Shop small, shop local

The Small Shops Big Hearts holiday event helps you be intentional about how and where you spend your money. They make it easy for you to find businesses owned and operated by people who live in our communities and care about the neighborhoods where they operate and the people who live, work and play close by.

The event begins Thursday, November 17 and continues through Sunday, December 11.  

Check out the Shop Small Win Big event page to discover 100+ small businesses with amazing gifts that will make you a winner in the gift-giving department. You can see a full list of prizes and participating small businesses where you can pick up raffle entries for visiting, and more raffle entries when you make purchases.

Discover more holiday gift ideas to save money and shop local.

Celebrate the holidays with low-waste and locally made gifts

Looking for ideas to simplify the holidays? Check out the Center for Biological Diversity’s guides, gifts ideas, and more.

Find holiday tree alternatives and easy entertaining ideas and use their SoKind Registry tool to give and receive gifts. The Gift Guides include ideas to:

• Release your creative spirit with DIY/Handmade Gifts

• Increase happiness and well-being with Experiential Gifts

• Get back more time in the day with Quality Time/Skill Sharing Gifts

• Help others in need with Donation and Support Gifts

• Discover Earth-friendly treats with Food Gifts

In addition to saving time and money, these gifts and celebration ideas reduce waste. This is especially important considering a 2021 analysis showings that Americans generate 23% more tons of waste in December than in other months of the year.

Remember to shop small, shop local

Support Portland makers and DIYers who are selling their wares at various markets and pop up shops throughout the month, including My People's Market, presented by Prosper Portland, and the Mercatus Holiday Gift Guide, featuring local businesses owned by people of color. 

Portland’s neighborhood businesses also offer plenty of gifts for your holiday shopping. Check out Venture Portland's list, with local retailers ready to welcome you. 

Discover more alternative holiday gift ideas and tips to shift to buying used and new-to-you.

Want to share your own holiday tips? The Center for Biological Diversity is looking for holiday tips from you. Share your advice or ideas on how you #SimplifyTheHolidays.

Holiday gift ideas from the Reuse Collective

Are you looking for holiday gift ideas?

This year, Resourceful PDX has partnered with Chinook Book to promote a curated collection of special offers from reuse and repair organizations on the Chinook Book mobile app.

The Reuse Collective includes coupons and discounts with the following businesses:

·         Community Cycling Center

·         Community Warehouse Estate Store

·         Free Geek

·         ReBuilding Center

·         ReClaim It

·         Repair PDX

Consider choosing gently used gifts by visiting one of the many nonprofit thrift stores in Portland. Find inspiration for local ways to upcycle, repair and reuse.

There are more ideas and places for alternative gift ideas in our resourceful #holiday series. 

Keep it local, shop small

The holidays are often a time for creativity and this year is no exception. From online choral concerts and karaoke, to walkable and drivable light displays, we are making the most of our current situation to find some holiday cheer.   

For holiday shopping and giving, this year is about keeping it local and COVID-safe. Make a plan for shopping in-person and talk it through in advance with family or friends if you’ll have others in tow.  

The City of Portland announced December as “Shop Local Month” to recognize the importance of small, local businesses to the city and its economy. In partnership with local organizations, the City has created and improved public safety to instill support of local small businesses, many of which are owned by people of color. For small businesses, much of their annual income is made during the holiday season. 

Shop Small PDX is one resource to help connect Portland residents and visitors to shop local and to be intentional about where you spend your money. Others include directories for Black and Indigenous-owned businesses. Plus, The Intentionalist offers a directory of businesses in Portland and cities around the country.  

Headed downtown? Combine your gift list with visual treats. Check out the Winterland project, a 26-day art experience at window locations throughout downtown, the Central Eastside, and Old Town. Passing by Pioneer Courthouse Square? Visit this year’s holiday tree in Portland’s Living Room to help you celebrate the season. 

Looking ahead to the new year, an experience gift could signal hopeful times together. Perhaps a gift certificate to a local restaurant or theater, weekend travel plans to the Oregon Coast, or a workshop or class. Find more ideas and get holiday tips to save money and shop local with previous Resourceful PDX blog posts.  

