Organic & Thrifty

It’s hard to believe we are nearly halfway through December with holiday festivities just around the corner.  I have to admit, the rushing, the spending, the advertising, and the big box stores all really drain my energy this time of year.  Christmas is a sacred holiday centered around giving; which is a beautiful thing.  But when giving becomes indulgent, greedy, and wasteful I think we really miss the point.  Here at Organic and Thrifty, we value quality over quantity. We chose to support sustainable products and businesses and principles which give back to the earth and do no harm.  I’m not here to convince you that these need to be your values, but if they are, I encourage you to read on for some great sustainable (and quality!) Christmas ideas.  The best thing? You can avoid driving and long lines (and possibly even shipping!) and excellent costumer service along the way.

If you’ve ever checked out my Resources page, you have already been introduced to these great businesses. These sponsors all work through the Real Food Mediaad network, and when you support these businesses, a small percentage goes to support the work of this blog as well as the other Real Food Media bloggers.  Real Food Media is choosy about who we support, and you will be able to tell if you ever work with any of these businesses.  I’ve gotten feedback from readers who have ordered items from a number of different sponsor, and consistantly, across the board, the message is “Wow, I can’t believe what amazing customer service”.

The Nutrivene Company (listed as GapsDiet.com) actually personally called one reader after placing an order to make sure the order was correct and the shipment was received within a few days.  US Wellness meats offered another reader to gift wrap some of the items ordered and asked for specific instructions through e-mail.  Their order was received within a few days as well.  I mention these instances to illustrate that with these companies, you are working with real people, not beaurocrats and middle-men, who have a mission to promote real food, health, and sustainability. 

If you are still needing to complete your Christmas or Holiday shopping list, please take a peek through my Resources page and shop around!  But first, here’s some additional information:

Actual Organics

Actual organics has a line of cosmetics, perfumes, and mother-baby personal care items good enough to eat.  Literally.  No harmful ingredients.  Read more about them here!

The Homestead Company

If you’re looking for a great gift for someone in your life who struggles with dry skin or eczema, or are looking for a 100% natural and effective diaper rash cream, check out the products offered at The Homestead Company.  Check out my resources page for a 15% off coupon on your order!

US Wellness Meats

If you want to give a gift of wellness that is unique and fun, why not give someone the opportunity to choose from the myriad of items sold at US Wellness meats?  A gift certificate will give someone in your life a chance to choose from high quality, sustainably raised beef, pork. goat, rabbit, turkey, grassfed cheese.

Grass-fed beef is rich in omega-3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids (the healthy fat found in salmon), in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a proven cancer fighter and lean muscle-building tool, as well as vitamins A and E, essential nutrients that are known for their antioxidant properties. When it comes to nutrition, grass-fed beef truly is a completely different animal. (source)

The Urban Homemaker

If you value thrift and self-sustainability, the The Urban Homemaker is your one-stop shopping center for all items that will help you be more self-sufficient!  This family-run business supplies all kinds of resources for the kitchen, including Bosch mixers, grain mills, and Norwex environmental products (you have to go read about these amazing products!)

Cultures for Health

I’ve blogged a lot about this amazing little company; but don’t just think they sell cultures.  At Cultures for Health you’ll find a host of other gift-worthy items such as cheesemaking kits, Excalibur dehydrators (my favorite dehydrator!!!), and an extensive collection of the best books on the subject of Real Foods.  Check them out; you’ll find some unique books and kitchen supplies, and even gift certificates are available.

Pure Indian Foods Grassfed Ghee

Grassfed ghee is an utter nectar of heaven, and what a unique and amazing gift to give!   The best thing? It’s lactose and casein free, which means it can be enjoyed by people on the GAPS diet or who are simply looking for a wholesome source of animal fat.   Check out their website for countless articles and information on the amazing health benefits of ghee.

I hope you’ll consider supporting these purveyors of high-quality foods!  Spend wisely!