bee conservation, sustainability, local food, education and giving back.”

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket here!

#8 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Chocolate Lover

Everyone has a Chocolate Lover on their list, but you want to be sure to give chocolates that show thoughtfulness–not a rushed gift you snagged at the grocery store!

Fine and Raw is known for creating delicious chocolates with fun and cheeky packaging, using clean ingredients and also offering a “Melt-Free Guarantee.”  They also share a good amount of info on their labor practices on their website (“Our cacao farmers in Ghana and Ecuador are paid higher than fair trade wages”).

Shop their eco-friendly gift baskets for Christmas here!

#9 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Zero Waste Starter Kit

Ok, yes, we’ve already linked a Zero Waste Kitchen gift set, but we just couldn’t help ourselves!  This is such a great gift for someone who just moved into their own place or is planning on doing so in 2023!

This Zero Waste Starter Kit from Hippy Monkey is super rad, and they’ll even gift wrap this eco-friendly gift basket for you, if you order in time!

There are different sizes of boxes you can order (super budget friendly), with a ton of sustainability information available on the product page (you do have to scroll a bit to find it)!

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here!

#10 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Raw Honey Lover

This next eco-friendly gift basket is perfect for your sustainable love who loves bees – and the honey they make!

This Christmas gift basket comes from Gils Honey Bees, a company based in New York state!

See all the details HERE!

#11 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Lavender Lover

The smell of lavender can be so relaxing, and I wanted to be sure to include a beautiful lavender gift set in this Christmas gift guide.

This Organic Lavender Set from Dancing Turtle Shop caught my eye, both for its beautiful packaging and presentation as well as the products inside.  I truly love giving a gift that makes the recipient say, “Wow!” upon opening it, I think that this eco-friendly gift basket is just the ticket.

Shop this eco-friendly gift basket here!

#12 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: DIY Your Own

One of the challenges of giving a gift basket for Christmas is that sometimes the basket itself becomes clutter! 

For this reason, I wanted to include a DIY option and gift idea for my readers, featuring this personalized bamboo lunchbox from Treat Republic.

You can customize a bamboo lunchbox for your recipient, and put in some of their favorite goodies and treats inside!  (If you need ideas on small sustainable gifts, PunkMed would be happy to help!)

This eco-friendly DIY will be sure to be a hit, combining sustainable wrapping efforts, personalization, and of course, the recipient’s favorite treats!

Shop this DIY eco-friendly gift basket here!

#13 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Bee Lovers

You’ve probably seen advertisements to adopt some sort of large sea mammal, but have you seen this gift set from Especially Puglia to adopt… a beehive?!

“This set supports small-scale family farmers in Puglia who are using sustainable and organic methods. All of their farms use permaculture techniques, with bees that help pollinate their olive trees and other crops—and provide delicious honey as a bonus. The lucky recipient of this set gets two jars of golden goodness from a farm Especially Puglia selects, a wooden dipper, a bee tea towel, plus a certificate of adoption. How sweet!”

This is a lovely and thoughtful gift for those who want to make their gift giving count for a little bit more this holiday season!

Snag this eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here!

#14 Eco-Friendly Gift Basket for Christmas: Unusual Delights for the Adventurous Soul

Do you have someone on your Christmas list who is known for being adventurous and trying new things?  Trying to figure out what to give them?

For the person who has tried just about everything, this gorgeous gourmet tinned fish set will provide a good amount of delight on Christmas day.  “This gift set comes with a sampling of canned seafood from Portugal-based José Gourmet, all sustainably harvested and served up with world-class flavors.”

Shop this unique and eco-friendly gift basket for Christmas here!


This blog post was all about eco-friendly gift baskets for Christmas

Read these eco-friendly gift guides next:

Looking for more helpful eco-friendly gift guides? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts on eco-friendly and sustainable gift ideas:

Join me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for finding eco-friendly gifts! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and sustainable living tips.

17+ Gifts for Nature Lovers | Gift Ideas for Hikers, Campers and Backyard Entertainers

best gifts for nature lovers

Looking for gifts for nature lovers? These gift ideas are perfect for the person in your life who rather be outside.

