Free Gifts from the Heart

Take cuttings from your plants so you can make more for friends.

1. Promise a Plant: Give a division from a special plant that you have in your garden. Wrap up a homemade plant label with care instructions and a picture cut out of a catalog. When spring comes, divide the plant, and pot it up with a weatherproof label and special message.
2. Work Coupons: Create a coupon (or a packet of several coupons) that entitles the bearer to your free labor. Make the coupons good for an hour or even a whole afternoon. You can make different ones for weeding, planting, design, pruning and raking.
3. Home-Grown Seedlings: If you start your own seedlings, it's easy to plant a few extras. Make up some coupons for single plants or six-packs that can be redeemed in the spring for specific plants (tomatoes, zinnias) or let the bearer choose from among your surplus.
4. Seeds for Next Spring: Seeds that you have saved from your own garden make a great gift, but most leftover seed packets from last season will also be perfectly fine next spring. Six or ten seeds is plenty. Fold up your own mini-envelopes and create a unique label.