My first holiday party of ‘08 (last night) revolved enthusiastically around the home of Katie and Abby in Kennett Square, PA; punch in hand and polenta-topped-with-mushroom bites as well, conversation clanked around talk of Vikings and Germanic cultural traditions still in evidence here today. And just as construction techniques for Viking ships began to overwhelm me, Tim Mountz of Happy Cat Organics steered the discussion around to his seed packets sitting out as party souvenirs.
I must have had a bit too much punch as I forgot to grab a couple tomato varieties to take home, and I’ll have to get in touch with Tim and his wife Amy Bloom again soon. Specializing in heirloom varieties, some of which come from Tim’s grandfather’s gardening traditions, their seeds are my idea of a perfect Christmas gift: locally made, very little packaging, long-term tasty benefits, and the fact that purchasing them helps those that grow them continue to preserve food heritage and perhaps more importantly, food security. I believe time will tell how multi-faceted our food sources need to be to withstand the vagaries of disease, pollution, weather and other stresses; seed growers such as Tim and Amy remain an invaluable part of local food systems.
Now on to my other Christmas wish-list items: I desire a fruit CSA share from North Star Orchard. Nine pounds of local peaches, apples and plums a week (and many more fruits as well), would keep me happy in the kitchen from August through October, and then well on into the winter should I manage to preserve some.
I’d also like a water heater for my chicken waterer; ours from Idaho has been lost in transit and the ladies need un-frozen water. (Thankfully it hasn’t been an issue yet, as the coop is well-insulated and the temperature was in the 50s yesterday!)
I’m pretty well set though, and the rest of my desires are for others. Kind of like hoping for a best friend to fall in love with a good person, I’d like Chester County residents to fall in love with their local farmers and crafters (all of whom are also 
businessmen and women, by the way). So here are gift ideas for our communities:
CSA shares from the area’s farms, Community Garden volunteer hours, Food bank donations, cookbooks and family time in the kitchen, locally made art, around-the-house gift certificates (cleaning, massage, music playing), further education at Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba, Chester County Night School and more, land conservation memberships, volunteer time at senior centers, antique shopping, and much much more (not to leave out re-gifting something or other . . . )
So look up your area’s artists in holiday bazaars, get on the phone to the land trusts, pick up some heirloom seeds, and have a hot toddy while you’re at it. Gifting this season is about celebrating the local area by engaging the recipient in an action that directly benefits Chester County. If your holiday party card still has some open spaces, take a moment to bring some food over to your local food bank.
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