gift guide: the homesteader

Does the thought of a grass roots christmas appeal to you? It does to me! I love the feeling of satisfaction I get when I've created something through hard work. It could be gardening, cooking, brewing, fermenting or even enjoying an hour of fresh air. Here are my top ten favorite gifts for the do-it-yourself person on your list!

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My aunt found this shirt online a while back, and thought it just about summed me up. Quite possibly one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever received (it wasn't even my birthday!). It is soft, semi fitted and has washed so well. They run true to size. I also like this sherpa vest, this hat and seriously how cute are these sweatshirts? Bonus: this supports a small business!

This FERMENTATION CROCK such a multipurpose gift. This one comes with the lid and weights, so it is actually functional for fermenting. Bonus, it is pretty and would look nice sitting on the counter holding utensils or a plant when it isn't being used. Gifts that can do double duty are so awesome. I recommend pairing it with a nice recipe book like THIS ONE for a gift that feels very personalized and intentional. Give the gift of probiotics and healthy gut bacteria. Bless.

When you are fermenting or canning, you need lots of jars. Most people are probably buying the basic, least expensive jars they can find at their local hardware store. If you want to elevate this to gift level, try gifting WECK JARS. They are beautiful and can be used for pressuring canning or food storage. Weck jars are definitely more of a luxury than the plain ones we usually use! Book worm, here! So of course I'm including a fun book to add to the gift!

This is our favorite PRESSURE CANNER. It is a true workhorse in the kitchen! The best feature is that it can hold twice as many jars if you purchase the inexpensive dividing rack. I don't know about you, but if you are telling me that we can finish canning faster, I'm in! Hallelujah. We've used this one for the past two years and it's been easy as pie... or maybe canned pie filling.

If you are canning, an IMMERSION BLENDER is a great tool to have. It's another one of those multipurpose tools that is handy to have in your kitchen. It does a great job of blending salsas and sauces without having to transfer the hot mixture to the blender. No one needs a steam burn for the holidays, you are welcome.

A MANDOLIN is a necessary tool if you want to get into fermenting or drying foods. Sauerkraut, Kimchi and pickles all need to be sliced to consistently thin slices. This one isn't the most exciting gift to give, but it will go over well for anyone who wants to try fermenting! This one comes with a safety glove so you won't accidentally slice your hand.

If the homesteader in your life is more of a newbie, I like THIS book. It looks pretty on the shelf, plus is full of common sense explanations about farm life. If you are more experienced, this might be a little too basic for you. My kids have always loved books about farming, and this one has plenty of pictures to hold their attention. I also like FOOD ANATOMY.

Want to try brewing your own craft beer? THIS KIT is an inexpensive way to test your skill! It comes with everything you need to brew one gallon of your choice! It's like the gift that keeps on giving. ((Side note: as I am typing this, Aaron just looked over my shoulder and told me to be sure to mention not to buy the one gallon kit. He said it’s way too small and the five gallon option I linked is best, FYI))

Have you grown an herb garden? If someone on your list likes herbs, they need to be able to dry and store what they produce. THESE RACKS are stackable, so you can dry several without taking up as much space. This would be a nice gift to give along with a potted herb from the garden center or some herb storage containers. We also use these for drying home made jerky!

Last but not least, I have to include my favorite house slippers. I'm not sure what they have to do with homesteading, but everyone needs a pair. The end. Also, they come in men's and women's, and even the kids can have a pair!