Warm a foodie’s heart (and belly) this holiday season with these eco-friendly and beautiful gifts. I’ve included some personal favorites that I use in my own kitchen (and plan on gifting to others), plus a smattering of newly discovered items I covet. Notice how each product on the list tells a story–of artisans, farmers, foodways and families–and in doing so, offers a window into how others may live.

It’s the Great Pumpkin Seed Oil, Charlie Brown
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There’s a newcomer to the specialty oil market, and it’s coming from the pumpkin patch.  A couple of Wisconsin organic pumpkin farmers doing business as Hay River Foods are harvesting and drying hull-less pumpkin seeds. The result? An amber-colored finishing oil that has this cook dreaming of ways to dress winter salads, finish pilafs and drizzle atop pizza. The oil has made its Whole Foods Market debut and is also available directly from the source ($22).

Heirloom Bean Revival
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If you think all dried beans taste the same, a guy called Steve Sando can change your perspective. Sando’s pursuit of fresh, good-tasting beans and people who grow them resulted in a venture called Rancho Gordo, which has developed a cult following among chefs and home cooks around the country.  Through a unique partnership with a small company in Mexico, Sando is importing heirloom beans grown by small farmers in that country, and keeping certain indigenous crops off the endangered species list.

My gift picks:

• The Rancho Gordo-Xoxoc Project Sampler: four 1-pound bags of beans from the state of Hidalgo in central Mexico ($22)
• “A Year of Beans”: four quarterly shipments of six 1-pound bags, plus a book, recipes and extra goodies from the Rancho larder ($249, available this month only)

Kitchen Linens Made with Two Hands
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I got my first gander at Studio Patro’s hand-printed kitchen linens at remodelista, a traveling warehouse artisans show that was making a pitstop in Seattle this spring.  It was love at first sight, but I exercised restraint and bought just one towel, a birthday gift for a baking pal. I couldn’t shake the simple elegance of their knee-length bib aprons and finally surrendered a few months ago. I have no idea why I waited so long. I wear it every day and can’t see that changing anytime soon. Check out their fun gift sets, each of which includes a hand-carved wooden spatula ($68-$88).