The winter holidays are here! If you’re like most people, the holidays tend to arrive with a swirl of glittering lights, warm drinks, family gatherings and—too often—mountains of gift wrap, plastic packaging, and impulse purchases that don’t last past January. But gifting doesn’t have to follow this pattern. In fact, some of the most meaningful, low-waste gifts are those you can grow right at home, even in the coldest months of the year.

This season, consider giving gifts that carry a little life inside them—potted herbs, homemade teas, infused oils, or even tiny plant babies you’ve propagated yourself. They’re personal, affordable, wildly eco-friendly, and perfect for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. And best of all, they bring joy to the holiday season without generating waste.

In this article you’ll find creative, easy-to-grow gift ideas you can start right now, along with simple ways to present them beautifully using what you already have at home.

green gift box with a tag sitting next to a jar of pink roses

Why Grow-Your-Own Gifts?

Growing your own gifts can feel like wrapping a piece of the earth and offering it to someone you care about. It’s low-waste, intentional, and refreshingly budget-friendly. Best of all, it’s a unique gift that tells others you’ve made an extra effort. When the alternative is another round of mass-produced, long-shipped items, a personalized gift that comes from something you grew yourself feels infinitely more genuine, and far kinder to the planet.

1. The Environmental Impact

When you grow gifts at home:

There’s no excessive packaging, no single-use plastics, and no shipping emissions.
You can reuse jars, tins, and mugs you already have.
You avoid the supply-chain bloat and energy footprint of commercial holiday products.

This is sustainability at its most practical and heartfelt.

2. The Emotional Impact

There’s something special about receiving a gift someone has nurtured from seed or stem. It signals time, thoughtfulness, and real care, which can be a rarity in the typical seasonal rush culture. Even if your giftee isn’t a gardener, they can enjoy the simplicity of a useful gift created from a living plant without needing any special skills to care for it.

3. Budget-Friendly by Nature

A packet of seeds can become 10 gifts or more. Propagated houseplants cost nothing. Even herb kits can be assembled for under $5 if you reuse containers. Alternatively, you can assemble curated seed mixes for your giftee to grow ready-made herb gardens. A packet of parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary and oregano can be labeled “Italian seasoning,” while mix of cherry tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeño and onions can create a “salsa blend.”

Potted Culinary Herbs: A Fresh, Fragrant Classic

Assembling a pot of fresh herbs for your giftee to use is a wonderful, creative way to brighten winter meals. Whether your giftee loves roasting vegetables, making tea, or garnishing soups, fresh herbs are always a timely gift.

Herbs That Thrive Indoors in Winter

Rosemary – it’s resilient, aromatic, and symbolic of remembrance
Thyme – a hardy and flavorful herb that is easy to grow
Mint – this one grows easily and smells lovely (just keep it in a pot, not the ground!)
Chives or garlic chives – give off a cheerful, grassy flavor and are fast-growing
Parsley – a lush and versatile herb that can be grown in cool or warm climates
Oregano – this one is low-maintenance, culinary-friendly, and a hardy perennial

How to Pot & Present Them

You can turn nearly any container into a charming planter, including these:

Washed soup cans
Thrift-store mugs
Small terracotta pots
Mason jars
Jam jars

Add a layer of pebbles for drainage, fill with a well-draining potting mix, and tuck your herbs inside.

Finish your gift with:

A handwritten care card
Upcycled ribbon or jute string
A sprig of your chosen herb tucked under the bow

It’s simple, beautiful, and endlessly useful.

DIY Herbal Tea Blends

A homemade herbal tea blend is a unique gift for friends and family this holiday season. You can grow many tea herbs indoors or harvest your outdoor herbs before the frost hitsand dry them for gifting.

Herbs That Work Beautifully for Tea

Lemon balm
Peppermint or spearmint
Chamomile
Lavender
Calendula

These herbs dry easily and retain their soothing aromas.

dried herbs hanging from a wall in a rustic room by a window

How to Dry and Store Your Herbs

Hang small bunches upside down in a warm room for 1–2 weeks.
Or dry them on a cooling rack or dehydrator.
Once crisp, crumble gently and store in airtight glass jars.

Blend Ideas

Winter Calm: chamomile + lavender
Holiday Mint Drop: peppermint + lemon balm
Golden Glow: calendula + mint + lemon balm

Package your blends in:

Reused spice jars
Small tins
Mini mason jars with reused fabric squares over the lids

Include a cute label with steeping instructions.

Mason Jar Microgreen Kits

Microgreens, the seedlings of edible vegetable plants, are tiny but mighty. They’re ready in about a week or two and pack serious nutrition. Studies have shown that they contain anywhere from 4 to 40 times the nutrients that mature plant leave contain. Microgreens are perfect for gifting because even beginners or apartment dwellers can grow them.

