Tag Archives: holiday

winter scene

Holiday Gifts for Nature Lovers

As we wrap up this eventful year, we’re reminded of all those that made it a little easier. To those on the front lines, those that provided support, and those that need their own break, we’re thinking of you! Now more than ever, the gift of love and appreciation is cherished. For a little something extra, check out these offerings.

1. Nature-themed Puzzles & Games

Have some fun this winter! Puzzles, memory games, bingo, mancala, and more are available at the online Mass Audubon Shop to help you stay smiling and entertained. Challenge your brain, and a friend!

2. Unique Experiences

Experiences are worth a thousand gifts! Make your gift unique this year by scheduling something fun to do together. Our programs, offered online and in-person following COVID-19 guidelines, will teach you to interpret the natural world and create lasting memories shared together. Or, visit a sanctuary to enjoy quality time outdoors on your own schedule.

3. Local Farm Products

Who doesn’t love to indulge in local treats? At the Drumlin Farm admissions window, there’s a whole suite of farm-fresh products that you can bring home, including:

  • Yarn, made from Drumlin Farm sheep wool
  • Soap, made from Drumlin Farm goat milk
  • Honey, collected from Drumlin Farm hives
  • Maple Syrup, collected from Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary trees
  • Eggs, collected from Drumlin Farm chickens

Plus, stylish reusable Drumlin Farm-branded cloth bags to hold it all in! Create a personalized gift bag filled with treats the localvores in your life will love.

Please note: visiting the trails at Drumlin Farm currently requires online preregistration.

4. Feeders & Birding Gear

Bird feeders provide a perfect way to stay connected to nature while home-bound this winter. Fill it with seed and watch birds flock to your home! Binoculars let you notice the tiny details to aid in identification and field guides ensure your accuracy. Online ordering makes it easy too!

Feeling handy? Build a bird buffet with a crafty friend to make memories together and enjoy the birds!

5. Give the Gift of Membership

Give the gift of rivers, forests, marshes, and meadows. Members enjoy free admission to more than 50 wildlife sanctuaries, and many other great benefits, including member-only discounts on walks, talks, classes, and camps. Share your experiences in nature with a loved one all year long, and give the gift of a Mass Audubon membership.

Just Say “No” to the Can

Thanksgiving is just one week away. Are you stocking up on butter? Have you figured out your oven schedule? Does a turkey really have to rest for an hour before you carve it? Did you remember to invite your 3rd cousin, Jenny?

Don’t panic. At least not yet.

During the holiday season, it’s quite easy for us to take the easy route as far as food is concerned. Pre-made dishes shave time and effort off your already-stressful to-do list. And we understand: Accommodating multiple diets, allergies, and preferences can turn your Thanksgiving into an extravagant production.

cranberries1But we’re here to talk about the cranberry. That tart, crisp, Thanksgiving staple that simply must be prepared, even though it is often an afterthought. But why is it that? Perhaps because cranberry sauce has fallen victim to simplicity, namely: The Can.

We’re here to say that it’s time to say “no” to the can.
And to inspire you, just in time for your Thanksgiving feast, we’ve put together a couple of recipes that will hopefully ensure that your cranberry sauce will no longer be an afterthought and, most importantly, no longer come from a can. Many thanks to Nate, a Drumlin Farm volunteer, for the recipes!

If you picked up today’s winter CSA, you may have noticed that there were bags of organic, locally grown cranberries from Fresh Meadows in Carver, MA. And if you aren’t part of our CSA, you can still get their cranberries at numerous locations in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area (Check their website!).

cranberries3   cranberries2   cranberries4

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

12 oz cranberries
1 orange, peeled and chopped
1 apple, peeled and chopped
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine all the ingredients in a pot. Bring to boil. Drop heat and simmer, stirring sometimes, until the berries burst. Chill before serving.

FIG-CRANBERRY CHUTNEY
12 oz cranberries
18 figs (dried black mission, if you can get them)
1/2 orange, juice and zest
1/2 cup Port
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp grated ginger
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 rosemary sprig

In a large bowl, soak the dried figs with Port. Let soak for 30 minutes. When they’re done soaking, put the cranberries and sugar in a pot and heat over medium until the sugar dissolves. Add the fig mixture (with the Port), ginger, orange juice, zest, pepper, salt, and rosemary. Bring to boil. Drop heat and simmer, stirring sometimes, until the berries burst. Turn off the heat and toss in the sprig of rosemary. Chill before serving.