Square Roots | 12.12.19
Holiday cheer comes in the form of good food and shared meals for us at Square Roots, and we can’t think of a better way to spread the joy than with gifts that make eating well a little easier. We polled the team to bring you the Square Roots Holiday Gift Guide, a roundup of our favorite gifts for those who grow, cook, or simply love delicious, real food.
The Hori Hori is by far the best tool to have in the field. Dig, cut, measure soil depth, and even open a bottle after a long day in the sun. At $30 it’s an easy win for the soil grower in your life.
This table-top aquaponics kit lets you grow microgreens and herbs with the help of a fishy friend. It’s $99 and perfect for small spaces. The mini ecosystem would make a great addition to a classroom, apartment, or kid’s bedroom.
Fill out a new kitchen with a set of must-have tools from GIR. Considered the best for a reason, these tools have full silicone coverings, which means they never get hot, are easy to clean, and don’t scratch. Sets start around $37, or go a-la-carte and put together a rainbow combination of your own.
Made by a family in Brooklyn, Forward ROOTS Kimchi Sauce is a Square Roots favorite. Perfect on pineapple, eggs, soups, stir-frys, and so much more, it’s sure to become a new pantry staple for the lucky recipient on your list.
Friend of Square Roots and “Pesto-preneur,” Leslie Lennox literally wrote the book on incorporating unique pestos into all sorts of dishes. Snag Pesto: The Modern Mother Sauce from a local bookstore or order online from IndieBound for $26.
A quality mandoline slicer is a food-prep game changer. Go ultra thin and keep your slices uniform while looking like a pro in the kitchen. Most kitchenware stores have them in stock, or you can order online from Whisk for $20.
Perfectly-crafted cookies deserve the best ingredients. Supernatural makes plant-based sprinkles and baking ingredients free of artificial dyes, soy, and palm oil. A two-pack of sprinkles is on sale for $11 and is perfect as a gift itself or to decorate homemade goodies for everyone on your list.
These at-home mushroom growing kits from North Spore are the perfect combination of farming, food, and science. With a bit of humidity and care, anyone can grow delicious mushrooms for cooking right in their own kitchen. Talk about local farming!
Anyone who’s filling out their kitchen with next-level tools and pantry staples will appreciate a set of quality spices. Burlap & Barrel sources flavor-packed, single-origin spices from small farms around the world. Kits start at $25 and bring a new level of fancy to a burgeoning kitchen ecosystem.
A colorful bento box from Poketo makes the perfect gift for friends on the move. For farmworkers, office workers, and kids headed to school, a good lunch box makes prepping more fun and lunch a little brighter. Go for the rectangle box at $23, and throw in some reusable flatware for extra points.
Give the gift of dirt! Boxes of compost from Detroit Dirt start at $15 and go towards supporting an awesome zero waste mission. Perfect for home gardens and house plants alike, a bag of nutrient-dense soil is a surprisingly thoughtful gift.
Funding a local Kickstarter on behalf of your pal or opting for a gift card to a favorite local shop is like two gifts in one. Here are a few of our favorites in New York and Grand Rapids:
New York City
Neighbors, a convenience store providing healthier options to the people of Harlem
Central Brooklyn Food Coop, a community owned grocery store opening in 2020
Greene Grape, local food and wine at it’s best, with local delivery in under 2 hours
Whisk, local kitchenwares for the foodies in your life; they even offer knife sharpening!
Grand Rapids, MI
Woosah, apparel and handmade goods taking inspiration from nature
Brewery Vivant, a favorite of the Grand Rapids team, serving up local beer and food
Downtown Market, home to 20+ indoor market vendors, gift cards work at any one of them
Horrocks Market, independent market known for their gift baskets full of fruit and local treats
Find Square Roots herbs at a store near you via our store locator and subscribe to our newsletter for more herb-y dishes and tips.
