Several weeks ago we published an editorial challenging our readers to keep their holiday purchases in Rock County and to share the wealth among ourselves.

Sometimes we overlook obvious gift choices that are right under our noses all year long. Between now and Christmas, we’ll publish weekly gift ideas that can be found at Rock County businesses.

So far, here’s the list:

Traditional dime store treasures: Margaret Vegge, 60-year proprietor of Renfro Variety Store, has hundreds of items that are impossible to find anywhere else. For example, she carries the elusive Aunt Martha’s hot transfer patterns for embroidering art on flour sack dishtowels. For that matter, she has a rainbow of embroidery floss and “good quality” flour sack dishtowels (not the thin kind that don’t work as well). While you’re there, pick up some packages of old-fashioned horehound candy drops for stocking stuffers.

•For the green thumb or nature lover: Luverne Flowers has unique birdhouses and wind chimes and a huge assortment of garden stakes from whimsical to formal. While you’re at it, the local greenhouse stocks the best pruning shears money can buy. Blooming and green plants always make for tasteful gifts, as do fresh or permanent centerpieces and floral accessories. Luverne Flowers also offers its own gift certificates with no set up or maintenance fees.

•For the black thumb who doesn’t enjoy yard work (or isn’t home enough to get it done): What about lawn treatment service from Nate Golla at the Luverne Farm Store? It’s amazing what he and his staff can do for a yard with a little bit of TLC for a reasonable rate.

•For the pet lover: The Farm Store also has pet treats and pet toys to wrap up for the animal lovers in your life.

•For the fine arts lover: Luverne has an exceptional amount of local talent considering the size of the town. The Green Earth Players community theatre group offers season tickets for its productions.

•For the movie lover: The Blue Mound Area Theatre Board does a nice job of showing popular, new releases.

•For the history buff: The Rock County Historical Society membership drive is now underway. A unique gift idea would be to purchase a membership in someone’s name. A membership perk includes the opportunity to record family history information in the local database. As long as you’re at it, a $25 gift certificate from the Historical Society is good for an hour long taping of your loved one’s life story. Call the museum at 283-2122.

Portrait photography. Having a family photo taken isn’t something we’re likely to splurge on. That’s why it’s a great gift. Jim Juhl at Myhre Studio is the expert, but there are a number of local photographers to choose from.

•Personalized clothing from Print Express. Embroider names on stocking caps, scarves, gloves and more. Or pick out your favorite high school themed T-shirt or sweatshirt and have the recipient’s name printed on the back. They do amazing work, and they’re located right in downtown Luverne.

•Photo gifts ordered through Lewis Family Drug. Take your favorite snapshot and put it on a mug, blanket, mouse pad or other items. Grandkids change as they grow, so there are never too many photo gifts to give from one year to the next. Lewis does a nice job on Christmas photo greetings, too.

•Gas and grocery gift cards. One of the nicest gifts you can give to a family with growing children is a gift card to Glen’s Food Center or Pamida, for example. Gas cards are also great — at any local gas station.

•Chamber gift cards. The Luverne Area Chamber offers a “Shop Luverne” gift card that replaces the paper Chamber Gift Certificate. Technically, it’s a credit card and can be used anywhere, but it features Luverne on the front, and tracking statistics show that recipients do spend it in Luverne. Sales exceeded $25,000 during the first few months of the Chamber Gift Card implementation last year. That’s good for local business.

•Meat bundles from local producers and meat lockers. This was actually Brenda Winter’s idea. Who wouldn’t want a delicious beef, pork or bison bundle that was locally produced? The added advantage is that local meat lockers gain from the business as well. Don’t know a livestock farmer? Call Hills Locker in Hills, V&M in Leota, Ellsworth Locker in Ellsworth and Bob’s Locker in Lismore.

•Star Herald subscriptions, of course, make great gifts, either the paper version or online. It’s the gift that gives all year long! 

These are just a few ideas to get us started. There are many more really great gifts to be found right here in Rock County, and we plan to keep printing them.

Please send your local holiday gift ideas to the Editor, Rock County Star Herald, P.O. Box 837, Luverne, MN  56156. Or e-mail editor@star-herald.com.