Edibles

Happy birthday Cate and Ben

October 28, 2013

I have two wonderful friends with birthdays in late August. They happen to be dating, and also happen to live together (around the corner from me, yay!). Cate I find easy to buy for, as we have been friends since we were 15. Ben, however, was a slightly different story. I am TERRIBLE at buying gifts for boys. It absolutely stumps me. And since I pride myself on giving thoughtful gifts, this was quite a dilemma.

And then, by complete chance, a lightbulb moment! I was talking to Cate about her weekend and she told me that she and Ben had done a complete overhaul of their backyard, weeding for hours. She also mentioned they wanted to get some herbs and veggies growing. And there it was, the eureka moment!

The next day I went on down to Marrickville Markets, which are, in my totally unbiased opinion, the best in Sydney. I headed on down to the friendly plant lady and bought a stack of what I consider to be the ‘essential’ backyard herbs– thyme, mint, sage, chives, rosemary and parsley.
I took them home, popped them in an old fruit box and wrapped the fruit box up in hemp and some red wool. A hand made card and some sneaky break and entering later, and Cate and Ben’s joint birthday present was stashed in their room, looking gorgeous and ready to be a happy birthday surprise!

wrapping the box in fabric

They both loved their present – and immediately invited me over for dinner – an invitation I have yet to cash in (hint, hint). I occasionally get updates, the herbs are now safely potted and planted in their backyard soaking up the sun. So next time you’re stumped for a present idea that’s relatively cheap, useful and applicable to pretty much anyone (especially if they like to cook) – think green!