We’re here to help your search for holiday gift giving alternatives

It’s that time of year, when I devolve into a millennial shame spiral about being a consumer and wanting to give and receive gifts. To try to curb that nagging feeling that climate change is all my fault, I thought I’d suggest some fun gift ideas for the various holidays that round out the Julian calendar (and beyond). Just maybe there’s a way to turn the sin of consumerism into a win for connections to nature. And after all, there are so many ways to learn about nature, and gifts that encourage this are easy to find. And I’d argue that giving someone a bird book, or time out with an enthusiastic naturalist can lead to real and greater impacts than would result from me buying less for my loved ones.

So here are some ideas. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with people who are deer dear to you.

Tools for learning
The Seattle Audubon Nature Shop has a variety of gifts for a nature lover and their expert staff and volunteers can help you pick out something special for almost anyone. But my favorite thing about their store is the selection of binoculars, the best in Seattle and most of Washington. And the skill to help you pick out a pair that will fit your budget and bring infinite joy in observing all nature with a gadget that won’t become obsolete until you have grandchildren. (I often think that if there was a fire, after I made sure my cat and partner were out the door with me, I’d grab my binoculars.)

Elliot Bay Book Company has one of the best curated natural history book sections I’ve seen (outside of the aforementioned Nature Shop). You’ll find good books for the geology nerd, the bird lover, the all around naturalist, and those of us seeking to consider our deeper connections with nature. (Hot tip – the nature section is among the first shelves on your right when you walk in the door.)

Though not quite physical, there are some great resources for naturalists on Apple and Android including the Sibley Guide to Birds and Washington Wildflowers app (while I might run back into the blaze for my books too, I also like having a lighter load when I venture out nerding).

Art that celebrates
One of my favorite artists, Laurel Mundy, who lives in Washington and makes incredible bird focused art has plenty of stuff that isn’t stuck in a shipping container in Long Beach (and Laurel goes to serious measures to use as low impact materials as possible).

The Montenegro sister duo The Far Woods have a host of beautiful prints and sweet little books that teach you how to mend clothes or love bats.

Join in on the fun
I started this month on a soap box and I really do believe, now that I’m down off it, that new experiences far surpass more stuff. We are lucky to live in a part of the world where a membership to a local environmental organization is easy to come by and gives the member opportunities to join in on a field trip or sit in on a fascinating lecture about local flora and fauna. Joining the Mountaineers, Seattle Audubon, The Puget Sound Mycological Society, the Washington Native Plant Society, or the Burke Museum not only give you wondrous benefits but support the organizations you are now a part of.

Learn from other enthusiasts
While a driven naturalist can get a long way with a few books, getting out with people with more experience than us can be a spectacular experience. I’ve written about urban foraging here and there on Pikes/Pines, maybe it’s time you support that curious friend in learning how to cook you a meal from local plants. You and your family might want to get out on a bird walk that feels covid safe and allows you to learn together as a special occasion with someone like local guide Roniq Bartanen. Nature illustration can be immensely rewarding and is a great way to embrace multiple modes of learning in one – here’s a class in January on drawing Alpine Flowers.

Free or low cost opportunities
And maybe you’re not flush this holiday season. Take advantage of free or nearly free experiences across the city. The Seattle Tracking Club takes small donations but is meant to be a wonderful low cost experience run by the Wilderness Awareness School. Seward Park Audubon has naturalist walks that are also similarly low priced and offer a bunch of options for all members of the family. Or maybe you want to give the gift of Vitamin Nature through a Forest Bathing at the Arboretum and shake off the dour gray days.

Quite possibly I just created a wish list for myself, instead of offering helpful suggestions for everyone reading (“psst, hey Mom!”). But also, I think after the past two years getting a little closer to nature is clearly a good, healthy move. If a book, binoculars, or some beautiful artwork are what it takes to get people out into the world more, caring for the places they live, then great. Don’t underestimate an experience – all it took was a few bird walks to get me in this mess, sitting here gabbing about nature to anyone who wanders in and quickly turns around. Ok, that’s it. Happy Holidays everyone!

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