đżWhat Gifts do You Share?
Reflections from our first booth + workshops, a fiber swap, and creative collaborations this week
This past Sunday, Gifting Grove hosted its very first booth at the Local Love Market â an afternoon of conversation, reflection, and connection. The market offered us a chance to invite others into the spirit of the gift economy, where we facilitated a gift exchange.
Many who stopped by had never heard of the gift economy before, while others recognized the concept from Braiding Sweetgrass. To participate, we asked each person to reflect on the gifts they have to offer and the gifts theyâd like to receive. And it made people pause.
Weâre so often told that our value lies in what we buy, what we own, or the status we carry. But thatâs not true, is it? The laughter you share, the creativity you explore, and the things you make with your hands all hold real value â theyâre gifts. It was inspiring to see visitors light up as they embraced that idea and joined in. I hope some of you have continued that energy and shared your gifts with others this week!
At our booth, we also got to see Lilyâs gift share in action â she created personalized, felted charms for visitors on the spot through conversation. It was such a joyful day of conversation and connection, and I left feeling grateful for everyoneâs generosity and curiosity.
One gift that came up again and again was the desire to sew or knit. So, I wanted to highlight a few amazing local groups where you can learn, create, and connect through these crafts:
Sew It Together â Offers classes and open studio hours to help with your projects, located in Northeast Minneapolis. I just took a class there last night to make a witch hat from reclaimed fabrics!
Open Sewing Studio â An independent fabric shop and community sewing space in St. Louis Park with regular open hours and workshops, as well as private classes.
Knit & Gather â A fiber arts collective offering tools, products, and workshops (including upcoming sessions at the Toolbox Collective â see the Local Lowdown below!).
What a gift it is to witness people rediscover their creativity and their desire to connect. My heart feels full from these moments, and I hope to see you all out there continuing to nourish your own gifts.
With gratitude,
Vern
Paws & Causes
đ Rescue a Friend
This week, we have puppies Finley and Storm for adoption, as well as kitties Zella and Zuma.
đ± Ways to Help
The Minnesota Childrenâs Museum is looking for Play Guide volunteers to help create joyful experiences for young visitors! Volunteers rotate through different areas, ensuring kids play safely, take turns in high-energy zones, and get creative in the Art Studio. A perfect opportunity for anyone who loves play, art, and community.
đ Read of the Week
Itâs not exactly a âreadâ, but Iâve been inspired by Leah Thomas - an intersectional environmentalist - and her thoughtful Instagram posts on staying hopeful in activism. Her recent post, 42 Reasons to Believe the Earth Will Be Okay, is a beautiful reminder that while the world can feel heavy, thereâs still movement toward healing.
Save The Date
Gifting Grove is partnering with MOV Hot Yoga to host a Fundamental Flow Yoga Class followed by a Happy Hour! Join us at MOV Studio for an evening of grounding movement, artful connection, and community.
This class welcomes both beginners and seasoned yogis â a space to return to the fundamentals, breathe deeply, and move with intention. No experience is needed, just bring your curiosity, an open heart, and a willingness to flow.
Local Lowdown
This Saturday, head to The Tool Box Collective for a cozy day of creativity with Knit & Gather! Start your morning with one (or both!) of their skill-building workshops â the Magic Loop Workshop and Intarsia Workshop â then stick around for the afternoon Fiber Swap.
Wednesday (10/22)
Tree Planting at West Mankato Trail, 10:00 AM at West Mankato Trail đ â Join Great River Greening for a tree planting event to restore areas along the West Mankato Trail.
WEN Film Festival, 6:00 PM hosted by Womenâs Environmental Network, Twin Cities â Watch short outdoor adventure films by Brenda Piekarski and join a Q&A with the filmmaker.
Thursday (10/23)
Nature Journaling: A Mindful Writing Workshop, 2:00 PM at U of M Landscape Arboretum, Chaska â Experience nature firsthand on a guided walk, then reflect through mindful journaling and creative writing.
October Seed Session, 5:30 PM at North Dale Recreation Center, Saint Paul đ â Practice seed cleaning and saving with community-donated seeds. Learn sustainable storage and local seed adaptation.
Pumpkin Painting with Twin Cities Craft Club, 6:00 PM at Arvonne Fraser Library, Minneapolis â Decorate pumpkins with craft supplies and creative guidance in a fun, hands-on workshop.
Friday (10/24)
Ecosystem Exploration: The Floodplain Forest, 1:00 PM at Fort Snelling State Park đ â Take a one-mile guided walk to learn how floodplain forests adapt to changing conditions.
