EW’S
gift
GUIDE
GIVING LOCAL
Head for Down to Earth to buy the perfect local gifts this season
by Morgan Theophil
hen shopping for
the people you
love during this
season of giving,
shopping local
can bring joy to
every party in-
volved. In Eugene, I like nothing better than
to stop at Down to Earth: Home, Garden &
Gift.
Down to Earth is celebrating its 40th an-
niversary this year, but the heart behind the
products has always held true. “We came
from humble beginnings, but our mission
has stayed the same,” Carol Watkins, one of
the store’s buyers, tells me. “We sell quality
products for natural living.”
Walking through the entire store is a gift in itself.
The city-block-long store on Olive Street is part of the
Historic Farmer’s Union Building, and you can take a
self-guided tour wandering through as you admire
the abundance of unique, local items.
More importantly, you can find the perfect gifts for
everyone on your list. The store is full of treasures
— handmade pottery and quality kitchenware, beau-
tifully printed textiles, Oregon-made candles and lo-
tions, and every gardening necessity you could imag-
ine — making it pleasantly hard to pick just a few.
First, when shopping for the environmentally
friendly family, stop and grab a pack of Bee’s Wrap
($16-$20) — it’s a natural, reusable food wrap made
only of organic cotton, sustainably sourced beeswax,
natural tree resin and organic jojoba oil. It’s hand-
made in Vermont, comes in a range of sizes to wrap
W
6 Eugene Weekly’s GIFT GUIDE 2017
all varieties of foods and is perfect to please your
nature-focused friends.
From there, head over to the accessories section
and stop when you see the Ruthie & Olive jewelry
line ($25.99-$35.99). Not only are these
necklaces delicate and beautiful, they
are packaged perfectly and paired with
a sweet quote ready to be easily given
as a gift.
Better yet, with each necklace sold,
three meals are provided to those in
need through the Oregon Food Bank.
This Portland-based brand brings beauty
into the world while battling food insecu-
rity, and is high on the list of meaningful
gifts in the store.
After you’ve finished admiring gifts
for inside the home, move over to the
garden. There are two items in this sec-
tion that are perfect for the gardeners in
your life: First, check out the display of
Green Journey Seeds ($3.49 each). The varieties of
seed packages are all grown on small organic farms
in Lane County. Bundling a variety of seeds to grow
vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers can make the
perfect local gift.
Finally, for a last unique gift for your outdoor-loving
friends, stay in the garden area and find the standing dis-
play of Wheel House Design Novelty Socks ($11.99).
These socks are made in the U.S., and their simple tan
color makes the vegetables on them stand out.
For the chilly winter months when gardeners may
retreat indoors, looking down at your feet to see a
perfectly planted carrot will surely bring a smile to
anyone’s face.
Down to Earth is open 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday and 10
am to 5 pm Sunday at 532 Olive Street in Eugene. For more information,
visit DowntoEarthEugene.com.
www.eugeneweekly.com