I used to print pamphlets to accompany everything I make, because information makes everything more enjoyable. But it started to use a lot of paper, and I didn’t feel good about that.

Instead of printing out extensive gift guides for all the different boxes I put together and products I make in house, I’m going to start making this internet space where all my gift guides live. Each box will contain a sticker that links you to your very own gift guide, and if you’re curious, you can see what everyone else got too.

What’s up with these boxes anyway? The philosophy is that nice things are nice. When you want your life to get better, you can only change so much through self effort, because real change takes time. While you wait for the lifestyle change to kick in, making space to enjoy nice things on a regular basis can improve your quality of life. Little things add up.

I’m a provider of nice things. I’ll pay the tariff on the imported Belgian high fat cocoa powder and spend hours laboriously baking it into perfect two bite shortbread cookies and deliver them for free to your doorstep… if I like you. And if I don’t, then you’ll never see this website.

To be honest, I don’t want to start a business because I don’t need to make money, and in any case I’m not well enough to be consistent about anything. Because of that, here’s my request. If you want to pay me for the incredible things I give you, take the amount you think my products are worth and donate it to the social cause of your choice and send me a screenshot of the receipt on instagram @mercuryprovisions. I promise it’ll give me the burst of joy that is the payment I really need, and together little by little we can change the world.

On top of that, every time I mail a box, I’m going to adopt a coral through coralgardeners.com. If you want to subscribe to updates on the coral that pairs with your box, send me your email address and I’ll add you to the update list.