Holiday Gifts for Late-Stage Capitalism
And where to find them
Welcome back to The Link, a bi-weekly circularity newsletter making the connection between regenerative farming and you!
Has capitalism been kicking your ass as much as mine lately? According to the Celtic wheel of the year, we’re supposed to be resting right now, but who really is in America? As soon as Monty, a giant schnauzer from Connecticut trotted his winning victory lap at the Westminster Dog show on Thanksgiving Day, I knew what would happen next. The Black Friday spam emails and Cyber Monday deals! deals! deals! clogged up my inbox that’s already telling me I need to buy more digital storage. But why do we need to buy more things?
If you’re anything like me, you teeter between John Candy as Uncle Buck in your general resources (just see what I mean with the giant pancakes and shovel situation) or as the Polka King character in Home Alone, who embraced the great winter airport snafu by hitching a ride in the back of a moving van with his entire polka band. Take a break from doom scrolling, take a nap, and enjoy this completely unhinged list of holiday presents that are loosely rooted in circular and/or regenerative concepts.
The Things
Pickles as Self Care: Last year, I invested in a Who Let the Dogs Out bumper sticker that has dramatically improved the quality of my life. Anyone under the age of 30 has no idea what it’s referencing, while others earnestly approach me to ask how many dogs I own. I plan to dissociate from the unknown in 2025 inside my kitchen, leaning over the sink eating pickles and when I’m not doing that, I want everyone to know where I’d rather be.
Local Seeds: In the spirit of the circular economy and because capitalism is trash, go to your nearest library and check out some local seeds that friends and family can sprinkle throughout their area (and perhaps whisper curse your name as they do it because you didn’t buy them the Vitamix they’ve wanted for for the past 4 years).
Prairie Strips: Prairie strips are one of the coolest things that can be integrated into croplands, and in 2024, organizations like Mad Agriculture have kicked off amazing projects to bring more back into the world. Now you can buy their seed mix from their site here.
Grow a Tiny Tree: I get it. You’re probably tired of me talking about your own microbiome, gut health, local biomes, etc. and are still like, “What is she talking about?” as you stare out of your urban abode. To that, I say: buy a bonsai tree for yourself or anyone who wants to create a microbiome in your space and tend to a little universe.
Cactus Leather Biker Jacket: I am all for vegan leather but I wanted to put this absurdly expensive cactus leather jacket on the list that I will never buy but would like for someone else to who is reading this to do so for me or someone else in your life. If you do, please tell me if it off gasses prickly pear scent...
Embracing Change Tarot Deck: Octavia Butler wasn’t just a writer, but clearly a psychic when she wrote Parable of the Sower, set in 2025. Embrace the unknown ahead and invest in an Octavia inspired tarot deck that infuses emergent strategy.
Buy Nothing. Join the Buy Nothing group and find something for someone else, regift something from your collection that you love, or just offer something kind to your beloveds.
Happy holidays!
Oh hey! You’re still reading this? If you have future topics, smart humans, or concepts you’d like to see featured, respond to this newsletter or drop me a line and say hey: Helen@HelenHollyman.com.
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