It’s always rewarding to find just the right gift for those on your shopping list. It’s downright perfect when your purchase also helps improve the planet and/or supports creators. The Okemo Valley boutiques and shops we’ve rounded up offer abundant options for the socially conscious and eco-minded — including yourself — to enjoy an exceptionally gratifying holiday season.

Okemo MADE Official Okemo Resort Merchandise
111 Jackson Gore Rd., Ludlow
Okemo.com

Okemo MADE is a sporting goods store in Ludlow featuring official Okemo Resort Merchandise. Visit us inside the Jackson Gore Inn, located in the archway across from Mountain Outfitters.

Storm Creek manufactures eco-friendly outdoor apparel using sustainable sourcing methods, namely certified mills that focus on sustainable practices, water conservation and environmentally safe chemicals. Through its partnership with Cloverly , a carbon-offset software company, Storm Creek has unburdened the world of more than 74,000 pounds of free carbon. Customers can opt to pay a small fee to offset their shipping emissions at checkout, neutralizing the environmental impact of online shopping. A tidy 1 percent of the company’s gross sales support environmental nonprofits. Storm Creek says that, to date, it’s saved more than 16 million plastic bottles from oceans and landfills by diverting recycled plastic bottles into the manufacture of its cozy garments. Web shoppers can see how many recycled bottles went into each piece of apparel, such the 26 that gave rise to this Storm Creek Over-Achiever Sweaterfleece Jacket.

Art Studio Company focuses on benefitting the people who live in the villages where its metal and blown glass ornaments and other products are made. And it’s a company that cares: During the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, for example, it paid its workers amid the recovery while they were busy taking care of their families. Art Studio Company sponsors Global Dental Relief, which provides dental care for children in Nepal, India, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and Cambodia who otherwise would not have it.

Blue Sky Trading Company
160 W Main St., Ludlow
blueskyvt.com

HandCandy Mittens takes previously loved sweaters and recycled polar fleece mill scraps and upcycles them into comfy, stylish and unique mittens.

DaVallia Gallery & Boutique
39 North St. #8993, Chester
thedavallia.com

Michael Alon, DaVallia Gallery’s artist and co-owner/founder, salvages wood from Vermont barns and fashions it into one-of-a-kind modern farmhouse furniture pieces that tell a story. If you’ve looked but haven’t found the piece of your dreams in the store’s online gallery, Alon can design and build it.

Smokeshire Design
3630 Route 103N, Chester
smokeshiredesign.com

Bee’s Wrap products, made in Vermont, are eco-friendly solutions that reduce single-use plastic and keep food fresh. The reusable wraps and bags, which come in assorted styles and patterns, are made with certified organic cotton, responsibly sourced beeswax or plant-based wax, and certified-organic plant oil and tree resin.

Farmhouse Pottery, durable American stoneware, is wheel-thrown. These hardy, artsy ceramic pieces — they’re safe for the oven, microwave and dishwasher — are produced with 100 percent American-mined material and have a scratch-resistant organic milk glaze. (Which also is free of lead and cadmium). Pieces are wrought with simple potter’s tools, befitting the company’s values for environmental sustainability.

Clearlake Furniture
322 Route 100 North, Ludlow
clearlakefurniture.com

Beautiful handcrafted hardwood furniture made in their barn, one piece at a time. This includes the Coolidge rocker 47 x 24” inspired by President Calvin Coolidge, who enjoyed the peace of rocking on the front porch of his Vermont homestead. Their Clear Lake version resides at the White House, to be enjoyed by each “sitting” president. Check out their online store featuring heirloom quality solid wood Vermont made furniture.

Rockledge Farm Woodworks
58 Ascutney Basin Rd., Reading
rockledgefarm.com

This family company specializes in custom furniture and a wide variety of living and dining accessories in different sizes (individually lathe-turned and made locally sourced hardwoods) including salad bowls and servers fashioned from a select piece of top-grade cherry and hand-sculpted cutting and serving boards fashioned from black walnut, birdseye maple and curly (tiger-striped) maple. From $14; custom orders available.

Vermont Country Store
657 Main St., Weston
vermontcountrystore.com

The general store from yesteryear, which has a huge selection of brands from the past and classic products. Visit the original store in Weston.

Six Loose Ladies Yarn & Fiber Shop
287 Main St., Chester
6looseladies.com

This not-for-profit organization run entirely by Supplies for knitting, crocheting, felting, spinning, and weaving; and whimsical crafts, many of which are produced locally. From $40 to $80.

For more Okemo Valley SHOPPING, go to: yourplaceinvermont.com/shop

If you go:

Eat/Drink/Stay

Enjoy a snack at one of the region’s excellent village stores to sustain your day. Try the Weston Village Store in Weston. For breakfast try the Fullerton Inn, a four-season destination country inn and B&B in Chester.

For after-dinner drinks, stop by Main + Mountain in Ludlow.  The boutique bar and lodging property is best known for its Good Ol’ Boy cocktail — made with brown buttered bourbon, spiced burnt orange syrup, pear, lemon, Amaro, and bitters. Originally built in 1872 as a schoolhouse, Main + Mountain offers a modern yet cozy vibe.

Echo Lake Inn in Tyson Village in the Town of Plymouth is well known for excellent food and service. The inn, originally built in 1799, drew many distinguished guests, including President Calvin Coolidge, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Andrew Carnegie. The Inn offers a “443” midweek special where if you check in Sunday or Monday you will get your fourth night free. This offer starts December 18th and excludes holiday periods as defined by Okemo.

Inn at Waters Edge also in Tyson Village in Plymouth can offer a 10% room rate for bookings “Between the Holidays”, December 1-19, 2022. They can also provide a coupon code if we need.

For more Okemo Valley DINING, go to:  yourplaceinvermont.com/dine

For more Okemo Valley LODGING, go to: yourplaceinvermont.com/where-to-stay