I feel like I’m the easiest person in the world to shop for because my interests are niche and I’m very vocal about them. (I literally have a whole blog about them!)

Sometimes I feel like you could pick anything up off the shelf at your local REI for me and it would be a winning gift in my book.

But, what I sometimes forget is that shopping for nature lovers can be a daunting task for the non-outdoorsy people! It can be hard to shop for the hiker, camper, or birder in your life when you couldn’t be paid to sleep outside and don’t know the difference between a blue bird and a blue jay!

I got you, friend!

These are the best gifts for nature lovers, as vetted by me, a certified nature lover.

This post is all about gifts for nature lovers.

Hello, I’m Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability, urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for you to live a fun and sustainable life!

In today’s post, I’m sharing gift ideas for nature lovers. To be 100% upfront, I have not personally tried all of the products on this list YET (that would be way too much, and not super sustainable!) I’ve noted which products I’ve tried and loved, and which products are next on my “To Try” list.

Let’s get into it!

Hi, I’m Leslie (she/her!) I hope you find the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life on the blog today.

#1 Gift for Nature Lovers – Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by their Leaves

Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by their Leaves (Eastern US) (Nature Study Guides)

First up on our list of birthday gifts for nature lovers is this tree identification guide! This essential guide by celebrated ecologist May Theilgaard Watts helps readers identify native (and some widely introduced) trees of the United States and Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. 

This guide for nature lovers includes 161 species accompanied by line drawing illustrations to help you identify trees while out in the field.  Designed to be compact, this book is only six by four inches making it a handy tool easy to store in back pockets or backpacks. 

With this handy, easy-to-use guide, nature lovers everywhere will be able to enjoy identifying trees while traveling. Consider this one of the best gifts for nature lovers!

#2 Birthday Gift for Nature Lovers – LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness, 1 Pack, Blue

Up next in our list of cool gifts for nature lovers, a personal water filtration device! 

The microfiltration membrane removes waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), and parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium). It also removes the smallest microplastics found in the environment (down to 1 micron), and reduces turbidity down to 0.2 microns.

LifeStraw understands the importance of their environmental impact, which means for each personal water filter purchased, they’re providing safe drinking water for a school child up to an entire year. Talk about unique gifts for nature lovers that are sure to leave an impact!

#3 Christmas Gift for Nature Lovers – Hiking Logbook


This hiking log book, especially designed for tracking adventures, is one of our favorite cool gifts for nature lovers. A sturdy and durable hardcover book with 160 pages of preprinted space to record each hike with space to journal about the experience.

Eachentry provides two pages for documenting each hike, along with an inside pocket for trail maps or mementos. Plus it easily fits in your backpack and measures 8.25″ x 6.25″.

Gifting this hiking logbook is a great way to ensure your nature loving friends are able to enjoy the hike as well as the memories while documenting their trip.

#4 Best Gift for Nature Lovers – Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat

Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn’t Know You Could Eat

Are you looking for the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life? We’d like to suggest this backyard foraging guide, designed for new and experienced foragers alike.

This book features 70 edible weeds, flowers, mushrooms, and ornamental plants typically found in urban and suburban neighborhoods. Sparing no details, nature lovers can carry this guide with them while out adventuring or simply exploring local flora in their backyard.

Full-color photographs make identification easy, while tips on common plant locations, pesticides, pollution, and dangerous flora make foraging as safe and simple as stepping into the backyard to discover something new and delicious.

#5 Unique Gift for Nature Lovers – YETI Rambler 10 oz Wine Tumbler

YETI Rambler 10 oz Wine Tumbler, Vacuum Insulated, Stainless Steel with MagSlider Lid, White

The Rambler 10 oz wine tumbler is made from durable stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation to protect hot or cold beverages at all costs, making it one of the best birthday gifts for nature lovers that enjoy wine on the go!

