Festive kitchen garden gift ideas

The year is winding down and holidays are just around the corner. Stuck on inspiration for end of year pressies, or looking to shop ethically this festive season? Have a squiz at our favourite gift ideas to make at home, or at your school or service. All are easy on the budget, quick to whip up, and have a lovely, hand-made touch, perfect for socially conscious friends, family, and colleagues.

If you’re short on time, check out our list of ready-made gifts from the Foundation’s online shop. 

Proceeds help educators deliver pleasurable food education to children across Australia – so your gift will keep on giving. But get in quick for pre-Christmas delivery!

Kitchen garden gifts you can make:

• Preserved Lemons. Give a gift that gets better with age and add extra flavour to festive meals with a jar of preserved lemons. Salt mellows the bitter tang of the lemons and the preserving process makes them soft and easy to to anything from mashed potatoes, summer salads, or even as a dash of citrus to homemade dips. Download recipe.
• Recycled Seed Paper. Create some eco-friendly seed paper using paper scraps and seeds saved from your garden. You can also embed dried flowers or petals for a festive touch. 
  The paper makes lovely festive gift cards that can be planted directly into the ground after use. Download activity.
• Quick Pickles. Experiment with seasonal vegetables and different types of vinegars, herbs and spices to make a batch of pickles. The pickles are ready to eat in an hour or two, and make a delicious accompaniment to festive dishes and leftovers. Download recipe.
• Strawberry Jam. Make the most of the summer strawberry glut with this easy to make Strawberry Jam recipe - a staple spread loved the world over by children and adults alike. Download recipe.
• Propagated Rosemary. This tasty culinary herb is the perfect mate to add to roast potatoes, flavoured oil, or hearty bakes, soups and stews. Taking cuttings of existing plants is a great way to grow new plants for free, and propagated rosemary makes a gorgeous, fragrant gift. Download activity.
• Kitchen Herb Pots. Create bright pots of herbs to dress up kitchen windowsills. Plant terracotta pots with herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, sage and rosemary. Decorate the pots with colourful ribbons and give them away to family and friends. Download activity.

Gift ideas from the Foundation’s online shop:

• Stephanie Alexander’s cooking and gardening books. Our online shop has signed copies of most of Stephanie Alexander’s 19 books, including her beautiful new collection of recipes and essays, Home. Shop now.
• The Kitchen Garden Journal. The Foundation’s Kitchen Garden Journal is the perfect gift for anyone looking for tips on growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing throughout the seasons. Shop now.
• Kitchen Garden Foundation aprons. Our Kitchen Garden Foundation aprons for adults and children are sure to be a hit with all cooks, no matter the age. Shop now.
• Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion Planting Chart. This poster-sized planting chart provides month-by-month suggestions for when to plant seasonal vegetables in all climates. Shop now.
• The Great Chicken Escape. By Brendan Bolton. Garden Specialist and storyteller Brendan has run kitchen garden programs in Victorian primary schools for many years. In his debut children’s book, The Great Chicken Escape, he shares the true story of some cheeky chooks and their high-henergy getaway. Shop now. 
• Kitchen Garden Foundation calico bag. Why not add one of our new calico bags to your online order, to ‘wrap’ your kitchen and garden gifts? They also make a handy and practical Kris Kringle present. Shop now.

If you need to buy a gift for the person who has everything, please consider making a donation to the Kitchen Garden Foundation. Your contribution will support children and young people to form positive food habits for life. All donations are tax-deductible. Donate here.