Our ethical Christmas

We’ve been so busy these last few weeks packing and wrapping everyone else’s presents that we’ve not started on our own yet!

So as time is of the essence we’re taking a slightly different approach to Christmas this year. We're shopping locally where we can and rather than buying material things, we’re gifting new experiences to our nearest and dearest.

These are some of the adventures we think our loved ones will enjoy taking time for.

Time to read more:

We’re thinking our favourite periodicals of curiosities and inspiration. The Ernest Journal for the adventurous and Oh Comely for those who love a little literary, arty inspiration.

Ernest Journal                                              Oh Comely 

Time to grow more:

We have friends with gardens, allotments and just pots on the window sill who all love pottering so we're thinking Widehaugh House gardening courses. And for the more urban gardeners the gift of learning a little more about the growing and healing properties of herbs at Dilston Physic garden.

 Widehaugh House                                        Dilston Physic Garden

And all our gifts this year will be wrapped in 100% plantable papers impregnated with seeds from Eden Papers. These fabulous papers can be scrunched and buried for a vegetable or floral harvest later in the year - how great is that!

Eden Papers

Time to make more:

Turning off the technology and getting engrossed in making something is not just a delightful escape but satisfyingly frugal too! We're fortunate to have Allendale Forge Studio on our doorstep with workshops to bring the craftsperson out in us all. And for those who enjoy a little furniture up-cycling we're thinking an afternoon with Vintage Butterfly.

Allendale Forge Studios                             Vintage Butterfly

Time to cook more:

We love evenings spent around the kitchen table with friends so we thought we'd drop some hints for ourselves. An afternoon cheese tasting with the Northumberland Cheese Company or brushing up our skills with Outcook would be just perfect!

Northumberland Cheese Company                  Outcook

So if you need some last minute inspiration we hope these help!

Christmas picture taken from keepcalm-havecoffee.tumblr.com