Our Favorite Products From the Garden
Across the nation, makers and artists are regularly turning to their gardens, yards, and local growers, not just for inspiration, but also for raw ingredients and materials. Ranging from textiles to ceramics, and jams to cosmetics, this new crop of plant-based goods are sophisticated, beautiful, and handmade with care. Here, we’ve collected some of our favorite new finds; all are made with natural materials, come in small batches or are one-of-a-kind designs, and are ideal for Mother’s Day.
Fresh, Plant-Based Lip Balms
From perfumery and apothecary Phoenix Botanicals comes a range of herbal, organic lip balms, made with fresh plants. In a beeswax and olive oil base, the combination of organic peppermint oil and yarrow tops create a lip treatment that is both soothing and moisturizing.
From $6
To purchase: Phoenix Botanicals on Etsy
Organic Indigo-Dyed Napkins
Committed to only using natural fibers and dyes, Ali of Salt and Still hand-dyes these 100% linen napkins with organic, indigo dye, using a traditional Japanese shibori method. Each piece is made-to-order, and completely one-of-a-kind due to the nature of the process.
$100 for a set of 4
To purchase: Salt and Still on Etsy
Plant-Based Makeup Tints
From a store based in Cape Cod, this line of plant-based makeup features garden regulars, such as beets, chamomile, lilacs, and roses, that have found new life as cream blushes, powders, shimmers, and lip tints. When applied, these pigments have a lighter, gentler effect than traditional makeup, making them well suited for a sunny, rosy summertime look.
From $6
To purchase: Good4You Herbs on Etsy
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If you’re enjoying this article, make sure you don’t miss our related sections in Garden Design magazine including Maker, which focuses on a unique artistic product or idea and includes a profile on the artisan who created it. Learn more about the content that is exclusively available in the magazine and how to subscribe.
Seasonally-Inspired Drinking Vinegars
One of the biggest cocktail trends of the season is “shrubs” (drinking vinegars) such as these from Michigan’s McClary Brothers line. With flavors such as Blood Orange & Honey, Apple Pie, and Beet & Carrot, these 16 oz. delights are made in limited quantity, and available only when in-season.
From $18
To purchase: McClary Brothers
Small Batch, Small Town Jams
Drake & Lou, a small batch jam company based in North Carolina, creates these limited-quantity spreads that are focused on unique, seasonal combinations with a touch of herbs and spices. Flavors such as Peach Melba, Blackberry Cherry Jalapeno, and Sugar Plum Port are best paired with anything from cheese to pancakes, and are made using locally grown ingredients.
From: $7
To purchase: Drake & Lou on Etsy
Body Oil Gift Set
Mullein and Sparrow’s 100% natural, plant-based apothecary collection is focused on offering simple remedies, made with care in small batches. Based in Ayurveda and the principle of self-care, this gift set features smaller sizes of the Lemongrass-Mint and French Lavender Body Oils.
$30
To purchase: Mullein & Sparrow
Rose Leaf Floral Essence
Lightly scented and conveniently sized, this organic rose-oil perfume from Garden Apothecary makes for a beautiful, springtime scent refresh. Handmade by a professional horticulturalist and organic gardener in Half Moon Bay, California, the line also features body oils, facial mists, and even hand-blended tea.
From $26
To purchase: Garden Apothecary
Handmade Maple and Walnut Bread Boards
An inspired collection between father and daughter living nearly a country apart, Herriott Grace’s heirloom pieces are made of salvaged, hand-selected wood in British Columbia. Each one-of-a-kind and perfect in its imperfection, the collection has grown from its original hand-carved spoons to include bread boards, cake pedestals, bowls, and even rolling pins.
From $205
To purchase: Herriott Grace
Harvesting Color Book
Rebecca Burgess's modern field book for the natural dye community shares the how-to behind natural dying from the garden through colorful photography and detailed plant biographies, and covers bioregions across North America. When bought directly from Fibershed Marketplace, each book will arrive signed by the author.
$22
To purchase: Fibershed Marketplace
Cyanotype Mini-Journals
Inspiringly suited for use as a field notebook or gardening log, this set of three pocket-sized notebooks is sun-printed using found leaves and flowers, creating a striking silhouette on the cover.
$12
To purchase: Buckethead + Bear
