Christmas gifts for gardeners

Helen Chesnut suggests keeping everything as simple as possible, sticking to the basics, and shopping locally, at garden centers, and other outlets this holiday season.

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Q. Have you thought about how gardening families might influence the Christmas holidays and gift giving this year? I think many families must be feeling at least a little insecure in light of all the recent natural and human challenges.

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A. Keeping everything as simple as possible, sticking to the basics, and buying locally, at garden centers, and other outlets comes to mind immediately.

Over the past two years, food safety has become a major issue. People have flocked to grow some of their own food in their gardens and on patios, terraces, and balconies. Gifts to support this ongoing and highly helpful quest could include seeds, labels, waterproof markers, and perhaps a book on food gardening. The most comprehensive title I know of year-round fruit and vegetable growing in our climate is by Linda Gilkeson Backyard reward .

Consider flower seeds that fit well in vegetable patches and attract beneficial insects. Among the best are sweet alder, calendula, coriander, and cosmos. Nasturtiums light up a vegetable garden.
For growing nutritious food indoors, various types of seed germination equipment are available. Suitable seeds include mung beans, adzuki beans, alfalfa, and mixes. The seeds must be designated as safe for germination, they are not treated with fungicides.

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Microgreens are grown in shallow pots and in a seed mix. Beet greens, kale, peas, and sunflower sprouts are popular. West Coast Seeds has useful information and seeds, both for microgreens and sprouts.

Also consider simple gifts made at home from the garden, such as jelly or jam jars. My big laurel tree offers many gifts, tied with raffia, for friends.

Gardeners, especially beginners, may not have all the tools they need for simple gardening. A sturdy long-handled digging shovel, a comfortable hand cultivator, or a durable hand pruner might help.

The local garden center displays will present more ideas for combining a simple gift with the current interior or exterior gardening interests of the person you are shopping for.