Chattanooga Food Center Holiday Gift Guide
November 11, 2021
The holidays are certainly upon us and in an optimistically almost-post-COVID world, you may have decided to rethink your holiday gifting habits. We are here to help! You may feel more committed to purchasing gifts that are low impact on the environment, beneficial to more than just the recipient, and support local businesses.
Since the mission of our organization is to increase access to locally grown food, provide nutrition education, and inspire engagement in regional agriculture, we will limit most of our recommendations to the realm of food. Which still leaves us a LOT to say.
Here is our first annual holiday gift guide recommendations:
Support the work of the Chattanooga Food Center
Celebrating just two years as an organization, the vision of the CFC is to realize a vibrant, well nourished Chattanooga region. We started Gaining Ground Grocery in the height of the pandemic and since CFC began, we have additionally launched a local food guide, built a free herb cutting garden, and started a Free Little Library for cooking and gardening books. We also give free seeds away through our seed library and hosted a spring plant giveaway in Highland Park. In the next year we plan to offer more educational opportunities and continue making meaning connections to advance our mission further in the community. We also offer gift cards at Gaining Ground and have branded t-shirts, hats, and totes available.
There are many opportunities here that will help farmers and small businesses in a time that it is vitally important to do so. Consider gifting a class at Crabtree Farms or signing a busy friend up for Viandas, a subscription of well curated nourishing on-the-go food. And speaking of well curated, Main St Farmers Market has a fantastic selection of vendors (year round) and they are the only food focused farmers market in town- plenty of gift ideas directly from the hands of your local farmers. Visit our online food guide to see producers and food artisans that are supporting our local food economy.
The gift of time can never be underestimated and many food related nonprofits need volunteers this time of year to help with the influx of need during the holidays. Contact places like the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, the Community Kitchen, and the Ronald McDonald House to help volunteer or host a food drive. Two newer, mutual aid organizations, the Chattanooga Free Store and the Chattanooga Community Fridge are doing great work and can always use product donations (find them on Instagram).
Support Sustainable Businesses
Green|Spaces has a business sustainability program called Green|Light, Chattanooga's Green Business Certification. Green|Light partners have made commitments to environmental and social responsibility in their business practices. The list proudly continues to grow, check it out!
A few more suggestions:
If you're seeking low waste gifting and wrapping options, remember newspaper or paper grocery bags make great wrapping paper.
Forage or hike to collect greenery for holiday wreaths and table displays.
Passing along things like gardening tools to a school or community garden will be a welcome gift to all those eager hands.
Bring along a friend to a low waste store like Gaining Ground Grocery to shop bulk grains, spices, nuts, and teas. Bring your own containers to refill too!
We are wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season however you decide to celebrate! Here's to making lasting memories with the ones you love.
- The Chattanooga Food Center