Nature lovers have no reason to fear for leaks or spilled beverages on the trails with this secure and compact tumbler. These Ramblers come standard with the YETI MagSlider Lid, the only drink lid that uses the power of magnets to keep drinks on lock. Keep in mind, wine tumblers can be used for ANY beverage, so these are great gifts for sober friends wanting to enjoy a nice seltzer or crisp lemonade at the campsite.

Yeti tumblers are BPA free and dishwasher safe, no special treatment needed here to enjoy a good time.

#6 Cool Gift for Nature Lovers – National Park Checklist

If you grew up with a map of the United States to collect state quarter designs, you might just need this national park checklist! These designs are such unique gifts for nature lovers because they offer a simple and understated way to track their travels.

This sustainable gift is made with reclaimed wood and shipped with 100% recyclable material, so your environmentally-minded friends will thank you.

This minimalist wall hanging is a wonderful way for the nature-loving person in your life to commemorate adventures to national parks, or just get them inspired to hit the trails!

#7 Gifts for Nature Lovers – Coleman Camping Chair with Built-in 4 Can Cooler

Coleman Camping Chair with 4 Can Cooler | Chair with Built In 4 Can Cooler, Grey/Black

Have a cold drink at hand at the campsite, BBQ or picnic with a Coleman Cooler Quad Chair. This isn’t a basic camping chair, this chair comes with a built-in cooler, making it one of the best gifts for nature lovers who know the value of having a cool beverage on hand in the summer heat.

The cooler built into the armrest holds up to 4 cans and provides easy access to a fresh, cold drink once the one in your mesh cup holder is empty. The fully cushioned seat and back only adds to the comfort and relaxation.

If you want your hands free, the side pockets work nicely to store your phone, book or some snacks. When the fun is done, the chair easily folds up into a carry bag for easy transport and storage.

#8 Christmas Gifts for Nature Lovers – Personalized S’mores Roasting Set

A bonfire and s’mores make the perfect pair! This is one of the most unique gifts for nature lovers we found because you can personalize the roasting stick handles (perhaps with your recipient’s name?!) 

Roast a perfect marshmallow, every time. Thisgift set comes equipped with four telescoping roasting sticks and even includes a step-by-step guide for making these irresistible treats. 

Get ready for a night of fun and relaxation with friends and family with this beautifully packaged s’mores roasting set.

#9 Birthday Gifts for Nature Lovers – Baggu Beach Towel

These giant bath towels are excellent birthday gifts for nature lovers who enjoy tanning on the beach and sustainable products made to last!

Each towel is a soft, reversible style made from organic cotton to provide a comfortable and fast-drying experience. These towels measure 60″ × 30″ making them the perfect length for stretching out or drying off after a dip in nature.

These towels are such perfect gifts for nature lovers since they’re simply no fuss, just machine wash when dirty and hang to dry or dry by machine if needed. The unique styles are sure to stand out in a crowd!

#10 Best Gifts for Nature Lovers – Sport-Brella Premiere XL UPF 50+ Umbrella Shelter

Sport-Brella Premiere XL 9-Foot Umbrella - Heavy-duty 1.25' Center Pole & Twist Handle Auger - UPF 50+ Sun Protection - Privacy Side Panels, Zippered Windows & 2 Interior Pockets - Carry Bag Included

Wanting to level up your beach attire? This umbrella shelter is such a great way to enjoy the outdoors while being protected from harmful UV rays.

The nine foot umbrella canopy features UPF 50+sun and weather protection for the beach, camping, sporting events, concerts and festivals! 

The oversized auger bit with an integrated twist handle easily and securely anchors the umbrella in sand, grass, and dirt, while the included stakes offer extra security. And the best part? This unique gift comes in a variety of colors making it one of the best gifts for nature lovers!

#11 Unique Gifts for Nature Lovers – Valley Cruise Press Sweatshirt

Finding the best gifts for nature lovers is challenging because we want to make the most sustainable choices. We love the apparel sold by our friends Valley Cruise Press because they believe in making sustainable, small-batch clothing locally!

Valley Cruise Press was founded as a small business in 2014 with the mission to bring the work of illustrators to life. Now, eight years later, they’ve expanded their mission to encompass the belief that small businesses can do good. 