Keep it fresh: Stretch your food dollars with these storage tips

Have you ever opened a bag of moldy bread? Or found something funky at the back of your fridge? Avoid another stinky surprise and stretch your food dollars by following these storage best practices.

A) The freezer is your friend

Tired of leftovers? Freeze them for lunch next week. Bread going bad before the loaf’s end? Store it in the freezer, and pop frozen slices right in the toaster. You can even freeze butter to keep it fresh for up to 9 months.

Consider buying frozen instead of fresh: Frozen vegetables are nutritious, easy to cook with, and they don’t mind if you forget about them for a bit (fresh broccoli lasts a week, frozen lasts a year). Plus, a full freezer uses less energy than an
empty one.

B) Know your fridge

Crisper drawers keep carrots crunchy and celery snappy; they’re the best place for fruits and vegetables. Use the high-humidity drawer for produce that wilts and the low-humidity for fruit and veggies that get moldy. The door is the warmest spot in the fridge, so use it for condiments but not milk or other perishable items.

C) Cool cupboards

Heat, light and humidity are the enemy of preserving flavor and freshness in herbs and spices, dried beans and grains and cooking oils. Store these items in a cool, dry, dark cupboard or drawer. The same goes for potatoes, onions and garlic.

D) Countertop tips

Leave tomatoes and avocados on the counter to ripen, then move to the fridge to keep them from going bad.

Top storage tools to try

Painter’s tape & permanent marker: Label and date like a pro. (It’s how restaurants keep track.)

Air-tight containers: Clear, air-tight jars, containers and bags keep food fresh and easy to see.

Phone camera: Snap a shelfie of your fridge, freezer, cupboard or spice drawer before heading to the store, so you don’t double-buy.

Lists: Keep lists on the fridge to make notes as you run out of things. An “Eat Me Soon” list is also helpful to avoid forgotten fruit and hidden leftovers.

Find more food saving tips

Find more storage tips that are good for your wallet and good for the planet at Eat Smart Waste Less. And while you're there, check out their tips for food shopping and cooking. (The site is also available in Spanish: www.eatsmartwasteless.com/acepteelreto)

This article appeared in the Winter 2020 Curbsider publication.

Donate at the holidays or anytime

The winter weather and holiday season may provide thoughts of cozy, indoor activities, but for many people in the community, it is also a time when warm clothing and more resources are needed. You can help provide an extra hand or gently used goods to those in need this season.

Portland has many resources and opportunities to give back. And while local service and nonprofit organizations need assistance, they don’t need items that have to be sorted which takes more volunteer or staff time. Help these groups be efficient by doing the legwork ahead of time.

A main resource in Portland is 211info, which is informed of donation and volunteer needs for community organizations working in Multnomah County Joint Office on Homeless Services.

As they list online, “outreach providers need winter gear they can pass out now, so folks outside are ready for the cold, and to have in reserve during an emergency. Having the right gear staged in the right places before a crisis will help providers better focus on direct services and life-saving efforts in the moment.”

Other local resources:

• Red Tricycle has a recent post about where to donate children’s items in Portland. 

• Oregon Live listed resources for clothing donations after Netflix launched the Marie Kondo tidying up show.

• The Resourceful PDX map has a Donation Center section where community and nonprofit resources are listed.

Give the gift of ‘gently used’ this holiday season

Purchasing used items as holiday gifts is an alternative that reduces waste and saves money.

Find fun and unique items and feel good about re-gifting at the Cracked Pots second annual holiday pop-up shop. This year, the pop-up shop is in the St. Johns neighborhood commercial district in Portland and features 40 artists that utilize reclaimed materials, with all items at least 80% upcycled. Enjoy the festive spirit as you shop for something especially meaningful for your loved ones!

Read how residents feel about shopping for used goods at ReClaim It! and Community Warehouse in a previous blog post.

The annual Holiday Gift and Toy Swap, hosted by Swap Positive, is another way to find alternative gifts for kids and adults alike. This event needs you to RSVP ahead of time. Swap Positive also hosts swaps throughout the year for you to bring unwanted or unneeded items to share with others. Who knows, you may just find something that becomes a treasured gift to pass onto a loved one.

