Looking for a DIY gift idea for a friend or family member? Why not take a look in your own backyard! These frugal DIY food gift ideas from your garden are easy to make, and super thoughtful too.
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DIY Food Gift Ideas
Making food gifts from your herb garden harvest is simple and easy. Add your own artistic impulses to these offerings, and have fun as you create and give homemade food gifts of the bounty from your garden.
If you are deciding what to grow in your garden this year, check out these best vegetables to grow to save money on food.
If you’d like to save money on gardening, check out these 14 smart hacks for a garden on a budget and here are 5 fun vegetable garden hacks to save you money (I love #3!!).
Related post: Best Edible Christmas Gifts from the Garden your Family Will Love.
1. Rosemary as a DIY Food Gift Idea
Gather a bunch of rosemary with a pretty bow, and it is ready to be tucked into a food gift basket of fresh Mediterranean herbs.
Purchase a raffia wreath and florist’s wire, make a wreath of rosemary clippings, and finish with a big red bow.
Tie on a pretty label that might say: “Enjoy fresh rosemary in soups, stews, or your favorite lamb dish. As the rosemary dries, continue the enjoyment but use a little less. Rinse the sprigs with cool water just before use, if you wish.”
Related post: The Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Gardeners
2. Red Chili Peppers
Red (hot) chili peppers are lovely in wreaths, either on their own or combined with green herbs.
It’s hard to believe that there’s nobody out there who wouldn’t appreciate a red hot chili pepper wreath.
They would make a pretty DIY garden gift for any time of the year, but especially fall or winter.
3. Infused Vinegar
Lavender vinegar
Lavender vinegar is delicious lightly drizzled on a salad or anyplace where basil is used. A few drops included in the final rinse of your hair or in a warm bath, along with bath oil, are delightfully delicious.
You will need champagne vinegar, culinary lavender leaves, lavender blossoms, and a very pretty bottle. Combine ingredients and steep for one month (don’t use heat).
Strain through cheesecloth, and discard flowers and leaves. Place fresh leaves and flowers in a clean bottle and fill with strained vinegar mixture.
Related reading: Summer Gifts: Easy DIY Gifts for Graduations, Get-Togethers, Father’s Day, and Weddings
Sage-cranberry vinegar
Make sage-cranberry vinegar using the same method. Place fresh cranberries on a sage stem skewer and add a few fresh sage leaves in your finished vinegar. This is delicious sprinkled on a slice of roasted pork or included in a sauce.
4. DIY Seasoning Mixes
Bouquet Garni is lovely little gift to include in a basket of homemade food gifts for a friend who is enamored by things French.
To make these little herb bags, cut several 4-inch squares of cheesecloth.
Combine:
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. each basil and marjoram
1 bay leaf, crumbled
5 peppercorns
Tie squares into bags with string. Store in an air-tight container. This little mixture gives delicious extra flavor to soups and stews.
5. Lavender Scones
If you grow lavender, you have to try this lavender scones recipe. These herb scones are simple to make, and make a beautiful diy herb garden gift.
I made these scones as a homemade food gift for Mother’s Day for my MIL. They would make a thoughtful gift from the garden for a friend or mom or sister. I have also made these lavender scones for Easter brunch. Aaand just for us, cuz I love ‘em!
These are a few DIY food gift ideas to get you started thinking about sharing food gifts from your herb garden.
I’d love to hear what DIY herb garden gifts or other gifts from the garden you have made before. Share in the comments!
P.S. If you are into saving money, don’t miss these 5 easy tips for landscaping on a budget – tip #1 is awesome and little-known!
P.P.S. Did you know you can make money gardening? Here are 9 simple ways to make $1000/month from your garden – cha-ching!
Miz Helen
Tuesday 9th of March 2021
I love those Lavender Scones, and what great ideas for all the herbs!Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,526. Have a great week and come back soon! Miz Helen
TheCuriousFrugal
Wednesday 10th of March 2021
Hi Miz Helen! Thanks! I can't wait to make the lavender scones again this year with fresh lavender from our herb garden (though I have a small stash left over from last year!)
Marie Beausoleil
Sunday 7th of March 2021
I'm kind of intrigued at the idea of a red hot chili pepper wreath and who I could gift one to! I wonder if I could get them to grow if I start early and use my greenhouse. I'm in zone 5b so it's kind of chilly here. I wanted to grow lavender this year - because lavender scones, among other things - but my seeds seem to have been duds - not *one* of them germinated!
TheCuriousFrugal
Sunday 7th of March 2021
Bummer about the lavender seeds! Sometimes gardening can be so mysterious. For the red hot chili pepper wreath, do you know any wreath people? My mom is a total wreath person and loves different and seasonal and unique wreaths of all kinds. You just have to find your wreath friends lol :) Back to the lavender - I just had lavender granola this morning and it was so good! That would make another fun DIY food gift idea. Thanks for stopping by today Marie :)
Amy
Friday 5th of March 2021
What wonderful ideas! I especially love the idea of the rosemary wreath. I will definitely be trying that one as soon as I harvest this year. Thank you so much for the inspiration. :)
TheCuriousFrugal
Friday 5th of March 2021
Thanks Amy! Happy that you found a DIY garden craft idea here that you'd like to try. Thanks for visiting :)
Jo (A Rose Tinted World)
Friday 26th of February 2021
These are all some lovely ideas. I'd never actually thought about giving infused vinegar as a gift!
TheCuriousFrugal
Friday 26th of February 2021
Thanks Jo! Homemade food gifts are some of my favorite gifts to give and get too! :)