Buying consciously this Christmas  

Swap excess for intention this festive season with Bristol Food Network volunteer Tilda Teale’s guide to Bristol’s best local, sustainable food and gift suppliers – from regenerative farms and community markets to ethical experiences that give back, reduce waste and make Christmas more meaningful.

Christmas, despite being wonderful in many ways, has quietly become a time of overconsumption and sometimes enormous amounts of waste. To connect with local communities and truly lean into the Christmas spirit of connection and gratitude, gifts and ingredients can be bought from local, sustainable suppliers, of which there are thousands within and around the Bristol area. Sourcing sustainable produce, and gifts, from local artists, butchers and fruit and veg shops give back income to local communities, while saving shipping airmiles as people ramp up their purchases around the globe. 

Try out local markets, such as the Sunday Tobacco Factory Market or the St Nicholas Market for local produce and homemade gifts. The Windmill Hill Farm makes their own jams and chutneys from farm produce, which they sell in the farm shop along with Christmas hampers, making a perfect gift. 

Serving locally reared and sustainable meat on the Christmas table can help your family understand where their meat has come from – being able to share a story about the farm on which it’s grown brings more meaning to the plate.

Belmont Estate is a regenerative project outside of Bristol, where cows and pigs are reared alongside peatland and native woodland restoration projects. Their meat is of the highest quality, and you can even visit the farm and their local shop. Other sustainable farms to source local meat include Nempnett Pastures, a sixth generation farming family rearing turkeys, pigs and chickens in North Somerset using regenerative methods that replenish the soil and plants. Somerset Charcuterie produces delicious cured meats using Spanish and Italian methods that would impress any dinner guest, all grown locally! 

There are also many local veg boxes to supply all the parsnips, carrots and those pesky Brussels sprouts (delicious sliced up fine with chestnuts) that you could need. Find veg box listings on the Bristol Food Network.  

My gift choice this year will be a day out or voucher for a class – what could be more sustainable than passing on knowledge from an expert, without fear of the waste of an unwanted gift being tossed aside? Last year I was gifted a foraging course with award-winning horticulturalist and conservationist, Steve England. In a fun and informative day out adults and children can learn how to forage sustainably (meaning money saved on the food shop), discover the edibles within nature, spot the poisonous look-alikes, and learn the importance of conservation while being surrounded by birds and butterflies. He is very enthusiastic, having lived in Bristol all his life and extremely knowledgeable, even providing a completely foraged lunch (depending on the season). Other courses in and around Bristol can also be found online.

Another great gift idea is a voucher for a Migrateful cooking class. The charity has recently opened a new cookery school at Windmill Hill City Farm, where classes offer a wonderful way to meet new people and explore recipes from cuisines such as Afghani, Egyptian, Kurdish and many others. Migrateful works with refugees and migrants, using food to break down barriers and challenge prejudiced views. If you have a sibling or aunty with questionable views, then a ticket to one of these sessions could be the perfect eye-opener! Not only will they learn delicious dishes and experience cultures they may never have the chance to visit, they’ll also return home with recipes to share. 

For sweet treats and unique stocking fillers, visit Radek’s Chocolate for their handmade, organic, vegan chocolates, or try their mood-boosting Lion’s Mane Cocoa drink made in collaboration with Bristol Fungarium. Coffee lovers can find exceptional beans at Radical Roasters in Easton or Wogan Coffee who do subscription deliveries to your doorstep. For more festive tipples, try a beer from Arbor Ale, gin from Psychopomp or Somerset fizz from Aldwick Estate. Keen chefs in your family might like gifts of spiced infusions, olives and oils from Shorrk or cupboard stables from Harvest, Essential Trading, and The Community Farm.  

This Christmas, being thoughtful about where our gifts and food come from is more important than ever. By choosing sustainable, locally sourced options, we reduce waste, support our community, and bring more meaning to the celebrations.  

Read about the new Migrateful Cookery School in Bedminster where refugees and asylum seekers share their traditional cuisines, building confidence, community, and connection through food. 

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.