Arboretum Local Products Fair encourages shopping ‘green’ and local

Holiday shopping will take on a local flavor at the fourth annual “Close to Home: Arboretum Local Products Fair” Sunday, Nov. 25 at the UW Arboretum.

Forty vendors will celebrate recycling, sustainability and locally produced goods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Arboretum’s Visitor Center, 1207 Seminole Highway. The fair supports Arboretum founder Aldo Leopold’s land ethic and the Arboretum’s mission to heal and sustain the land.

Last year’s expo drew more than 1,000 people shopping for art, edibles and “green” gifts, ranging from chocolates, cheeses, honey, cookies and home-canned goods to handmade mittens, scarves, purses, tote bags and jewelry -along with pottery, art, skincare products and much more.

The Arboretum’s bookstore will also feature a variety of field guides, nature journals, CDs and unique nature-related items, and the Friends of the Arboretum Garden Boutique will offer essential tools for gardeners. A silent auction will help support programming at the Arboretum.

Admission and parking are free. Consumers are encouraged to use cash or checks as preferred payment, as some vendors will not be equipped for credit card transactions.