More presents

More presents but this time not for me! I don’t want it to be said that I am ungenerous. This time it is presents for teachers – the last day of the summer term has dawned, as usual catching me unawares. If I had a better-regulated household I should have anticipated the request for five presents for teachers, which was made just before breakfast-time today, but I am flattered that my daughter has such a touching faith in my ability to conjure up suitable gifts in under an hour. However, I am glad to say that she went happily off to school with these.




All in all it was a satisfactory conclusion to a momentary panic, and I felt that these presents also remained true to the permaculture principles which are so important to the way we run our smallholding. The principles are ‘earth care’, ‘people care’, and sharing your surplus, which I have mentioned before. The jars are reused, the fabric lids are from my inherited scrap stash (you might recognized some from the bunting I showed you), the raffia out of my recycled present wrapping drawer, the fruit from our garden, and even the sugar used was fair trade. So for permaculture read thrifty, green and friendly, and you’re there!

And for those who are interested, if you draw round a saucer, then cut the fabric out with pinking shears, you have an instant lid, which is the perfect size for almost any jam jar. I also use an elastic band to anchor the fabric, which means tying the bow is so much easier and quicker. Red elastic bands can usually be found lying on roads and pavements in most areas in England if you look carefully, so they, too, can be recycled rather than bought. (In case international readers are slightly mystified by this comment, this is because they are UK Post Office standard issue, and postmen tend to drop them accidentally as they deliver the letters, which is a great gift for scavengers like me!)