Still hunting for that perfect gift for Mom? From locally-grown flowers
to co-op classes to wine tours and organic dinners and more,
LiveGreenTwinCities offers up a guide to the
coolest Mother-approved green gifts in town.
A True Green Thumb The local gardeners and landscapers who make up
Urban Homestead Gardening are rooted in the belief that every yard can produce beauty and bounty. In fact, Urban Homestead's two garden gurus, Elise Kyllo and Thea Evans,
are so committed to this idea that they offer incredibly affordable
garden designs, consultations, maintenance options, and more for the
novi
ce and expert gardener. The veggie, herb, and perennial garden pictured above is just one of the duo's many produce-bearing, urban-garden creations.
Everything the expert gardeners do is organic and
sustainable, including setting up rain barrels and compost bins that
will serve gardens all season long. They'll help Mom do it all--from
creating an organic and sustainable herb garden to pruning and
harvesting the fruits, veggies, and herbs those plants bear.
Have a mom
that's a DIY-gardener? Urban Homestead Gardening can help her, too.
Ellie and Thea also provide tips, recipes, and preservation suggestions
so that every bit of the organic produce can be enjoyed all season long.
Flower Frenzy
Have a mom that wants to learn more about sustainable and organic gardening? What about a mom who just wants to enjoy flowers that have been kind to the earth? Get native plants for the garden or gorgeous bouquets at this Mother’s Day flower sale at the
Seward Co-op. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 9th and 10th, floral artists from
Shining Hills Farm in Wisconsin
Artemisia Flowers in Minneapolis will set up shop outside the store, showcasing their lovely locally- and organically-grown flowers and arrangements.
During Mother’s Day weekend the Seward Co-op will also feature great prices on items by local artists and growers, including pottery, cards, aroma-therapy gift sets, and more.
Happy Trails
A trip along the
Three Rivers Wine Trail --Minnesota’s first wine trail--would be a perfect “experience” gift for Mom and a wonderful way to spend a late spring day or early summer weekend together. Visit any or all of six of Minnesota’s oldest wineries located along the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Cannon River valleys: Falconer Vineyards; Winehaven Winery and Vineyard; Saint Croix Vineyards; Cannon River Winery; Northern Vineyards Winery; and Alexis Bailly Vineyard. Best of all, there is no charge to participate in the Three Rivers Wine Trail passport program.
Learn about the finest local vineyards and the art of organic winemaking, and drink in both the glorious river valley scenery and the wine samples at each stop along the way. For more information about special wine trail events, accommodations and winery tour schedules, visit the Three Rivers Wine Trail website.
Naturally RelaxingPamper Mom with soothing gifts for body and soul from
Linden Hills Natural Home. After a long day working in her garden, sitting in front of the computer, or taking care of the kids, she’ll relish the relaxation provided by microwaveable back and neck warmers ($45 each) from
St. Croix Valley Naturals. These high-quality, soft pillows are filled with Minnesota-grown, certified-organic flax seed and the money goes right back to the local growers.
To soothe her frenzied spirit, tuck in a bottle of lavender essential oils from
Wyndmere Naturals of Minneapolis, available at Linden Hills Co-op. Lavender is optimal for reducing stress and also serves as an anti-bacterial. The Co-op also sells Wyndmere’s unscented body lotion that you can easily personalize with a blend of Mom’s favorite essential oils (prices for oils begin at around $7).
The perfect final touch: an all natural candle (featuring a lead-free wick) made with 100 percent essential oils by
Sunleaf Naturals in Waconia, also available at Linden Hills Co-op.
A Gift that Cooks 
If your mom is passionate about whipping up healthy and delicious recipes, consider a wonderful new local cookbook featuring recipes provided by some of Minnesota’s best-known chefs from restaurants such as Birchwood Café, Corner Table, Lucia’s, and Café Brenda. All chefs are known for their use of locally grown, organic, and sustainable cooking items.
The Minnesota Home Grown Cookbook (Voyageur Press, $29.95), featuring an introduction by Garrison Keillor, includes 100 recipes as well as the stories and personal cooking philosophies of these and many other Minnesota chefs.