For every purchase from their website, they donate 1% to organizations that value sustainability and social justice. Valley Cruise Press is committed to reducing their carbon footprint each year, choosing to manufacture their products in the US and support the local economy when possible, making their products some of the best birthday gifts for nature lovers and more!

#12 Cool Gifts for Nature Lovers – Rumpl The NanoLoft Puffy Blanket

Rumpl The NanoLoft Puffy Blanket | Indoor Outdoor Camping Blanket for Traveling, Picnics, Beach Trips, Concerts | 38' x 52' | Deepwater, Travel

Choosing the perfect birthday gifts for nature lovers doesn’t have to be hard– like this super soft puffy camping blanket; that’s a no brainer! This is the best gift to keep nature lovers warm and insulated outside when temperatures drop.

This puffy blanket is ultra-lightweight (it weighs less than a pound!) and is easy to pack along for trips where space is limited. 

This down-alternative blanket is made from 100% post-consumer NanoLoft insulation technology that mimics down for the best warmth to weight ratio when camping, hiking, or backpacking.

#13 Gift for Nature Lovers – Picnic Backpack with Cooler, Insulated Wine Holder & Blanket

Picnic at Ascot Original Equipped 2 Person Picnic Backpack with Cooler, Insulated Wine Holder & Blanket - Designed & Assembled in the USA

Sure, we all know about picnic baskets, but have you ever seen a picnic backpack? 

The backpack comes fully equipped with a blanket, convenient detachable wine holder, as well as an insulated cooler compartment to keep food and drink at the perfect temperature. 

This pack also includes all the makings for a romantic wine and cheese tasting in the park: a hardwood cutting board, cheese knife, salt and pepper shakers, acrylic wine glasses, nine inch melamine plates, stainless steel flatware, and napkins. All the essentials for a nature lover’s picnic!

#14 Birthday Gift for Nature Lovers – The North Face Eco Trail 3-Person Camping Tent

THE NORTH FACE Eco Trail 3, Stinger Yellow/Meridian Blue, OS

We love getting cozy in the woods, which is why we love this 3-person tent as one of the best birthday gifts for nature lovers! Get comfortable with this spacious tent design made from recycled materials.

Whether trekking solo or backpacking with a friend, camp comfortably on the next expedition with plenty of space for storage and to stretch out at night. Two doors give each sleeper quick in/out access while two generous vestibules hold each camper’s gear.

What makes these tents such exceptionally unique gifts for nature lovers? These tents are made from fully recycled, durable materials including a polyester ripstop rainfly and a recycled floor and canopy that are built to last.

#15 Christmas Gift for Nature Lovers – Solo Stove Bonfire Portable Fire Pit

Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit - Smokeless Large 19.5 Inch Stainless Steel Outdoor Firepit | Portable Backyard Natural Wood Burning Firebowl | No Gas or Propane Required

Sure, everyone got a tent for camping, but did anyone bring the campfire? If you’re looking for a unique gift for nature lovers, this solo portable fire pit is sure to wow anyone! 

The Bonfire is not only easy to clean up, but won’t leave a group smelling like campfire smoke. The Bonfire burns wood, but produces almost no smoke and leaves only fine ash leftovers! 

Portable fire pits help protect forests from forest fires and promote the National Parks saying “leave it better than when you came.”

#16 Best Gift for Nature Lovers – BALMUDA Rechargeable LED Lantern

BALMUDA The Lantern | Rechargeable LED Lantern | 3 Light Modes: Candle, Amber, & Warm White | Battery Operated | Lightweight | Water-Resistant | US Version | White

Keep the lights on for your nature loving friends with this gorgeous rechargeable LED camping lantern. This lantern will light up any space with its soft glow, from the campsite to the bedroom. It is the perfect addition to any setting of everyday life or on the trails.

This lantern is adjustable to be bright enough to read by, or subdued enough to serve as an overnight night light in the tent.

The light source is hidden at the top so that it does not shine directly into the eyes making it the perfect addition to any camping supplies.

