Our Mother's Day 2024 Gift Guide!

“Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.”

Motherhood is how our company began. Our founder, Jo Anne, recognized that her children were experiencing food allergies and other health challenges but had few options available in rural Lindsay, Ontario. 

Over the years, Jo Anne’s daughter Margo was by her side, sharing in this journey of expanding her vision of creating a healthy community. Working alongside her mother, Margo learned the in’s and out’s of running a business, following the ever changing trends and experiencing first-hand the benefits of healthy living as she raised her own two daughters. Margo and her husband Paul are the now-owners of Jo Anne’s Place, committed to continuing with Jo Anne’s vision while evolving to meet the needs of the community. 

With many staff who are mothers themselves, we can offer experiences and recommendations of products that are loved at Jo Anne’s Place. They say it takes a community to raise a child, we have seen the positive effects within our Jo Anne’s Place community. We celebrate the successes and offer support during the rough times, and we are proud to have multiple generations of families shopping and working at Jo Anne’s Place.

Gifts for Self-Care & Relaxation

For the special women in your life that need some relaxation and me-time, here are some amazing gift options:

• You can't go wrong with a nice candle or two. We have beautiful natural candle options including BeeGlo 100% Beeswax candles, La Luna Soy & Coconut Wax candles, and Ontario-made (Hamilton) Wax & Fire Co Soy candles made with essential oils!
• Is your Mom a skincare aficionado? We have tons of natural, Organic, and clinically-proven cosmetics available from brands like Three Ships (their new Eye Cream is incredible), Andalou naturals, St. Anne's Spa, AnneMarie Borlind, and more! We also have body care like Weleda Ultra-Rich Cream, Miracle Balm made with propolis, and many other options!
• Does anything say self-care more than a relaxing bath? Grab your Mom some bath essentials like Magnesium Bath Flakes, Epsom Salts, Handmade Natural Bath Bombs, Konjac Towels for exfoliating, and more!
• Our new line of Essential Oils, made right here in Peterborough, make amazing gifts and are available in so many wonderful variations and seasonal blends. Check out our essential oil guide to find an oil that best suits your mom! Plus, we have essential oil diffusers in-store.

Gifts for the Mom-to-be or New Mom

If you have a partner who is expecting or are shopping for a new mom, here are some ideas:

• Earth Mama has great products for soothing prenatal and postpartum discomfort "down there", such as their Herbal Sitz Bath and Herbal Perineal Spray - both made with Organic and natural ingredients!
• Attitude also has amazing maternity products. Their Blooming Belly Stretch Mark Prevention Oil and Nursing Balm are vegan, plastic-free, and 100% naturally sourced to help soothe skin irritations and improve elasticity.
• Cheeks Ahoy Nursing Pads are locally handmade in Peterborough and are super soft and comfortable to nursing mamas! They are a great eco-friendly reusable option with 4 layers of protection.
• Stress and fatigue often come with a baby, so gift your loved one a calming cup of tea. Choose from Traditional Medicinal's Cup of Calm, Lake & Oak's Ashwagandha & Chill, and many more!
• Substance Belly Jelly with Shea Butter, Oats, and Lavender helps pregnant Moms keep their bellies hydrated to minimize stretch marks!



Sustainable Gifts

Gifting sustainably is easy at Jo Anne's Place. Whether you yourself follow sustainable living principles or are gift-hunting for someone who does, here are some ideas:

• Sustainable self-care products like Charcoal & Rose Petals bar soaps with zero packaging, Routine natural deodorants which come in reusable glass jars, and Bee Glo Beeswax candles which contain no toxins, don't release soot, and cleanse the air! An Urban Spa pumice stone is also a great option - made of natural volcanic rock, it's eco-friendly and long-lasting.
• For a sustainable homeowner or cook, gift some sustainable kitchen essentials like Ten & Co's tea towel and sponge cloth gift set (fully compostable), Cheeks Ahoy's Organic Cotton Muslin Kitchen Towel (or really any Cheeks Ahoy products), and Colibri reusable snack pouches perfect for food and non-food items. We also love abeego Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps!
• For sustainable food and drinks, we have RISE Kombucha (in many flavours), which comes in a glass reusable bottle and is Canadian. Chocosol Stone Ground Dark Chocolate is ethically farmed (they pay above Fair Trade standards) and sustainably packaged with paper and compostable materials in Toronto with delicious flavours!
• For the sustainable coffee & tea drinking Moms, Level Ground Direct Fair Trade loose leaf tea and a metal tea infuser is a great gift combo. Café William is a Canadian company that makes Organic and Direct Fair Trade coffee packaged in bags made from recycled material!
• For the Moms who love gardening, we have a wide selection of GAIA Organic and Kitchen Table Seed House seeds for flowers, fruits, veggies, and herbs! We also have Sprouting Jars and kits.
• Why not put your Mom's gifts in an Alaffia Fair Trade African Handwoven Grass Basket? Created in in Bolgatanga, Ghana in 12 villages with more than 5,000 women basket weavers, the Alaffia weavers work independently in a creative process. Members of Alaffia basket cooperatives receive fair wages and health care for their families in return for indigenous skills and knowledge. This exchange empowers West African communities and preserves cultural heritage. Each basket is completely unique and the leather tag inside is personally signed by a weaver. Made with wild-harvested Savannah grass.

Sweet Treats for Mom

It's not Mother's Day without some sweet treats. If you're looking for healthier, allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free sweets - we've got you:

• MadeGood's Sweet Cinnamon cookies are DELICIOUS and keep you going back for more. With just the right balance of sugar and cinnamon spice, they're nut-free, gluten-free, vegan, and organic!
• Aēlo Non Alcoholic Mocktails are a sweet gift for mom and come in refreshing Lime Margarita, Aperirivo Spritz, and Peach Bellini flavours. You also can't go wrong with Flow Alkaline Spring Waters - they're ultra hydrating and come in many yummy organic flavours like blueberry peach.
• Smart Sweets & Better Bears are naturally flavoured candies with only 3g of sugar and plant-based with no sugar alcohols added.
• Looking for a cake to celebrate? Susie Sans Gluten's Oreo Chocolate Cake is a delicious option! Or if you're looking for some smaller baked goods, try Konscious Kitchen - they're a huge staff favourite with tons of Paleo, Vegan, and Gluten Free goodies like pistachio bards, carrot cake, muffins, and more!
• Green Sun's Brand New Dark Chocolate covered fruits & nuts are a great healthier (& vegan) option for Mom, available in pineapple, brazil nuts, goldenberries, cranberries, and more.

Other Unique Gift Options

• Did you know that our long-time Lindsay Team Member, Allison, makes adorable greeting cards? Find them for all different occasions (including Mother's Day) at both our Peterborough and Lindsay locations!
• Find tons of other thoughtful and unique gift options in our stores such as:
• Gemstone Bracelets
• Women's Supplements
• Organic Snacks
• Toxin-free nail polish
• Natural shampoo, conditioner, and other haircare products
• Mushroom Hot Chocolate and Coffees, Green powders, and other functional drinks
• Locally made eco-friendly body care like soap bars
• and more!

Be sure to stop by a Jo Anne's Place location to browse our Mother's Day displays and wide selection of gift options! See store hours here.