‘Tis the season for holiday gifting! Does this internet need another gift guide? Perhaps not… But we found existing lists somewhat lacking in things we would actually use and give to the gardeners in our lives. So here it is! Portland Edible Gardens’ guide to gifting for all different kinds of gardeners. As always, none of these recommendations are sponsored and we’ll provide ideas for our favorite local shops to support while you’re on the hunt!
Our favorite way to shop for gardener stocking stuffers is to go to our local hardware or feed store and shop their displays! Some of our favorites are Wichita Feed and Hardware, Linnton Feed and Seed, and the showroom at Concentrates Inc. The links below are for reference, most of these shops will have these tools in stock!
1. Mini tape measure - So useful to have on hand for accurate plant spacing.
2. Fresh garden gloves - Nothing too fancy, because let’s be honest, these will likely end up covered in dirt in the corner of the shed. We opt for buying a few sets of the less expensive ones to cycle through.
3. Sharpening tool - For keeping shears and snips nice and sharp, because gardening with a dull blade is the worst.
4. Rite in the Rain pocket notebook - Our favorite little notebooks for jotting garden notes in any weather. They work best with pencil, so grab a couple of those too!
5. Permanent garden markers - Great for writing plant tags that won’t fade in the sun.
1. Hori hori - We love this tool so much we’ve written in-depth about it here! It is a truly multipurpose tool that is great for planting, weeding, harvesting, and cutting down plants at the end of the season. And this one with the wooden handle is beautiful as well as practical.
2. Tool bucket organizer - Great for keeping all of your hand tools organized while you putter. For next level organization, keep your organic fertilizers and pest control items in little containers inside the bucket.
3. Harvest basket - We love this utilitarian model for its durability. Plus you can easily rinse harvested produce on the side with drainage holes.
4. A consultation with Portland Edible Gardens - We promise, this is the only time we’ll promote our own service! Reach out via our contact form or shoot us an email if you’d like to gift an initial consultation to a novice gardener in your life who is ready to take their garden to the next level.
1. Red Gorilla XL Tub - These gardening tubs are the best we’ve used! They are flexible, lightweight, and sturdy. And we haven’t broken a handle yet after years of heavy use.
2. Zero-G Hose - Our go-to hose for daily use. It is easy to wind and rarely kinks - plus it’s easy to repair yourself if it happens to get run over with the lawnmower. 50ft is a good length for most gardens.
3. Gardening clogs - Perhaps not the most fashionable shoe, but every gardener needs a pair of waterproof clogs to slip on to pop out to the garden! Our favorites are the Super-Birki, a Classic Croc, and the internet’s favorite Plasticana Gardana Clog.
4. Good waterproof gloves - For our year-round PNW gardeners who have spent their fair share of time gardening in the rain. These gloves are great because they have a fully waterproof outer lining and thermal interior lining.
1. Really good olive oil - Growing tomatoes in the PNW is a labor of love! When it’s finally time to harvest, eating tomatoes fresh from the garden with a dash of the good stuff is the way to go. Portland has an abundance of specialty grocery stores with amazing olive oil selections. We love Wellspent Market (who even have an olive oil CSA!), Providore Fine Foods, La Bouffe International Gourmet, and Good Measure Cafe and Grocery.
2. Fancy salt - To compliment your really good olive oil! We love the locally-produced salts from Jacobsen Salt Co. or go with the classic Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. Any of the above shops will have a great selection.
3. Tomato knife - A perfect little serrated knife for slicing tomatoes. Head to Portland Knife House for more great options!
4. Tomato harvest trug: There’s nothing like harvesting your gorgeous garden-grown heirloom tomatoes into a beautiful basket. For a next-level handmade option, check out Gardenheir. If you love the hunt, this is also a great item to search for at thrift shops; we’ve found great options at Goodwill, Urbanite, and ReRun. Look for something low and wide so tomatoes can be stored in a single layer.
We love our indie book shops! A few of our favorites are Powell’s, Broadway Books, and Two Rivers Bookstore.
1. Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon - Classic reference book for PNW veggie gardeners.
2. Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden - Our favorite cookbook for inspiring ways to use all that garden-grown produce, written by Portland-based chef and farmer!
3. The Gardening Book by Monty Don - A gardening book written in the style of a cookbook by our favorite gardener from across the pond.
4. Planting the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf - Not a veggie gardening book! A gorgeous reference book for selecting naturalistic plants for other areas of the garden.
1. ARS Pruners - Our favorite all-purpose pruners that are especially great for harvesting cut flowers!
2. Leather Pruner Holster - For carrying said pruners (and, in our experience, the key to not losing them in the garden). Portland Nursery and Garden Fever also stock great options.
3. Ceramic Flower Vase - Another great gift to thrift/hunt for! Our favorite for an unfussy garden bouquet is something tall with a wide mouth and slightly narrow neck. Hilary Horvath also stocks a beautiful line of perfect handmade vases.
4. Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler - A great book for flower growers who are interested in pushing the boundaries of our growing season with cold-weather hardy flowers.
Happy holidays and happy gifting!
Originally from New York, Amelia moved to Oregon in 2016 and has been farming ever since. She has worked on and managed farms from 16 acre mixed veggies to an intensive half acre of cut flowers. Her love of plants also manifested at school educational gardens, a genomics lab at a botanical garden, a seed saving nonprofit in Bangalore, India, and flower shops across the country. When she’s not puttering in the garden, find Amelia working on a sewing project or exploring a new park with her daughter.