#17 Unique Gift for Nature Lovers – The North Face Eco Trail Down 20F / -7C Backpacking Sleeping Bag

The North Face Eco Trail Down—20, TNF Blue/Tin Grey, REG-RH

Next up on our list of unique gifts for nature lovers, we recommend this North Face sleeping bag optimized for temperatures as low as twenty degrees fahrenheit.

The eco-down material is created from 100% recycled fabrics that are durable and dry quickly in the event they become damp. No cold feet in this tent, just warm and cozy adventurers! 

These sleeping bags make excellent birthday gifts for nature lovers who need their sleep on the trails!

#18 Cool Gift for Nature Lovers – Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill

Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill, Red

Last but not least on our list of gifts for nature lovers, I had to recommend this mini propane grill that I personally use both in the backyard and at the campsite.

The Weber Q1200 Red Gas Grill features an 8500 BTU, durable split porcelain enameled cast iron grates, an accommodating  cooking space, built-in thermometer, large grip handle and control knob with ergonomic side handle. We love easy-to-use gifts for nature lovers!

This mini grill has quickly become one of my favorite appliances to take on the road when car camping, or when just whipping up a few burgers at home. We’re sure the nature lover in your life will appreciate the ability to cook outdoors on the fly!


This post was all about gifts for nature lovers.

Read these eco-friendly gift guides next:

Looking for more gifts for nature lovers? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts I’ve written on gifts for the outdoorsy person in your life:

Join Me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for planning gifts and finding new eco-friendly products! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and outdoor living tips.

21+ Consumable Gift Ideas for a Zero-Waste Christmas

consumables gift ideas

Looking for consumable gift ideas for that eco-friendly person in your life? Or, perhaps you are looking to consume less but still want to participate in the annual ritual of holiday gift giving. Look no further, because these are the best consumable gifts.

Americans produce 25% more waste per week in the time between Thanksgiving and New Years. Of course, much of this waste is associated with the gift giving around the holidays.

There is so much pressure around gift giving, many people giving in by gifting the cheap, plastic gift as a gesture to show they at least tried. (Think the terrible gift the boss gets all the employees every year that ends up in the trash!)

Now, I don’t want to suggest that we gift up the ritual of gift giving around this time entirely (or any time of year!) What’s the fun in that?! (Also, my love language happens to be gift giving, so this would be a difficult for me personally!)

Instead, I am gently suggesting choosing gifts that have less of an impact on the planet.

What is a consumable gift?

One way to reduce waste when gift giving is to choose consumable gifts. These are gifts that will be eaten, drank, burned, or otherwise used up and therefore not end up in a landfill.

Read on for the best consumable gift ideas!

This post is all about consumable gift ideas.

Hello, I’m Leslie

My name is Leslie, and I’m the founder of PunkMed! On my blog, I and my team share my info, experiences, and recommendations in the area of sustainability, urban homesteading, and outdoor living. Our goal is to make it less overwhelming for you to live a fun and sustainable life!

In today’s post, I’m sharing consumable gift ideas. To be 100% upfront, I have not personally tried all of the products on this list YET (that would be way too much!) I’ve noted which products I’ve tried and loved, and which products are next on my “To Try” list.

Let’s get into it!

Hello, I’m Leslie (she/her!) I hope you find the perfect consumable gift on the blog today! (Maybe a fruit basket?! Hehe.)

This post was all about consumable gift ideas.

#1 Consumable Gift Idea – Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Growing Kit

Back to the Roots Organic Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit, Harvest Gourmet Mushrooms In 10 Days

First up on our list of consumable gift ideas is this organic mushroom growing kit. This kit is a wonderful addition to any fungi lovers’ kitchen counter and grows rapidly.

The Back to the Roots Mushroom Growing Kit is completely organic and not genetically modified. The oyster mushrooms work well in stir frys, kebabs, quiches and many of your favorite dishes.

Just place the box near a window with indirect light, mist twice a day, and you’ll see delicious, beautiful mushrooms growing within a week. This kit means you won’t have to worry about access to fresh foods when the weather turns cold, making this one of the best consumable gift ideas!

