You Grow Girl™

Forced Bulbs and Forced Bulb Kits: Give the gift of plants that you're allowed to kill. They won't last forever so you're not forcing a brown-thumb into a long term commitment. But they'll last long enough to bring a little sunshine into the dreary days of winter. Kits are great for the green-thumb who want to do it themselves.
· Full article and instructions.

Herbal Bath Tea: I've been making this one for years and have it down to a science. Use dried herbs from your garden or purchased in bulk. The perfect gift for those who bathe -- which is just about everyone.
· Full article and instructions.

Seed Packs: Most gardeners like seeds. If you collected seeds from your garden this year, then you've probably got a few spares to give away. Or alternatively buy some heirloom seeds from organizations like Seed Savers or Seeds of Diversity. Make your seeds unique by designing your own packages. Use nice paper, photos, tiny money envelopes, drawings, cut outs from old seed catalogues, or design them on your computer and print them out. We have a few designs here that you can use to get started and some labels you can print out onto plain or sticker paper and attach.
· Info about harvesting and packaging seeds.

Give the Gift of Clean Air: Cuttings are a great, and totally free gift you can give to the plant-loving people on your list. Pot them up ahead of time so they will be established and healthy before the recipient takes them home. When giving to beginners be sure to include instructions and choose easy care plants.
· Easy care plants and growing instructions.
· Plant Propagation Instructions.

Herbal Vinegars: Healthy and tasty herbal vinegars made from weeds growing in your own back yard.
· Full instructions.

MORE IDEAS

Garden Help I.O.U's: Promise the gardener on your list some help with their garden. Draw up an I.O.U. certificate and list the total number of hours you will be available. This gift is especially good for those with physical limitations who need help with some of the more difficult, back-breaking gardening chores.

Gardener's Journal: Make a journal for your gardening friend. There are lots of easy, introductory book binding methods available that could be used. Incorporate an assortment of paper, envelopes for seed or tag storage, a calendar, an attachable pen (hung by a ribbon), a place marker, or a handful of photo corners.

Seed Cards: A set of blank note cards impressed with seeds (wildflower, herbs) are a good gift for the green thumb. If you know how to make paper, then you can make seed cards. Make paper following your usual procedure but throw some seeds into the pulp at the last minute and set aside to dry.
· Paper making instructions.

Cat Grass Tins: Buy a tin with a lid or reuse one you have kicking around. Throw in some dry potting soil. Sprinkle a layer of rye grass seeds across the surface of the soil. Apply a very thin layer of dry soil on top of the seeds. Put on the lid and attach a sticker or label that says "Cat Grass". Maybe include some growing instructions. It is that easy. Alternatively you can substitute the cat grass for some easy-to-grow herb seeds such as basil, cilantro, or dill and call it "Herbs In A Can" instead.
Cat Grass Growing Instructions. 1. Moisten soil with water. It should be wet, not soggy. 2. Place tin, with lid off in a dark place for a few days. 3. Once germinated, place tin in bright, window. 4. Keep soil moist (not soggy) and give to your cat when the grass is long enough for munching.

Herb and Spice Mixes: Buy lots of dried herbs and spices from a good bulk supplier. Alternately use herbs grown from your garden. I once made a great garam masala this way. I bought good dried spices in bulk, roasted it all on a tray in the oven (low heat), and then ground it all up in a spice grinder (or blender). Hint* Splurge and buy the cardamom pre-ground rather than as whole pods. I spent hours shelling tiny cardamom seeds.
Alternatively you can forego the grinding and leave the spices whole to keep them fresh longer. Package it all up in small metal tins and slap on a decorative label.
Ingredients for Garam Masala: Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns.

Herbal Tea Kit: Another gift that uses extras from the garden. Package herbs loosely in ziploc baggies or tiny jars (a six pack of spice jars is inexpensive). Pre-fill empty tea bags for beginner tea drinkers who can't navigate a tea ball or sew your own reusable tea bags from cotton muselin. If you're feeling confident, try making up personalized tea mixes. [See a list of herbs and their uses below] Accessorize your kit with a teacup or two, a small tea pot, a tea ball, a jar of honey, a stick of licorice or stevia (dried or liquid) for sweetening, cookies, or anything that might go with a cup of tea. A good book or video will work too.

· Herbs For Tea
· For coughs and colds: mullein leaves, catnip, echinacea root, ginger root, nettle, rosehips
· Relaxation: lavender, catnip, lemon balm, chamomile, dill
· Stimulating: mint, rosemary (also good for headaches), lemongrass
· Digestive & Stomach: lemon balm, ginger root (nausea), marshmallow root, dill
· Tasty: lemon verbena, chocolate mint, lavender, lemon catnip

· Related Articles: Herbal Tea Delight, Grow a Lemongrass Plant

ELSEWHERE

Poetry Bricks: Decorative "stone" bricks for the gardener.

Twig Coasters: Ambitious people can modify this to make entire placemats as well.

Mini Herb Garden Kit: Everything needed to grow some herbs.