Relishments

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Local Holiday Gift Ideas From the Berkshires…And Beyond

Published on November 28, 2014 By Emily. Updated on November 28, 2014

Last year’s gift guide featured kitchen products, but this year I wanted to focus on some of the great local brands and products I’ve discovered right here in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.  I enjoy keeping my money local whenever possible and I’ve been doing my best to purchase gifts from local vendors and independent retailers.  As I know Berkshire area gifts don’t make sense for many of my readers, I’ve grouped the ideas by category with links to Berkshire specific options; the overall category ideas should work for local gift giving no matter where you live.  Also, it goes without saying that my local recommendations are by no means complete, I’m just sharing some of my favorites.  Feel free to share your favorite Berkshire gift ideas in the comments below.

relishments local gift guide

Local Art

“Art” can be a lot of things and be found at a lot of different places.  In my area, we’re lucky to have stores that carry locally made products, as well as holiday farmers markets and consignment shops that make these items fairly easily accessible.  In addition, most of the businesses listed below have online stores you can order from, no matter where you live.

In the Berkshires:  MVB Printmaking and Book Binding, Amrita Lash Pottery, Moho Designs hand-screened apparel, Blue Q, The Petal Collection fabric poppy flowers, KnitSquid Fiber Arts, Alice Eyes Design Company jewelry

Local foods

This can be interpreted a million different ways, but I think that packaged, preserved goods make the best gifts.  It gives the recipients the opportunity to use the product whenever they’re ready and makes them easier to store.

In the Berkshires: Berkshire Bark Chocolate, Hosta Hill fermented foods, Assembly Coffee Roasters, Ooma Tesoro’s marinara sauce, Hoosick Hickory, Battenkill Brittle, Fire Cider

Memberships or Tickets to Local Museums, Theatres or Music Venues

I’m a big fan of local venues in all aspects of the arts.  In my life, there seem to be two groups of people: those who never take advantage of the opportunities in their own town and those who attend an incredible number of performances and the like each year.  Memberships or tickets are the perfect local gift for people in either of those categories.

In the Berkshires:  The Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MoCA, The Clark Art Museum, The Berkshire Museum, The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, Barrington Stage Company, Tanglewood, Shakespeare and Company

Alcohol

Local brews are hugely popular at the moment.  It seems like anywhere you go there are local breweries and distilleries with unique and delicious drinks available.  Local beverages make great host gifts.

In the Berkshires: Big Elm Brewery, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Berkshire Brewing Company, Balderdash Cellars, Glass Bottom Brewery, Furnace Brook Winery

Magazines

Many states, counties and cities now have their own magazines.  A great way to help people connect with their communities is to provide them with a magazine about a place they live or love.

In the Berkshires:  Berkshire Magazine, Orion Magazine, Edible Berkshires (there are Edible publication for many different regions)

Happy holiday shopping!

Related Posts

Twosday XXIX: Looking Toward Christmas
A Very Local Christmas Dinner
Twosday XX: Holiday 2014 Edition
Highlights: Store Bought and DIY Gift Guides
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: products Tagged With: Christmas, gifts

« Happy Thanksgiving! (CSA Menu Plan #17)
Highlights: 2014 Gift Guides »

Comments

  1. Michael Vincent Bushy says

    December 1, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    Thanks for the shout-out, Emily. You’ve put a great list together here!

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Emily
UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @aloh UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @alohr3!

 @thelazygenius' second book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, is finally here and I'm so excited! I don't purchase many books, but I pre-ordered this last July because I knew it would be right up my alley and then I pre-ordered a second copy because I knew that I'd want to give one away.

Author Kendra Adachi has been one of my favorite voices in recent years. Her principles (shared through her first book, The Lazy Genius Podcast and her Instagram) have helped me focus my priorities and give myself more grace. 

This book is NOT a cookbook (it has just 2 recipes), it is a kitchen guide - to help you "have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before". It is beautiful (full color!) and thoughtful.

I'm very excited to send this book to one of you.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with one of your greatest kitchen struggles. 
I'll draw a winner at 8 pm on Friday, May 6.
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi.
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#LazyGenius #KendraAdachi #NameWhatMatters #TheLazyGeniusKitchen #TheLazyGeniusWay #BookGiveaway
This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berk This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berkshire Teacher and Social Worker Appreciation Day free admission. After enjoying the student Art Invitational exhibit, the 4 of us took in several of the other galleries. Mass MoCA always impresses and it was delightful to be able to be out in the world with my kids.
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #MassMoCA #ArtMuseum
Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, in its new location on Main Street in North Adams. The shop is incredible - the displays are great and the plants are delightful. There's a refill station with bottles and jars for soaps, detergents and other products, a terrarium bar, and an abundance of sustainable and beautiful products. I'm now in the process of pondering who I can purchase Plant Connector gifts for in the coming months.
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #ShopLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #PlantConnector
This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuse This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuseum is a great visit for all ages. The current Voyage to the Deep exhibit, which involves an interactive Nautilus submarine that my 5 year old spent literally hours in.  We also thoroughly enjoyed the Aquarium and Berkshire Backyard. Highly recommended - we'll be back soon!
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #BerkshireMuseum #PittsfieldMA
My January and early February menu plans for my @m My January and early February menu plans for my @mightyfoodfarm vegetables are finally up on the blog. See how we're making use of these beautiful items, as well as the items from the other pick up we made in the past month. 
Link in profile.
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
One of my favorite things to do is bake from scrat One of my favorite things to do is bake from scratch.
But, in the interest of full transparency, this pie was made with Pillsbury pie crusts and a $5 bag of Walmart Granny Smiths. I used the recipe on the pie crust box.
I am very excited to eat it.
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#RelishmentsBakes #BakingFromScratch #baking #igers413_food #semihomemade #pie #ApplePie
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies
I can't remember the last time I baked bread, some I can't remember the last time I baked bread, something that was part of my routine for a long time. Today school was cancelled due to the extremely cold temperatures outside and I took the opportunity to make 8 loaves - most of which will be put into the freezer until they're needed. Baking more bread was part of my 2022 theme of "resume" and I'm so happy to be back to it.
Recipe, as usual, from @breadin5
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New on the blog: my first posted CSA menu plan sin New on the blog: my first posted CSA menu plan since September! I didn't intend to take so much time off, but I'm looking forward to the meals I've planned over the next 2 weeks using @mightyfoodfarm produce.
Follow the link in my profile to see the post.
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
My blog post with my 2022 theme word is now publis My blog post with my 2022 theme word is now published! Click the link in my profile to read more.
Did you choose a theme word for this year? Share it in the comments!
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#2022 #2022Theme #2022ThemeWord #MyOneWord #resolution #Resolutions
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