The busy end of year period is approaching – or has it already begun? – where many of us find ourselves frantically looking for gifts for loved ones at the last minute.

So, we thought we’d try and help with the first step in the process: thinking of what to actually get someone in the first place. But of course, we have put a sustainability lens on our brainstorming!

Gifting an experience

Rather than buying into consumerism, find a local or online event, or take someone out for a nice meal or drinks. There are also local breweries and wineries to explore.

Events and workshops

Some venues in Canberra that regularly host events and workshops include:

· The Australian National Botanic Gardens

· Canberra Theatre

· Smiths Alternative

· NatureArt Lab

· The Pialligo Estate

· Two Before Ten

Exhibitions

Or take someone to an exhibition at one of these places:

· National Portrait Gallery

· National Film and Sound Archive

· Questacon

· National Gallery of Australia

· National Museum of Australia

New activities

If you’re looking for a new activity to try, you might consider one of the following:

· Bouldering

· Axe throwing

· Ice skating

· Escape rooms

· Outdoor cinemas

Memberships

Alternatively, you could gift a membership to someone. Here are some places that have membership options:

· Community Toolbox Canberra

· ANU Film Group

· Pedal Power ACT

· The Food Coop and Café

· The Diggers Club

DIY

You could also DIY it with a picnic filled with delicious snacks and drinks of your own choosing. Or by creating a scavenger hunt for a friend.

Think local, useful, and sustainable

If gifting an experience isn’t an option, you can still prioritise the usefulness or sustainability of an item.

Different sustainability factors to consider:

1. How it was made

2. How far it has travelled

3. How it is packaged

4. And how it will be used

Not to mention, what will happen to it after its owner no longer wants it. Could it be used by someone else, repurposed, or at least recycled?

Local, useful, and sustainable gifts:

The ideas are endless, but we have included some of our favourite local, useful, and sustainable gifts below:

· Seeds from the Canberra Seed Savers. Their seeds can be purchased at the Food Coop Shop and Café

· Items purchased at an op shop or the Green Shed

· Sustainable clothing from a local designer, like Pure Pod

· Coffee, chocolate or other delicacies from a local market

· Something homemade, such as beeswax wraps, bath bombs, scrunchies, or natural skincare products

Wrapping it up

See if you can avoid buying a roll of single use wrapping paper. Other options for wrapping include:

Newspaper and twine

This can give a surprisingly nice aesthetic, and is a great option if you already have old newspapers lying around. Better yet, you can use the leftover twine for staking your tomato plants with.

Reusing gift boxes, gift bags, and wrapping paper

If you’re anything like us, you have a random cupboard somewhere in your house where old bags and boxes wind up. We swear we aren’t hoarders!

Children’s’ artwork

Your kid is likely to feel super appreciated that you want to use their artwork as part of a gift.

Tea towels

There are some beautiful tea towels out there. Some even have recipes or song lyrics on them.

Furushiki

Furushiki are Japanese wrapping cloths that can be reused. But any fabric will do. Check out your local op shop’s fabric, bedding or curtains to pick up something second-hand. Then just cut it into the size you want.