#2 Consumable Gift – Modern Sprout Garden Jar – Cilantro

Modern Sprout Glass Jar Grow Set, Indoor Herb Garden, Seed Starter Set, Organic, Non-GMO, Cilantro

This consumable gift ideas guide wouldn’t be complete without this must-have for aspiring gardeners who may not have the time or space to grow their own food. 

The self-watering herb kits feature vintage-inspired mason jars outfitted with passive hydroponic systems known as wicking, which brings water and nutrients up to the plant’s roots.

This indoor planter comes equipped with everything you need to start growing, just add water and set in a sunny window. This kit comes with organic cilantro seeds, colored quart mason jar, stainless steel net pot, recycled glass growing medium, coco pith disk, polypro wick, plant food, and instruction manual.

#3 Luxury Consumable Gift – Maldon Sea Salt Flakes Tub

Maldon Salt, Sea Salt Flakes, 20.12 oz (570 g), 6 Count, Resealable Tub, Kosher, Natural, Handcrafted, Gourmet, Pyramid Crystals

Next up is one of our favorite luxury consumable gifts. Maldon salt is a prestigious and unique product known for its flavor and quality and sought after by the health-conscious and gourmets alike.

 Since 1882, Maldon salt has been made using  the same traditional artisan methods with no additives.

These consumable soft crunchy sea salt flakes have a fresh intensity and clean taste containing the perfect balance of natural minerals to enhance any dish.

#4 Consumable Gift Idea – Wood Smoked Barbecue Kit

Next up on our list is one of the best consumable gift ideas for the person in your life who takes barbeque seriously.

This easy-to-follow kit teaches individuals to finetune their smoking blend for flawless flavors in meats and veggies, making great consumable gift ideas for grill masters!

Just add a gas or charcoal grill, some food, and some guests and you have yourself an elevated backyard BBQ!

#5 Consumable Gift Idea – Olympia Provisions Salami Bouquet

Looking for luxury consumable gift ideas but can’t quite find the perfect fit? Forget a bouquet of flowers, how about a salami bouquet?

This is incredibly delicious gourmet salami, delivered straight to a loved one’s door all wrapped up in a festive, ribbon-tied arrangement. You can choose from a three- or six-sausage arrangement perfect for any occasion.

This salami bouquet is guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face as one of the best unique consumable gift ideas in this gift guide!

#6 Consumable Gift Idea – Popcorn Gift Basket

Are you shopping for a movie fan or maybe just someone known to Netflix and chill? This is one of our favorite consumable gift ideas for a luxurious night in.

This popcorn gift set includes gourmet mixed popcorn from India Tree, olive oil products from Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard in south Texas, and a selection of unique salts.

Why not treat someone special to this delicious elevated popcorn for their next movie night?

#7 Consumable Gift – Chinese Soup Dumpling Kit

Traditionally called xiao long bao (pronounced shau-long-bow in Mandarin), these tiny purses of hot, savory soup are a comforting balm to the soul. 

Made from paper-thin dough and your favorite filling, this specialty kit delivers all the tools you need to make mouthwatering dumplings at home including a bamboo steamer basket and a simple instructional guide for our first time soup dumpling eaters.

This consumable gift idea also makes a great date night activity as it is something you can do together in person or on a virtual date.

#8 Consumable Gift Idea – Kerber’s Farm Buttermilk Pancake Gift Box

Shopping for a breakfast lover in your life? Check out these Kerber’s Farm buttermilk pancake gift boxes!

This lovely box has a bag of buttermilk pancake mix tucked inside (it makes six fluffy pancakes) plus a bottle of Grade A, dark amber Vermont maple syrup for drizzling on top. 

Both come courtesy of a New York farm that’s been turning out tasty treats since 1941. Give it as a gift, then be sure to invite yourself over for breakfast.

#9 Consumables Gift Idea – Female Founders Food Collection

Supporting women-owned businesses should be a no-brainer, which is why we love this giftable collection of food items by women-owned organizations!

This package features local food from some of the most gifted female culinary leaders. From snacks to sauces to pantry staples, this basket has everything you need to start eating like royalty!

