I don't know about you, but this year has just flown by! Somehow we are already in November with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner. I am in the middle of making my gift list for everyone I love and wanted to encourage my readers to shop local farms this holiday season.
Here are 3 reasons to shop local (Michigan) farms this holiday season:
Buy a local product. Whether you purchase locally made jams, food products or clothing items, purchasing a gift produced from a farm means you are supporting local enterprise. Rather than purchasing something that was imported from another country you can have peace of mind and satisfaction knowing you purchased something produced and made in the USA.
Support a small business. Farms are small businesses, too. Without customers there would be no farms. Many farms are generational, family farms that have spent years developing and honing in on their business plans, entrepreneurial skills and products offered for sale. If you like to support small businesses, a local farm is a great option! I can tell you from experience how meaningful it is to sell products to customers. Every purchase helps support not only a farm, but a dream!
Give a unique gift. Everyone has those on their gift list who have just about everything. Purchasing gifts from local farms is one way to surprise your loved one and also give them something different and unique they do not own or have never tried before. Whether it's a food product, a pair of wool mittens, or skin care product, give a unique gift this year.
I hope the latter will give you some inspiration this holiday shopping season. For an added bonus, check out my popular Farm Market items you can purchase for yourself and loved ones, below.
Parkside Farm Holiday Gift Guide
Maple Syrup
Our #1 farm product produced right from trees located at Parkside Farm is our delicious pure maple syrup. Starting late in January, I start preparing for the upcoming sap season. This includes laying out hundreds of feet of rubber tubing and placing collecting tanks we obtain from our local processor, Great Lakes Maple. This is always an exciting and busy time of year. There is no rest even in the winter months for local farm owners, especially those who collect sap for syrup making.
Raw Honey
This year was the first year we put bee hives at Parkside Farm. Thanks to our friends Darci and Luke, we were able to enjoy many months of extraordinary pollination from our little buzzing friends around the farm. From helping to pollinate apples, flowers, pumpkins, corn and more, we were constantly seeing little honeybees all around the farm. We were able to collect honey off the hives this fall and still have some for sale for this holiday season. A perfect gift.
If you'd like to ship honey, please email: info@nicolezaagman.com
I can tell you from experience how meaningful it is to sell products to customers. Every purchase helps support not only a farm, but a dream! - Nicole Zaagman
Goat Milk Soap
While we do not produce our own goat milk soap, we work with an incredible artisan shop that is located right here in the United States called Old Factory, LLC. They create the wonderful goat milk soaps that can be found in my Farm Market and design the soap under the Parkside Farm label. The most popular scent is by far the Lavender Relaxation soap with Festive Mint Melody both made with natural and wholesome ingredients. Another great option just in time for gift giving this holiday season.
If you'd like to ship soap, please email: info@nicolezaagman.com
Goat Milk Lotion
Last December, I had the privilege of meeting Joseph Bates, the mastermind and farm founder behind Bates Family Farm located in Virginia. I fell in love not only with these amazing goat milk products but also Joseph's story of goat ownership, and him being a cancer survivor and veteran. I am proud to carry his amazing lotions in my Farm Market with the most popular scent being Berries N Cream. I've also added 5 amazing holiday scents just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you'd like to ship lotion, please email: info@nicolezaagman.com
NEW Storybook
My NEW pygmy goat storybook about Stella's twins is in production! Pre-order a copy of Stella Bella's Miracle Twins by December 12th and I will include a FREE pygmy goat sticker with each order. Softcover storybook orders placed by December 12 will be shipped and delivered in time for Christmas. Hardcover books are tentatively scheduled to ship out the first week of January, 2025. Join Stella Bella and her babies as they share their story of faith, perseverance and hope this holiday season.
Nicole Zaagman lives in Byron Center, Michigan with her high-school sweetheart and her many farm critters. Nicole is an accomplished, Christian entrepreneur and children's author, passionate about helping women succeed in life and business through coaching. She travels the state of Michigan visiting senior centers, children's programs and special events with her pygmy goats through the Jump for JOY Program® and operates Parkside Farm. Nicole is a passionate AgVocate for agriculture, agritourism and farm education and encourages families to engage and support local farms in their communities.
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