Tablescape Inspiration for your Holiday Table
Let’s be honest: the holidays are going to look a little different this year.
Most of us are usually looking forward to slowing down, and heading inside with big gatherings of family and friends. Instead I’m hoping this year we’re all going to heed advice from health experts and keep our gatherings small and within our “bubbles”.
Since there’ll be less family and friends, maybe we can instead focus our effort on bringing our creativity to the table.
Leaves, fruit and mini pumpkins make for simple and lovely decoration.
Here are some simple ideas I’ve come up with to bring your table to life.
Hang things. This is a great trick if you’re in a pinch for extra table space. Use clear fishing wire to hang natural items from above: flowers, grasses, pine cones, etc. Just be sure nothing is going to fall on your delicious food. Give it a good shake before hanging to make sure it’s secure!
Mix vintage and modern. Don’t fret if nothing you have in your home “matches”. Use a mix of new and old, vintage and modern. Then use color to bring everything together.
Mix tall and short. Create variety for the viewer by using taller arrangements mixed with low arrangements or simply items artfully set on the table.
Use twigs and sticks. Almost all natural objects look cool and funky when brought inside. Place twigs in a glass vase or arrange them on the table. The best part is they don’t need water. My faves? Spruce and birch. But get creative! Can you find colorful twigs this time of year??
Use bud vases (or my favorite - empty glass spice jars). Your flowers or other gathered items will go way farther if you divide them and place 1-3 stems in a bud vase or jar. You can then artfully arrange items all the way down the table so that each diner has a nice view of something beautiful.
Use fruit. Whole or cut open fruit looks gorgeous and really gets the taste buds primed :) Grapefruit and other citrus, colorful apples, papaya, etc. Play around with what you think might look interesting.
Buy some flowers. Nothing brightens up the home like flowers! This winter we are partnering with other American farmers to bring you a fresh, gorgeous and seasonal bouquet for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. These will be for pre-order only and will go on sale the week of October the 26th. I can’t wait to share these with you!!
For additional ideas and some fun inspiration photos go here!
And lastly, after your holiday celebrations send me a photo of your table: turnstonefarm@gmail.com or tag me on Instagram @turnstonefarm! Can’t wait to see what you create :)
Take apart your flower bouquet and place in bottles! This is a great way to make your flowers go way farther.
Find a fun goblet to arrange your flowers in.
Locavore's Guide to the Holiday Table
Not only are we flower growers, but we are supporters and consumers of local foods! We grow, gather and hunt our own, support our Alaskan farmers and support our American farmers.
The more we can support our local farms, the better we can do in keeping land in agricultural production (and out of development and suburban sprawl). Local food and flowers are better for our families, our communities and our planet.
We want to support other farmers and we want to share with you how to fill your holiday table with local food.
VEGETABLES
Once the markets have closed these are my go-to sources for getting local veggies. In the summer there are so many more options but for now these folks have you covered.
Arctic Harvest Deliveries: offering weekly custom boxes YEAR ROUND full of fresh veggies sourced directly from Alaskan farms.
Arctic Organics: Veggies grown using organic methods in Palmer, Alaska. They offer weekly deliveries to Anchorage.
Anchorage Greens: Hydroponic greens grown all winter long. They offer a weekly subscription service that offers a “rotating selection of premium greens and herbs”.
Meat
There is lots of delicious meat in this state! This is not a comprehensive list. Please comment below if you have other farms that you purchase from.
Arctic Harvest Deliveries: These guys also source meat for you so you don’t have to. But if you’d rather buy direct from a farmer read below!
Blood Sweat & Food Farm: Chicken, pork, meat subscription boxes, eggs and more! Check them out. Kenai Peninsula
Lunachick Farm: Hens, ducks, pork, eggs, goats, etc. Located in Anchor Point. They offer weekly deliveries to Anchorage. We just bought 3 laying ducks from them. We’re still figuring out all things regarding duck care but are having fun doing it :)
Luke's Poultry Ranch: Chicken and Thanksgiving turkeys grown in the Big Lake area. I just reached out to them via Facebook and they have turkeys available NOW!! Don’t delay, cause they’ll be sold out quickly!
Seafood
While most of us fish to fill our freezers, buying from fisherman is always a great plan B. And honestly we bought in all our fish this year. We purchased whole fish and processed them in the back yard. It saved us the time spent traveling to and from Kenai. And it saved us from not knowing if we’d actually fill our freezers!
Su Salmon Co: They’re sold out for 2020 but just wanted to list them here because this is where we bought whole fish to fill our freezer. And Alaskans, don’t get too snobby here - Chum are a delicious and inexpensive way to load your freezer. We just cooked up a few fillets last night: DELISH!
Copper Valley Fish Collective: When not on their boat these guys are our backyard neighbors! They offer wild Alaskan Salmon Shares and amazing smoked salmon.
Catch 49: Salmon, halibut, prawns, canned items, smoked salmon and more!
Alaskas Own: Alaska's first CSF (Community Supported Fishery). Based in Sitka, AK. Pick up locations in Anchorage.
Flowers
Turnstone Farm: Last but not least you want local beauty. Imported flowers are hard on the planet and often sprayed heavily.
We're here for you! During the spring and summer months WE GROW FLOWERS for your table.
During the winter months we source American Grown flowers to make your special occasions absolutely elegant. Be on the look out for our newest offering: we’re doing flowers for the holidays!!! Thanksgiving, The Winter Holiday of Your Choice and Valentines Day.
If you enjoyed this guide please share it with your friends!