If you’re ready to bring a gift exchange to your office, choose to reuse. How about a silent auction with used goods to benefit community groups that share values with your workplace? Find 15 gift exchange ideas for your office holiday party.

For more inspiration, here are 9 ways to reduce waste over the holidays.

These handy apps help you reduce holiday food waste

Fall and winter holidays bring opportunities to enjoy meals together. By planning ahead for all the steps – buying, preparing, cooking, eating – you can help reduce food waste to make the most of your holidays!

Plan

Search for recipes online, find tips to use leftovers faster and easier, and create shopping lists (and even share your list with your co-chefs).

• Keep track of your shopping needs, your pantry’s inventory, and manage your to-do list items with Out of Milk.

• The Guest-imator from Save the Food helps you plan exactly what you need based on the number of guests and types of dishes.

• Paprika Recipe Manager offers recipes plus interactive options so you can cross off items as you go along, highlight your current step and convert measurements.

Prepare

Colorful foods like apples, pears, cranberries, winter squash, hazelnuts, walnuts, chard, kale, leeks, beets and potatoes all look beautiful on your plate. Find these seasonal treats with the farmers market map based on the neighborhood and the day they want to shop. Many are open year-round, and even more are open leading up to Thanksgiving.

Choose up to 3 ingredients and BigOven will tell you what you can make.

Cook

While the holidays bring together family, friends and food, they also allow for time in the kitchen together. Are there dishes you can prepare ahead of time? Invite friends over for a pie night to bake together and save time and money by sharing the work and the ingredients.

Eat

Now, enjoy the meal you have prepared or the special dishes you bring to a holiday gathering, potluck or dinner at someone else’s home. Sharing your favorite dishes elsewhere allows for less cleanup and  a chance to take home leftovers (don’t forget your reusable containers!).

Chinook Book is your key to sustainable living

It’s the 20th edition of Chinook Book! As always, the annual book includes hundreds of offers that are in line with being a thoughtful consumer in Portland, and why they are a Resourceful PDX partner. 

The Chinook Book highlights local, sustainable businesses that thrive in the community by giving back. There are close to 500 offers in seven categories this year – Dining, Entertainment and Family, Fashion and Gifts, Grocery Retailers, Home and Garden, Travel and Recreation and Wellness.

Some family-friendly favorites listed under Entertainment and Family include:

• OMSI

• Oregon Children’s Theatre

• Saturday Academy

• Oregon Zoo

• SCRAP

• Cloud Cap Games 

The Chinook Book team provides criteria so the businesses that appear in the book have been vetted for sustainability practices. This year, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has both a recycling ad and the Resourceful PDX ad, below.

Find savings by using both the print book and mobile app, available at local retailers and through school and nonprofit fundraisers. And don’t forget, every book includes a 12-month app subscription!

Buy to Last with BuyMeOnce

The holidays are a great time to reconsider what we buy.  A recent article in the New York Times about buying items to last resonates this time of year because Resourceful PDX is about thoughtful consumption. The article highlights one woman’s journey to find long-lasting items that are built to last. The story features Tara Button, the creator of BuyMeOnce. Their tagline reads: We find the longest lasting products on the planet. To save you stress, to save you money, to save the planet.

The gist is to move away from throwaway. Seeking items that can last a lifetime may seem old-fashioned, or from another era. However, disposable items or those that are made to break (also known as planned obsolescence) are a waste, in more ways than one.

Instead, BuyMeOnce suggests seeking items for yourself or for others that stand the test of time. From socks and sweaters to blenders and mixing bowls, you can search for what you need or want, and get ideas for the holidays too.

Categories online include:

·         Kitchenware

·         Living

·         Electricals (i.e. appliances and gadgets)

·         Leisure

·         Beauty

·         Kids, women’s and men’s items

If you must give a gift of something, consider an item that the receiver wants, needs and is built to last their lifetime.

Find out more about BuyMeOnce. And check out the Resourceful PDX blog for more local options to buy smart!