The Greener Pastures 2022 Mother’s Day Regenerative Gift Guide

This Mother’s Day, we're sharing our recommendations for humane, sustainable, regenerative gifts from the Upper Midwest so you can gift with your values in mind. Continue scrolling for our gift ideas!

Text + Formatting by Sarah Wescott. Original Images by Sarah Carroll. Photoshoot Styling by Kayleen Jacobson.

 
 

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What is Regenerative?

In contrast to conventional agriculture, regenerative agriculture rebuilds and replenishes the land. The main principles of regenerative agriculture are:

  • Maintains the soil structure and health.

  • Protects soil from heat and drought.

  • Prevents soil, air, and water pollution.

  • Feeds and locks nutrients in the soil.

  • Mimics nature and rebuilds habitat.

  • Imitates forest and grassland ecosystems.

Anchored in traditional and indigenous food systems, these practices protect the environment for current and future generations.

The gifts in this guide support regenerative agricultural production on small family-owned farms in the Upper Midwest.

Trust Comes First

None of the products included in this guide were gifts or paid promotions. We tried them and liked them so much that we think you should try them, too. We have no financial incentive to recommend these products.

Product Images provided by producers and farmers.

Allergens: gluten-free (GF), nut-free (NF), dairy-free (DF), vegan (V), vegetarian (VG).

 
 

Taste

Fill Mom’s pantry with ethically-made goods.

Blue Fruit Farm - Berries

Try: Aronia Blue Jam

Spice up Mother's day brunch with a jar of farm fresh jam. Since the 1970s, farmers Joyce Ford and Jim Riddle have been caring for the land. Today, solar power, rainwater, and on-plant ripening are behind all of their delicious fruit.

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

 

Ole Lake Farm - Grains & Soap

Try: Turkey Red Whole Wheat Flour

Heirloom grains are the perfect choice for the mom who loves to bake! Kevin and Debby Flowers grow their prized baking grains with cover cropping, crop rotation, and no artificial inputs, in turn, supporting healthy soils.

NF, DF, V, VG

Polish Farmer - Dried Beans

Try: Dried Soldier Beans

Fill Mom's pantry with local, chemical-free, heirloom dried beans grown by Britt Johnson in Moose Lake, MN. Her beans offer a variety of texture, flavor, and color, making for the perfect addition to any dish.

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

 

American Hazelnut Company - Nuts & Oils

Try: Roasted Hazelnuts

Gift Mom an easy snack with versatile, delicious, Midwest-grown hazelnuts. Grown by a collective of farmers, these nuts sequester carbon, need little water, provide habitat, and build soil health.

GF, DF, V, VG

 
 

Indulge

Share a delicious meal with Mom.

Cosmic Wheel Creamery - Cheese

Try: CWC Herbed Quark

Make Mom's night with a locally sourced charcuterie board. Outside of Clear Lake, WI, Josh Bryceson and Rama Hoffpauir are raising 100% grass-fed cows. They make aged, fresh, and spreadable cheeses with raw milk.

GF, NF, VG

Simpls - Pizza, Soup, & Baked Goods

Try: 2 QT Soup & 2 Pizza Gift Package

Make Mother's Day Dinner a breeze with a delivery of locally sourced pre-made frozen foods. A Minneapolis-based company, Simpls sources from Midwest regenerative farmers. 1% of sales go to local non-profits.

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

 

Pettit Pastures - Beef

Try: Grass-Fed Beef Summer Sausage

Complete your Mother's Day charcuterie board with grass-fed beef. On their family farm, Tim, Alice, Jake, and Larissa Pettit rotationally graze their cattle to heal the land. Their cattle are raised hormone-free on pesticide-free pasture.

GF, NF, DF

Nettle Valley Farms - Pork

Try: Whole or Half Hog Gift Certificate

Set Mom up for a year of pastured pork! Dayna Burtness and Nick Nguyen's heritage breed pigs graze on biodiverse grasses and pea and barley feed (corn and soy-free!). In turn, the farm supports native pollinators.

GF, NF, DF

 
 

Experience

Try out a fun-filled activity with Mom.

Simple Harvest Farm - Animal Products

Try: One-Hour Farm Tour + Shopping

Take a trip to the farm! Outside of Northfield, MN, siblings Nick and Kathy Zeman are caring for the soil with the help of their turkeys, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep and pigs. Always pastured, always organic.

Nerstrand, MN

Keepsake Cidery - Cider

Try: Mother's Day Jazz Brunch

Head to Keepsake Cidery for Mother's Day brunch, rain or shine! Try Nate and Tracy Watters' natural ciders and cider cocktails, listen to the local jazz of KAVE, and dive into food from The Local Plate.

Dundas, MN

 

Mill City Farmer's Market - Local Goods

Try: Mother's Day Saturday Market

Spend Saturday with mom at the first outdoor market of the season. Try vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, clothing, crafts, coffee, and bread from 50+ local producers. Eat, walk, talk, and connect.

Minneapolis, MN

Winnowburrow Farm & Florals - Flowers

Try: Snip 'n Sip Thursdays with Mom

Make a beautiful bouquet with Bonnie Warndahl's seasonal, chemical-free, farm-grown flowers. Enjoy the farm, meet new friends, and spend time with mom. First Thursdays, July - October. BYOB. Register online!

Colfax, WI

 
 

Pamper

Treat Mom to a spa-like experience.

New Frontier Farms - Soap

Try: Sassy Goat's Milk Soap Mother's Day Basket

Get creative with this unique selection of soaps for Mom. Maggie Stensaas makes her soaps with farm-fresh goat's milk. Her spoiled goats have the run of a large temperature-controlled barn and a sunny pasture.

GF, NF, VG

Rhubarb Botanicals - Herbal Tinctures

Try: At Ease Herbal Tincture

Give mom the break she deserves with an At Ease Herbal Tincture. Emma Barber grows herbs using organic methods, tends and harvests by hand, and transforms them into potent therapeutics with intention.

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

 

Cannon Valley Butcher's Block - Soap

Try: Regenerative Soap

Celebrate Mom with luxurious, humanely made soap. Farmer Sarah Scheub uses rotational grazing & organic grains to raise heritage pigs while offering butchery services, delicious pork, and artisan soaps.

GF, NF, DF

Boomflower Farm - Body Care

Try: Face Lotion

Nourish Mom with this rich face lotion made of raw milk, honey, and tallow. Katy Lund raises all of her animals on pasture and hay. Her products feature farm-grown ingredients and minimal additives.

GF, NF

 
 

Share

Bring warmth into Mom’s home this spring.

Get Bentz Farm - Woolen Products

Try: Wool Lap Blanket and Pillow

Share the warmth with Mom this spring. Theresa and Jake Bentz's Icelandic sheep enjoy daily access to wooded & grassy pastures. A snout-to-tail operation, they sheer, mill, and dye right on their Northfield farm.

GF, NF, DF, VG

North Circle Seeds - Seeds

Try: Black-Eyed Susan Seeds

Set Mom up for a bountiful summer! Growers around the Midwest use organic, sustainable, and chemical-free practices to grow these quality seeds. Receive 20% off $4 flower seed packets for Mother's Day!

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

Johnson Family Pastures - Livestock

Try: Mother's Day Card

Shake up the classic Mother's Day card with a 5"x5" card featuring Tamara and Chris's pastured pigs, cattle, horses, or bees. Pair the card with a body care gift bag or grass-fed summer sausage for a winning combo.

GF, NF, DF, V, VG

 

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