10 Steps in Supporting Your Community, Saving Money & Eating Local This Holiday Season
- Shop at the Winter Farmer’s Market for holiday meals and seasonal gifts! Dates can be found on seacoasteatlocal.org. Some farms also offer ‘bulk sales’ for items that store well like onions if you buy in quantity.
- Buy your family Christmas tree locally! Check out Riverside Farm Stand & Greenhouse in North Berwick or Brasen Hill Farm in Barrington, for example.
- Check out the Button Factory Open Studios December 3rd and 4th off of Islington Street in Portsmouth for local handmade gifts.
- Contact Seacoast Family Food Pantry, Salvation Army and/or Cross Roads House to seek out volunteer and donation options during the holidays. Or, volunteer at a winter farmers’ market or make a year-end donation to Seacoast Eat Local, of course (learn about it here)!
- If you find yourself with an abundance of food, donate to your local pantry to feed another family who might be in need.
- Dig up those old baby mittens, rusted cookie cutters, decorate wine corks as reindeer, use fresh cut pine tree branches as greenery around the house; just a few ideas to minimize store bought décor.
- Use newspaper as wrapping paper!
- Organizing “Secret-Santa” for large (and small) families to help everyone save money on gifts (and trying to figure out what to get everyone!)
- Check out Toys for Tots and Coats for Kids Foundation to see where and when you can donate to make a difference in someone else’s life. If you don’t have spare/old toys, but wish to contribute and don’t want to just donate money – there are many vendors online that sell corporate gifts wholesale, allowing you to buy in bulk and donating a volume of whatever is needed.
- Stay active even when it’s cold! Prescott Park offers reasonably priced ice skating, sled down Wagon Hill, and don’t forget your favorite trails for a winter hike.