I keep getting asked this year, “What do you want for Christmas?”. It’s the first year I feel really uncertain – not necessarily because I don’t know what I want, but moreso because a lot of the things I want we are not quite ready to commit to yet as a household. For example, until we have our homestead cleared of the trees, I can’t make the property layout to determine where fruit trees are going to go. All of this to say, I’m having to be creative which has led me down the path of compiling this list. Maybe you’re a homesteader and you’re not sure what to ask for or maybe you’ve got a homesteader in your life and you’re not sure the best Christmas gifts for homesteaders. If that’s the case, I hope you find some great ideas in this list.
Kitchen Items
1. Food Dehydrator
A food dehydrator is one of those gifts that takes everything up a notch. From drying herbs to making jerky or fruit leathers, a dehydrator just speeds up the process and makes dehydrating a lot easier and quicker.
2. Cast Iron Cookware
It feels like a homesteader can never have enough cast iron cookware especially when you make the official switch over to solely cooking with it – which is the best choice you can make. It does it all!
3. Wooden Utensils
A lot of homesteaders talk about wooden utensils as a must have, but the reason wooden utensils are better is because the wood can handle heat better than other materials and wood also has antibacterial properties that eliminate bacteria so they’re a lot more sanitary. It’s nice to have more variety.
4. Vacuum Sealer
A vacuum sealer is another preservation tool that makes life so much easier when it’s the end of the gardening season and you need to quickly get things in the freezer – or if you’re going to be packaging meat from hunting or butchering.
5. Fermentation Crock
Ever wanted to try your handle at fermented pickles? Kimchi? Sauerkraut? A fermentation crock is a great gift idea. You can find them commonly in antique stores, but Ohio Stoneware also makes really nice crocks. Having a complete set with a lid and weights seals the deal!
6. Fermenting Weights
Fermenting weights can come in a bunch of sizes which changes the game on the type of jar you can use to ferment. You just want to make sure you have a top that can easily release unless you plan to burp on the daily.
7. Kombucha Kit
Kombucha is such an amazing fermented drink, but can cost a small fortune if you’re buying it regularly from the store. It’s a fun skill to learn and is pretty easy to master at home with your own kombucha kit. This is one of my favorites.
8. Kitchen Aid Mixer
There’s SO MUCH you can do with a Kitchen Aid mixer. It’s a luxury item for the food-loving homesteader in your life, but even if they’ve already got the mixer, you can look into the different attachments like the ones for pasta-making or grinding meat.
9. Dutch Oven
A dutch oven is a versatile cookware that I love to use for sourdough bread and chicken noodle soup. The possibilities don’t start there. If the homesteader in your life doesn’t have this kitchen item, they’re missing out – until you decide to gift it that is.
10. Butter Mold
Butter molds are a fun way to spice up the normalcy. You’re not going to find a block of butter molded into a chicken at the supermarket. It’s not only delightful if you own the mold to make your own eccentric butter, but it’s a great gifting idea if you have a mold and want to gift some butter in the shape of a chicken – either the mold or the butter would be a great gift!
11. Butter Churner
Get a modern throwback to help make churning butter easier. Do the same old-fashioned, country chore with the appreciation for the process and control with your butter churner. While it may be fun to scour antique stores for one, you can also purchase them new.
12. Cheese Making Mold
Cheese making is an art and most homesteaders long for the idea of making their own cheese. These cheese making molds can help motivate the apprehensive regardless of whether they have their own home dairy or not.
13. Sour Dough Bread Kit
Every homesteader longs to smell a fresh loaf of sour dough baking in their home oven. That comes with an investment of time and toiling over perfecting the sour dough starter and getting the most beautifully risen loaf. A sour dough bread kit can help make the process go more smoothly.
14. Grain Mill
A grain mill really levels the playing field when it comes to making scratch food. If you’re already producing your own grains or purchasing your own to grind, then this is the next logical step. While there are a range of quality mills on the market, you can get a relatively inexpensive attachment for your KitchenAid mixer.
15. Reusable Grocery Bags
Homesteaders at their core have to be people who are passionate about the environment and sustainability. Get ya girl (or guy) some cute (or versatile?) grocery bags that are reusable.
16. Beeswax Wraps
On the subject of sustainable, another great Christmas gift for homesteaders are beeswax wraps. Yes, they can make their own if they have hives, but if they don’t these reusable wraps come in handy when packing kids’ lunches or just grabbing and going.
Gardening Items
17. Maple Tree Tapping Kit
If you have a lot of maple trees around you, a maple tree tapping kit would be a fun skill to learn in order to make your own syrup.
18. Gift Card for a Gardening Company
There are so many options with a gift card at all price ranges. They could stock up on seeds or bulbs for next year, purchase a fruit tree, compost bin, or even green house – perfect for whatever stage of the journey they’re in.
19. Roo Apron
This apron is a great gathering tool when you’re out in the garden harvesting. I’ve even been known to use mine to collect eggs (carefully).
20. Gorilla Cart
You can’t imagine the things we’ve used our Gorilla Cart for because of it’s durability … dirt, mulch, firewood, chert, … the carcass of a deer during hunting season … Our Gorilla Cart has been an extremely versatile homesteading tool. I definitely recommend the cart, but not necessarily using it to carry a deer carcass.
21. Grow Bags
Whether you have elaborate raised beds or a market garden in-ground, you can always find a use for grow bags. They’re particularly handy for the homesteader at heart living in an apartment or smaller space with less backyard.
22. Flower Press Kit
You’ve spent so much time in your garden nurturing it, save some of the beauty with a flower press. You can make a mural of blooms from your garden each year or enjoy them in a variety of other crafts.
Homemaking Items
23. Bulk Apothecary Gift Card
When you’re exploring fun homemaking crafts like candle making, soap making, or any other type of bath and body product, have a reputable source for high quality materials is important. I use Bulk Apothecary for supplies. Having a gift card to go Ka-Ching with would be super nice.
24. Soap Making Kit
If you’re just getting into cold-process soap making, you’ll probably want to shop around for supplies, but if you want a melt and pour kit to get your feet wet. There are a lot of soap making kits out there. You’ll need one that has everything from a mold, mica powders, essential oils, and any dried flowers like lavender that you want to get creative with.
25. Candle Making Kit
Similar to the soap making kit, if you want to enjoy getting your feet there are pre-packaged candle making kits with everything you need. If you want to pick out individual ingredients of ascertained quality then a place like Bulk Apothecary would be the go-to.
26. Sewing Machine
Learning how to sew and fixing or making clothes is one of the most resourceful skills and capabilities as a homesteader. If you don’t already know how to sew, getting a sewing machine and learning this skill will come in handy for you and your family.
27. Oil Lamps
Between being a beautiful piece of vintage decor or a really useful light if the power goes out, oil lamps are a great item to have on hand. Not only that, but they are just one of many different antiques that a homestead would welcome to their collection.
28. Books
There are a plethora of homesteading books to choose from. Not to mention ones that specifically dive into each aspect of this lifestyle – from cooking, gardening, off-grid living, raising animals, cheese making, beekeeping, etc. Books are just one form of learning so alternatively, you could gift a course or workshop.
Apparel
29. Wool Socks
Farm chores don’t go away in the winter. Having some nice, warm wool socks (is cute to much to ask for too?) to pull on in the morning before slipping on those muck boots will keep the feet nice and cozy.
30. Duluth Overalls
A cute pair of overalls to match the garden will make any girl feel good and happy. Duluth overalls are not only casual for getting down and dirty, but they’re stylish enough for that must-have garden selfie too.
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