How to be a Citizen Kind at Christmas

Someone just asked me for a Christmas Gift Guide so I thought I would share my thoughts here too.

I don’t want anything for Christmas as I’m happy as I could be, but… here are some of the things I have bought myself this year and are on my list for next year (WARNING: They are mostly books!)… as well as some ideas for someone sustainable, ethical or vegan in your life.

1. Nourished have an advent calendar for supporting you through the festive season with 3D printed vitamins.

2. A DIY kit from Kalicrame - make your own macrame wall or ceiling hanging. Gifting experiences is my favourite kind of gift but this year is rather challenging! If more cook than crafter, a kombucha making kit from FIX8 and ferment your way into Veganuary!

3. In the same vein, a cooking class makes for a lovely gift for a foodie. I’ve been cooking with Day Radley on her YouTube channel and along with Anna Jones on Instagram through lockdown. but I secretly long to enrol in the plant-based mastery course with Plant Academy! One day, I’ll indulge when I have a bit more time… Until then, Happy Pear have 70% off their “start anytime” courses so I’ll be hoping for the Happy Shape one to undo all my festive indulgence Jan 1st.

4. Subscription to Beau’s Pint Club - plant based Italian gelato! I shall say no more except they have PISTACHIO!

5. Cookbooks on my wishlist this year:

Available for pre-order and out next week, Happy Pear have a new one and Anna Jones has One Pot, Pan, and Planet coming to us in March. Something to look forward to in 2021 (as well as a vaccine!). My can’t-live-without cookbook is Meera Sodha’s “Fresh India” and I’ve just gifted her latest “East” to a fellow foodie as has a mix of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

For sustainable must read; I’d go for The Uninhabitable Earth. For entrepreneurs, The Search for the Wild Tofurky is inspiring and hilarious in equal measure, Billion Dollar Burger will make you want to launch a cultivated meat company and The Clean Pet Food Revolution will turn your dog vegan!

6. With self care top of the agenda for most people this year, this lavender and flaxseed filled eye pillow will help you take the time out you need to rest and relax, whilst soothing tired eyes. I got mine from Wearth whose design uses vegan bamboo silk unlike the versions you see on the high street and smells heavenly when zapped for 30 secs in the microwave.

7. I bought myself an early Christmas gift - new fire-engine red wellies. Sustainable and jazzy! From Rockfish in Cornwall.

8. Jakub’s Christmas wish is for lots of new plants to fill up his new house: Peace lilies, cacti and aloe veras will all be enthusiastically received!