By Sarah Nayani at Grow Girl Seattle
Any other holiday shopping slackers out there? Here are some last minute gift ideas for Seattle locals to pick up this week. These are all tried-and-true items I love and use from small Seattle businesses - everything from books to beer, and makeup to CBD!
Ras Levi Peynado, owner of Herban Farm NW, is a fifth generation farmer who grows all of the peppers and herbs he uses for his hot sauce and seasonings right in North Seattle! Stop in at Pike Place Market to see him this week, or order online.
While you're at Pike Place visit DeLaurenti for incredible chocolates, jarred & canned goods, and other treats for stockings. You could sign up a friend for the DeLaurenti wine club, or pick up an amazing assortment of meats & cheeses on your way to a holiday party.
Seattle company Girlfriend Collective has the most comfortable and supportive leggings, bras, and shorts - but get this - they're made from recycled plastic bottles and fish nets! Me and my friend Meagan swear by this company. I have their Compressive High Rise Legging (in black), the Float Ultralight Bike Short (in fig), the ReSet Relaxed Tank (in plum), and the Undress (in fern). Since this kind of shopping is pretty personal, a gift card would be a thoughtful, sustainable, and local gift that doesn't seem rushed!
Seattle Urban Farm Co.'s Colin McCrate and Brad Halm wrote the foundational texts for growing food in small & urban spaces: High Yield Vegetable Gardening, Food Grown Right In Your Backyard, and coming soon Grow More Food which you can pre-order. All of their books are also available on Kindle. SUFCo offers garden coaching and pre-recorded webinars in their online shop that make great last-minute gifts!
Did you know Chef Shota Nakajima from Top Chef is a Seattleite? You can grab his teriyaki sauce for the cook in your family with quick shipping on Amazon or pick up at Uwajimaya. And while you're at it buy a gift card to his restaurant Taku and tape it right onto the teriyaki bottle - gift cards are so much more fun to get when they're paired with something you can unwrap!
Pioneer Squares are my favorite CBD and THC edibles, with the best Seattle name! I love Black & Blueberry CBD (there's a real blueberry inside the edible!) and the Pink Lemonade THC. Highly recommend - and these would be perfect stocking stuffers! My husband and I get our Pioneer Squares at Dockside Cannabis in Ballard, and I just saw on their website that they do 10% off online pre-orders.
Thrive Causemetics is a Seattle-based & woman-owned cosmetics company that is vegan and cruelty-free, as well as sulfate/paraben/gluten/fragrance-free. I don't wear makeup all that often these days, but every piece of makeup I own is from them because it's light, natural, and breathable. I use their Brilliant Face Brightener, Buildable Blur CC Cream (with spf), Creaseless Concealer, Eyeshadow Stick, and Liquid Lash Mascara. Check out some of Thrive's recent donations to feel even better about making this your new makeup co!
For your friend who is always heading to the mountains, check out MONTyBOCA's Trail Meals eBook and Virtual Backcountry Cooking Workshop. Chef Corso has the most delicious recipes and videos to elevate your meals in the outdoors.
If you're in north Seattle, stop into the gift shop at Swanson's Nursery in Ballard for beautiful gifts such as candles, pottery, cookbooks, puzzles, prints, cards, and more - or potted orchids or plants (and buy some plants for yourself while you're at it!). You could also buy gardening tools or a gift card for your green-thumbed friend. Take a break from the holiday stress to drink some coffee by the koi pond before heading home.
If you're in south Seattle, head to City People's Garden Store for similar & gorgeous gift options. A gift card there could cover a houseplant consultation, sharpening services for garden tools, nursery and greenhouse items, pottery, and so much more. Swanson's and City People's are like heaven for garden people.
You could win the day with your family by bringing General Porpoise doughnuts for Christmas breakfast...or lunch...or dinner...! They have three locations (Cap Hill, Laurelhurst, and Pioneer Square), but make sure to pre-order. They also have adorable merchandise - my favorite MiiR coffee mug is from GP!
Why stop at doughnuts when you could also bring beer!? Grab a growler or six-pack at Reuben's Brews in Ballard.
Give an experience with a class or DIY kit at The Works in West Seattle. Upcoming classes include an intro to weaving, misty forest watercolor, tarot, and truffle-making!
My friend Mikaela and I got the chance to take Loko Kitchen's tart class through The Works back in 2018, and it was an incredible experience. I would highly recommend ordering Lauren Ko's beautiful book Pieometry as a gift for the baker in your life.
You could gift your close friends "admission to your supper club" (even cuter if you home-make a gift certificate), and plan a date in January to home cook them a seafood feast! Pre-order from Trident's Pop Up Fish Shop, a no-contact drive through where you pull up, open your trunk, and pull out! Easy breezy wild-Alaska-halibut squeezy!
And if you haven't gotten a gift for yourself yet this year, consider the best investment I have ever made: nutrition & mindset coaching with Natalie Joffe. Natalie helped me work through food & body image issues to reduce all of the noise and take better care of my mind, body, and soul on my own terms! She has been such an inspiration.
And last but not least - nothing can beat fresh local flowers!! Pick up our spring flower subscription for March or April for someone you really love. Our vase arrangements and wrapped bouquets will bring color and joy after months of Seattle rain and darkness.
Happy holidays! I hope this gift guide gave you some great local options for last minute gifts. I'll sign off with some of my favorite snowy photos that I've taken - from Washington, Maine, Alaska, and Montana.
- Sarah