What to Include in a Microgreen Kit

A mason jar (any size)
A mesh lid or sprouting screen
A packet of seeds (radish, broccoli, kale, mustard, alfalfa)
Two coir pellets or a small bag of growing medium
A printed instruction card

These kits look charming on a counter and make a lovely project for kids and adults.

Homemade Herb-Infused Oils and Vinegars

A jar of golden, herb-infused oil or a tangy aromatic vinegar feels like a luxurious holiday gift—and it’s surprisingly simple to make at home. However, it’s important to take proper safety precautions when making these oils, because if not done properly, homemade infused oils can cause serious illness or even death.

There are two methods for making herb-infused oils: acidified and non-acidified. In the acidified method, heat the oil to 180 degrees F before adding dried or fresh herbs. Refrigerate afterwards and discard after 4 days; otherwise, you can freeze the oil until you’re ready to use it. For the non-acidified method, you use an acid that is strong enough to keep C. botulinum from growing, such as citric acid, 1 tablespoon per 2 cups of water, then add herbs and infuse for 24 hours. This method requires several steps, which you can read more about on the University of GA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences blog. For instructions on making infused vinegar, check out this recipe by Bon Appétit magazine.

Best Herbs to Use

Basil
Rosemary
Mint
Lemongrass
Oregano

Simple Infused Oil Ideas

Rosemary/garlic oil for roasted vegetables
Basil oil for pasta lovers
Mint-infused oil for dipping bread

Vinegar Ideas

Mint vinegar (great for cleaning or cooking)
Rosemary + orange vinegar
Oregano vinegar

Safety Tip (Important!)

Always use fully dried herbs when infusing oil and store oils in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth.

Be sure to sterilize jars before adding ingredients!

Wrap the lids of the jars in reused fabric or twine for a festive touch.

Propagated Houseplants: The Zero-Waste Plant Lover’s Dream

Plant parents know: propagated babies are like tiny green ambassadors. They make meaningful, ultra-low-waste gifts.

Plants That Propagate Easily

Pothos
Spider plant babies
Snake plant pups
Heartleaf philodendron
Coleus cuttings
Monstera deliciosa (it grows very large!)

How to Gift Propagated Plants

Root them in water for 2–4 weeks until they form healthy white roots.
Transplant into a small pot or leave them in a glass jar for the recipient to watch grow.
Tie a ribbon around the jar and you’re done!

You can also paint or decoupage old tins or jars for the container, adding a fun, sustainable, and unique touch.

DIY Seed Bombs or Seed Paper

For gardening friends, or anyone who enjoys a sprinkle of wild beauty, seed bombs and plantable paper make enjoyable gifts that keep giving.

Which Seeds to Use

Calendula, sweet alyssum, borage, marigolds and cosmos make fragrant, colorful and pollinator-friendly mixes.

How to Make Seed Bombs

Mix:

1 part wildflower seeds
1 part compost
5 parts clay soil (or powdered clay)
A splash of water

Form into marble-sized balls and dry for 24–48 hours.

Plantable Paper

Shred old paper
Blend with warm water into a pulp
Stir in seeds
Spread thin and let dry

Package finished bombs or sheets in repurposed envelopes or paper bags.

Edible Holiday Treats with Homegrown Flair

Who doesn’t love edible gifts? When made with homegrown ingredients, they become even more special.

Ideas to Try

Herb-infused salts (rosemary, basil, oregano)
Edible flower shortbread
Rosemary-sugar candied nuts
Herbal honey (mint, rosemary, lavender)

Package in reused jars, tins, or cloth bags made from old fabric scraps.

Eco-Friendly Wrapping Ideas

Presentation doesn’t have to be wasteful. In fact, reused and natural materials often look far more charming.

gift wrapped in brown fabric next to twine, pine sprigs and pinecones

Easy, Low-Waste Wrapping Options

Fabric scraps or cloth napkins
Old maps, sheet music, calendars
Brown paper bags decorated with stamps or greenery
Twine, jute, or fabric strips
Dried orange slices
Pine cones or evergreen sprigs

Encourage kids to decorate wrapping with veggie stamps or homemade prints.

Tips for Growing Indoors in Winter

Winter gifting means winter growing, so here are a few quick reminders:

Light

Most herbs need 4–6 hours of bright light. South- or east-facing windows are ideal. A simple full-spectrum LED grow light works wonders on cloudy days.

Watering

Plants drink a lot less in winter, so overwatering is the biggest threat to their ability to thrive. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. Use a small fan to help dry out the soil if necessary.

Temperature & Drafts

Keep plants away from heat vents, drafty doors, or cold windowsills.

Share What You Grow

This year, choose gifts that nurture instead of clutter, that create joy rather than waste, and that remind us all of the quiet, hopeful magic of things that grow.

Whether you gift herbs, tea blends, plant cuttings, or a simple homemade seed bomb, you’re offering something that most store-bought gifts just can’t: a link between the giver, the recipient, and the living world we share.

If you try one of these projects, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram or share photos in the comments section of this article, below.