Sewing Help Night, 4:00 PM at Open Studio Sewing, St. Louis Park â Bring your sewing project and get instructor support in a fully equipped studio.
Mystery Trash Remix, 6:00 PM at Flux Arts Building, Minneapolis đ â See artists transform trash into treasures at this creative reuse exhibit by Art to Change the World.
Saturday (10/25)
MTL Basics: Intro to Workshop Tools, 9:00 AM at Minnesota Tool Library, Saint Paul â Learn safe and confident use of shop tools in this beginner-friendly class.
Trails Day, 9:00 AM at Wirth Beach, Minneapolis đ â Help prep ski trails for winter by trimming branches and brush.
Garlic Planting Day, 10:00 AM at Womenâs Environmental Institute, North Branch đ â Join WEI farmers to plant garlic for next season during this work-and-learn session.
Magic Loop Workshop, 10:00 AM at The Toolbox Collective, Minneapolis â Learn magic loop knitting for small projects in the round.
Japanese Papermaking, 10:00 AM at Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis â Discover traditional Japanese papermaking using natural fibers in this hands-on workshop.
Tree Planting at North Alexander Park, 10:00 AM in Faribault, Southern MN đ â Help restore local green spaces in this Great River Greening community planting.
Confident Beginner: Layover Cardigan Workshop, 11:00 AM at Open Studio Sewing, St. Louis Park â A two-day sewing course to make your own cardigan and learn essential garment construction techniques.
Intarsia Swatch Workshop, 12:00 PM at The Toolbox Collective, Minneapolis â Practice intarsia colorwork techniques in a guided knitting session.
Pumpkins & PowerDrills, 12:00 PM at Bauhaus Brew Labs, Minneapolis â Carve pumpkins using power tools with the Minnesota Tool Library.
Buckthorn Buddies, 12:00 PM at Wild River State Park đ â Help remove invasive buckthorn, then enjoy soup and bread by the woodstove.
Buckthorn Removal Resource Day, 1:00 PM at William OâBrien State Park đ â Volunteer to remove buckthorn from park woodlands.
Open House, 1:00 PM at Center for People and Craft, Minneapolis đ â Bring a handwork project and enjoy live music, tea, and creative company in this new folk school space.
Fiber Swap, 2:30 PM at The Toolbox Collective, Minneapolis đ â Swap yarn, fabric, and crafting materials with local makers.
Afternoon Advocacy, 3:00 PM at Cream & Amber, Hopkins â Meet neighbors, share ideas, and discuss local advocacy issues.
SAFF PFAS Treatment System Tour, 4:00 PM at Tablyn Park, Lake Elmo â Learn about innovative PFAS water treatment technology in this Womenâs Environmental Network tour.
Sunday (10/26)
Needle Felting Class, 11:00 AM at Simply Creative, Minneapolis â Learn needle felting basics and create your own project.
Pumpkins & PowerDrills, 1:00 PM at Fultonâs Taproom, Minneapolis â Carve pumpkins with power tools in this lively community event with the Minnesota Tool Library.
Birds ân Brews Fundraiser, 3:00 PM at Cream & Amber, Hopkins â Chat with local birders and enjoy drinks to support bird conservation and community engagement.
Monday (10/27)
Twin Cities Metro Growers Network Fall Social, 5:30 PM at Lake Monster Brewing, Saint Paul đ â Celebrate the growing season with food from OG ZAZA Pizza and connect with local farmers and gardeners.
đ» People Not Polluters (Virtual), 7:00 PM Online đ â Join experts discussing polluter accountability and environmental justice case studies.
Tuesday (10/28)
Ford Area C Walking Tours, 9:00 AM at Hidden Falls Regional Park, Saint Paul â Join a guided tour to learn about river restoration and environmental history.
Intro to Weaving Design Software (Online), 12:00 AM with Weavers Guild of Minnesota â Learn the essentials of digital weaving with pixeLoom software in this online session.
Woodworking 101 (Final Session), 6:30 PM at Twin Cities Maker, Minneapolis â Gain foundational woodworking skills including safe tool use, project planning, and sustainable wood selection.
Unraveling the Impact of Fast Fashion (Hybrid), 6:30 PM at Twin Cities Metro + Virtual â Join Dr. Elizabeth Bye for an educational talk on fast fashionâs climate impact.
Open Circuits, 7:00 PM at Twin Cities Maker, Minneapolis đ â Bring your electronics project for show-and-tell or collaborate on sustainable tech builds with local makers.