Holiday Gifts from the Garden

Celebrating Winter Holidays Through Creativity and Connection

As winter settles in and the growing season rests, communities around the world come together to celebrate light, renewal, and connection. Whether it’s Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, each holiday reminds us of the cycles of nature—darkness giving way to light, harvest giving way to rest, and giving as a reflection of gratitude for what we have grown.

These are the same lessons the garden teaches us: patience, care, and interdependence. In garden education, we nurture more than plants—we nurture understanding of how food, culture, and community are intertwined. Each winter celebration offers an opportunity to connect classroom learning to these values through shared food, creative projects, and reflection on the gifts of the earth.

Shared Values Across Traditions

  • Hanukkah celebrates light, resilience, and abundance—echoing the garden’s power to sustain and renew.

  • Christmas centers on generosity and hope—mirrored in the act of sharing what we’ve grown or made by hand.

  • Kwanzaa honors unity and creativity (Kuumba)—values that flourish when we grow and cook together.

  • The Winter Solstice marks the turning toward longer days—reminding us that the garden, like us, rests before new growth.

Through these traditions, we can invite students to see the garden as a space for cultural learning, seasonal awareness, and gratitude.

Garden-Inspired Gifts

Handmade, nature-based gifts remind us that the garden gives all year long. These projects can be woven into lessons on creativity, sustainability, and art across holidays and grade levels:

  • Ornaments

Use twigs, dried citrus, seed and pods, or pressed leaves and flowers to create decorations that celebrate nature’s shapes and colors.

  • Wreaths

Gather evergreen trimmings, herbs, or vines for simple, fragrant wreaths that symbolize cycles of renewal.

  • Cork Planters

Upcycle wine corks or small containers into mini planters for succulents or seedlings—perfect as eco-friendly gifts that grow with care. Learn how here.

  • Greeting Cards

Press or collage with petals, herbs, or natural dyes—or get creative with takeout packaging and recycled materials. Learn how here.

  • Wrapping Paper

Stamp recycled paper with leaf prints or vegetable shapes to reduce waste and celebrate creativity.

Each handmade gift helps students connect creativity, ecology, and generosity—the heart of both garden education and holiday celebration.

Create Gifts from the Garden

As you prepare for this season of giving, consider what small gifts your garden can offer: a bundle of herbs, a handmade card, or the joy of creating together.

We’d love to celebrate the season with you!

Join us at Life Lab for upcoming opportunities to make your own Gifts from the Garden—from natural wreaths and cork planters to creative, nature-inspired cards. If you can’t make it in person, be on the lookout for future workshops and community events where we’ll gather to create, share, and celebrate the art of giving from the garden.

No matter which holiday you observe, the garden offers endless inspiration to create, connect, and give back.

Find additional inspiration for creating gifts from the garden by checking out these additional Life Lab resources

Garden Education - Lessons & Activities, Webinars, Art in the GardenGifts, Webinar, Arts & Crafts