Enjoy delicacies like Cutting Masala Chai, Crispy Fava Beans and Spinach Basil Garlic Fettuccine and many more luxurious snacks as well!

#10 Consumable Gift Idea – Omsom The Best Seller Set

Next up on our list of consumable gift ideas are these meal starter kits that are  sure to make their mouth water. TheOmsom bestseller set comes complete with fifteen total meal starters that highlight Asian cuisine, which translates to at least 35 delicious meals.

This tasty set includes: Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ, Thai Larb, Japanese Yuzu Misoyaki, Korean Spicy Bulgogi and Thai Krapow. 

Use these meal starter kits to cook everything from chicken to salmon.

#11 Consumable Gift – Mulled Wine Cocktail Kit

We’ve been talking a lot about food, so instead here is one of our favorite consumable gifts that aren’t food: this mulled wine cocktail kit. 

We hereby nominate hot wine as the best winter beverage. Just ask the Europeans and their tradition of cozying up with spice-infused booze. 

This mulled wine kit comes with the tools and mulled wine spices to infuse at least eight bottles of red wine, white wine, or cider.

#12 Luxury Consumable Gift Idea – José Gourmet Canned Portuguese Seafood

It was a lucky day when the tides brought in Portugal-based José Gourmet tinned seafood products to the internet. This is one of our favorite consumable gifts for the adventurous seafood-lover.

With sustainable practices and game-changing flavors, they’re not your average canned fare. Featuring delicate sardines in a smoky sauce so good you’ll want to put it right on pasta for dinner tonight, we’re pretty certain we’ll never go back to regular ol’ tuna again. 

Each can is lovingly packaged and labeled (with designs by artist Luis Mendonça we’re pretty tempted to put on display) so you can have fresh seafood on hand at all times, right in your pantry.

#13 Consumable Gift Idea – andSons Chocolatiers Signature Collection Box

We’d like to humbly suggest these andSons chocolatiers boxes as the best consumable gift ideas for lovers and friends!

Inside each box, you’ll find a beautiful mix of old-world craftsmanship and artistic invention. Every hand-painted molded chocolate is made in Los Angeles using A+ ingredients—think: ethically sourced Valrhona cacao, no artificial nonsense in sight.

Pick the box that suits your fancy. Whatever you snag, you’ll be getting a medley of European-style ganaches and pralines (with flavors like Basil Lime and Striped Gianduja), plus a rainbow of bold, hand-painted confections (Pop Rock Praline, Speculoos Cookie…the list goes on).

#14 Consumable Gift Idea – Ghia Non-Alcoholic Spirit (Set of 2)

Looking for a consumable gift that isn’t food for the sober baddie in your life? Check out this non-alcoholic spirit set from Ghia.

Ghia just so happens to be alcohol-free (yep, no booze in this bottle). And let’s talk about that flavor: There’s a whole slew of herbs, extracts, and botanicals inside, giving it a delightfully earthy, floral, and vibrant taste, plus an overall soothing effect. 

This stuff’s best spritzed or whirled into your drink of choice. Just grab your prettiest vintage-inspired etched cocktail glasses and whip up a batch of these super easy cheesy, spicy crackers and you’re halfway to the happiest hour in town.

#15 Consumable Gift Idea – Fly by Jing Triple Threat Gift Set – Chili Crisp, Zhong Sauce, Mala Spice Mix

Are you looking for the ultimate Sichuan spice mix for a friend who loves spice? This Triple Threat gift set from Fly by Jing is one of our favorite consumable gift ideas for spicy food fans!

This set is made up of three stellar Sichuan spice mixes, including Sichuan Chili Crisp, Zhong Sauce, and Mala Spice Mix.

These spice mixes are a staple of many Asian recipes, as well as a delicious way to add flavor and depth to your favorite everyday dishes.

#16 Consumable Gift Idea – Brightland 100% Extra Virgin Heirloom Olive Oil

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more lovingly-crafted—or strikingly-packaged—olive oil. It’s consciously produced in California using heirloom olives that are harvested right on-site (of course it’s 100% extra-virgin). 