Along with the cookbook, how about giving Mom a set of four cool confetti mixing bowls, inspired by the plastic retro ware of the 1950s? These handy nesting bowls are updated and earth-friendly, made from recycled melamine. Dishwasher safe, sturdy, and easy to store. ($32) The confetti bowls and cookbook are available at all
Patina stores. Deep Skin Forget buying another skin treatment for mom that's full of nasty chemicals. Take yourself--and mom--back to nature, with a course at the
Wedge Co-op. On Wednesday, May 6, from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m., learn how to make all-natural beauty products and leave with samples you and mom will love. You'll make chem-free body products that pamper and nourish skin, including Lavender Bath Soak, Vanilla Body Scrub, Coconut Cuticle Cream, and Honey Facial Mask.
The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members.
Good Eats 
A South Minneapolis bistro isn't exactly the place you'd expect to find the heart of rural Minnesota. But
Corner Table chef Scott Pampuch is committed to bringing the fruits of the farm to your table. Every meal at Corner Table is delicious and decadent, prepared with the same amount of care and commitment it took to raise and grow the food on a nearby organic farm.
In order to accommodate the changing seasons, the Corner Table's menu changes weekly, always offering the bounty of the land to its guests. And Pampuch's dedication to healthy food and sustainable agriculture has won him raves and nods, including a James Beard Foundation nomination as a semifinalist in the category of "Best Midwest Chef."
On Sunday nights, including Mother's Day, Pampuch invites guests to bring in their favorite records, which servers will spin over the soft din and warm ambiance of Corner Table. So bring in a record you loved growing up, or one that has meaning for you and your mom. Songs, after all, are as evocative as scent. And the food here is as powerful as your favorite song.
Sun SalutationsOutfit Mom in a comfy set of organic clothes, perfect for her favorite exercise class or just relaxing at home.
Birch Clothing features a wide selection, including a stylish sleeveless top by Echo, made of 90 percent organic cotton ($49). Pair that with Meridian Capris, sporting loose, wide-cut legs and a broad-flat waistband, also of organic cotton jersey ($52).
Maybe your mom just wishes she knew how to do the sun salutation. So why not consider signing her up for a yoga class? At the
Yoga Center of Minneapolis (with studios downtown and in St. Louis Park), there are a wide variety of class options including beginner, Vinyasa, Hatha, and even classes for expectant and brand-new mothers. Many pricing packages are available – a four-class pass is $60. Senior citizens are eligible for a discounted rate.
A Clean Desk is a Green Desk Consider some stylish new desk accessories for Mom, all available at
The Bibelot Shops. She always loves looking at your photo, so slide your most recent one into a 4 x 6 frame made from a recycled bicycle chain ($38.95). Or how about a business card holder made from the same material – room enough for 30+ business cards, including a spot for a pencil across the back ($22.50).
From file folders to notebooks in several shapes and sizes, ecojot paper products are made from 100 percent recycled paper using biodegradable vegetable-based glue and ink (prices range from $4.95 to $10.95). All are available in fun and funky designs, guaranteed to give Mom a workday lift.
Treat Mom RightFill an organic cotton tote bag with a collection of delicious treats, all available at
Kowalski’s Markets, sure to please any Mom on her special day.
Start with certified organic, locally roasted MorningStar coffee, available in several varieties, whole bean or ground (stored in a 100 percent recyclable decorative tin can). Don’t forget the chocolate -- a selection of rich and delicious truffles from Minneapolis chocolatier
B.T. McElrath, now packaged in materials from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. (Prices begin at approximately $10). Try the new Cordillera truffles, handcrafted from 70 percent pure Colombian chocolate.
Or maybe you want to impress Mom with your baking abilities. It’s easy to cheat using the delicious frozen options from Upper Crust Fine Food Company, based in Minneapolis—bake their scrumptious peanut butter and chocolate Blondies made from fresh and local ingredients in just a few minutes and wrap those up, too (approximately $5 per box).
Finally, Mom would also love to find a great book tucked into her bag. Two noteworthy options include
The Florist’s Daughter, a memoir by Saint Paul author Patricia Hampl about her father’s hometown floral business and her often complicated relationship with her mother ($13.95, paperback).
The Plague of Doves, a recent Minnesota Book Award winner by Louise Erdrich is her 13th novel, a multigenerational tale about a family with roots in North Dakota ($14.99, paperback). Both books are available at the independently owned
Micawber’s Books in Saint Paul.