- Shop independently. You’ll get something individual, and local individuals (the maker, the shopkeeper) will get the biggest benefit from your shopping. Shop in Bristol Pounds where you can.
- Bristol Pounds also make an excellent Christmas present – the ultimate gift token which can be redeemed in 100s of different shops across the city http://bristolpound.org/. Or put some money on a Your Street gift card http://www.yourstreetgiftcards.com/ – giving a present with much more choice than a gift token from a single department store.
- There are plenty of one-off and regular markets around the city, where you can buy something different, and some local produce at the same time:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/business/st-nicholas-market
http://www.tobaccofactory.com/section.php/39/1/sunday_market
http://www.mullioncove.net/markets-at-ss-great-britain/4584276051
http://www.no1harbourside.co.uk/markets/
http://christmasspiegeltent.co.uk/spiegeltent-christmas-market-bristol/ - Give a gift of membership to an organisation, for a present which lasts throughout the year:
Garden Organic and its Heritage Seed Library
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/join-us
RHS
https://www.rhs.org.uk/membership/rhs-member-offers/active-offers/rhs-gift-membership-offer?utm_medium=cpc&gclid=COz00sGRqMICFWXnwgod0bwATQ
University of Bristol Botanic Garden
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden/support/friends/
Avon Organic Group
http://www.groworganicbristol.org/join.html
Avon Wildlife Trust
http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/membership - Give a magazine subscription:
Kitchen Garden
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/ - Give a course – anything from a 2-hour workshop to a 10-week education:
Low Impact Living Initiative
http://www.lowimpact.org/venues_south_west.html
Windmill Hill City Farm
http://www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk/whats-on/courses/
Co-exist Community Kitchen
http://www.hamiltonhouse.org/category/cookery/
Bristol Adult Education
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/leisure_and_culture/adult_education_and_learning/adult_learning_courses/Adult%20Learning%20Course%20Guide%202014%20to%202015.pdf
Bristol Folk House
http://www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk/downloads/BFH_Spring_2015.pdf - Put together a hamper full of local goodies that you can only buy in Bristol – from local microbreweries, chutney makers, cheese-producers, chocolate-creators etc.
- Everybody has room to grow fruit, no matter how meagre their windowsill space. Strawberries can be grown successfully in windowsill planters or in hanging baskets. Blueberries are quite happy in a medium-sized pots. And dwarf apple trees do pretty well in large pots.
http://www.riversidegardencentre.com/
http://www.henleazegardenshop.co.uk/
http://www.gardinerhaskins.co.uk/bristol-store/brunel-garden-centre
http://www.cleevenursery.co.uk/ - And if you’ve got a windowsill, then you’ve got space to grow chillis or cut-and-come-again salad leaves, or some fresh herbs – why not put a growing kit together?
http://www.organiccatalogue.com/p3817/MINI-PROPAGATOR/product_info.html
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/salad-seeds/salad-leaves-cut-n-come-again/gwk4819TM?source=google&gclid=CMuSn4yYqMICFdLItAod4kQAPQ - Support local growers and nurseries:
http://www.jekkasherbfarm.com/shop
http://www.pennardplants.com/index.php - Save a heritage variety, by adopting a veg:
http://www.adoptaveg.org.uk/ - Get cooking. The Kitchens shop on Whiteladies Road is an Aladdin’s cave of culinary equipment. Create your own preserves or infused oils & vinegars to give away at Christmas.
http://www.kitchenscookshop.co.uk/our-stores/bristol-store/ - Get brewing.
http://brewers-droop.com/
http://www.theotherandyhamilton.com/booze-for-free/booze-for-free-pdf/ - Save the bees.
Bees are our great unpaid workers, pollinating our fruit & veg flowers. Pay-back the favour by giving insect homes & pollinator-friendly seeds.