Each EVOO comes in a glass bottle that’s been UV-powder coated to protect its precious contents from damaging light. 

This also means you can display it for all to admire on your countertop. Next stop: the best-dressed salads on the block.

#17 Consumable Gift Basket Idea – Vegan Snack Favorites Oversized Gift Box

Shopping for the vegan foodie in your life? This oversized gift box is the perfect way to discover the best in vegan snacks, whether you’re a long-time vegan or just vegan-curious. 

These delicious, better-for-you snacks have been carefully selected to surprise and delight even the pickiest of taste buds. Vegan snacks can involve treks to many different grocery stores, so a gift box helps newbies dip their toes into the pool of vegan delights with ease!

This box includes free shipping to the US, which is just one more perk of sharing yummy vegan treats with friends near or far.

#18 Consumable Gift Idea – Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box

These tasting boxes had us at “cheese,” and then we found out there was even more to love. It’s not a gift guide for consumable gift ideas without gourmet cheese!

Everything inside ‘em comes straight from Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont, where there’s a 22,000-square-foot, seven-vaulted cellar for aging cheddars and blues. Each cheese is made with top-notch milk from a single herd of cows, too (either Jasper Hill’s or one at a nearby creamery).

Looking for some perfect pairings to round out your cheese board? This gift box has got you covered there too. The Diversion bundle doles out three winning fromages and four mini jars of jam, so you can add your pick of crackers, nuts, and fruit. And if you want the whole kit and kaboodle? Spring for The Full Spread, which comes with five cheesy favorites, plus a wow-worthy lineup of pickles, crackers, nuts, and spreads, all crafted in small batches by Vermont-based artisans.

#19 Consumable Gift – Beekeeper’s Naturals

All of Beekeeper’s Naturals products come from small-scale, remote apiaries primarily across Canada and the US, as well as exotic regions around the world such as the Brazilian rainforest.

Beekeeper’s Naturals include important ingredients such as bee pollen, bee propolis (a source of prebiotics and antioxidants) as well as Vitamin D, and many more raw ingredients designed to fuel your body.

Beekeeper’s Naturals works with apiary partners to ensure that all their bee products are sustainably-sourced and of the highest quality. Rest assured that Beekeeper’s Naturals products always put the health of the bees first.

#20 Consumable Gifts That Aren’t Food – Wellness Bath Salts with CBD & Lavender

Inspired by the relaxing ritual of bathing, this multi-botanical CBD bath soak is formulated to renew you in body and mind. If relaxation is top of mind for consumable gift ideas that aren’t food, these bath salts are the way to go!

The mineral-rich Epsom salts are infused with the tension-relieving benefits of organically-grown kava, lavender, calendula, ginger, and hemp. 

This calming CBD bath salt blend delivers a symphony of botanicals to nourish skin, encourage circulation, relieve discomfort, and leave you feeling revitalized.

#21 Consumable Gift Idea – Pasta Subscriptions Box

Sfoglini’s 100% organic Brooklyn-made small-batch pastas gives grocery store boxes a run for their money with unique flavors made from locally-sourced ingredients. This is one of our favorite consumable gift ideas because PASTA, duh. 

If you’re like us, the week isn’t complete without at least one or two hearty pasta meals, so Sfoglini’s pasta subscription keeps our pantry stocked and our cooking interesting. Each month for three to six months, you’ll get one box of their signature pasta and one box of a seasonal variety. 

You might get fennel in October, chili pepper in August, or ramp in May (just add olive oil and a sprinkle of cheese for instant gratification)—you’ll have to wait and see! You’ll also get recipes and pairing suggestions from a well-known chef in each shipment. It’s the perfect gift for that fusilli fiend in your life.

Read these eco-friendly gift guides next:

Looking for more gifts for eco-minded people? Below, I’ve shared a number of posts I’ve written on gifts for the earthy-crunchy person in your life:

Join Me on Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for planning gifts and finding new sustainable products! Join me on Pinterest here, to get all of my gift guides and sustainable tips.