12 Days of Christmas Best Gifts for Homesteaders
The holiday season is upon us, and it is time to spread Christmas cheer with gifts for our loved ones.
Unfortunately, this can be tricky for some, especially those who live off-grid.
The best gifts for homesteaders include everything that would make their lives easier, including a composting bin, grain and flour mill, off-grid sewing machine, rain collection kit, and a greenhouse, among others. These are all essential items to living on a homestead.
This article will discuss the best gifts to give the homesteader in your life. It will also cover the presents you can provide when you are short on money and the best gifts for sending away. Read on for the best gifts to give homesteaders.
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What To Get Someone Who Lives Off the Grid?
If you know someone who lives off the grid and cannot think of anything to get them, here are a few great ideas:
Natural soaps and lotions
Low-powered washing machine
Indoor-safe propane heater
Work gloves
Durable long-handled axe
Chainsaw
Solar generator
Non-electric slow cooker
Manual grain mill
Flashlights
Hand crank clothes wringer
Knitting needles
Composting bin
Grain and flour mill
Off-grid sewing machine
Soap-making kit
Fermenting kit
Rain collection kit
Greenhouse
Oil lamps
Sewing kit
Breadbox
For more details on what you can buy for your friends and family, you can watch this video:
12 Days of Christmas - 12 Best Gifts for Homesteaders
Buying for your homesteader can be a trial if you do not know what is popular or needed for the homestead life. Here is a look at the 12 best gift ideas for this season.
1. Knitting Needles
These Takumi Combo Interchangeable Circular Knitting Needles from Clover are an excellent gift idea. They come in 12 different sizes that can be changed as needed for various knitting projects. They are also made of the finest bamboo and the highest quality.
Light grips and no loud clicking like metal alternatives make a great addition to any knitter’s collection of needles.
2. Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron cookware will last a lifetime and can be used in various cooking scenarios, such as on the grill or in the oven. They are a perfect gift for the homesteader in your life, and a great choice is the Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Piece Bundle.
The set comes pre-seasoned and ready for use. This cookware is sure to please even the pickiest gift recipient with its nonstick properties.
3. Grain and Flour Mill
One of the things homesteaders do frequently is make their own bread. When they can grind their own flour, the taste improves exponentially. Another great gift idea is a grain and flour mill like the NutriMill Classic High-Speed Grain/Flour Mill.
It has advanced technology, improving it over previous models and making it 50% quieter. Flour does not exceed 118℉, ensuring the nutrients stay well-protected. This small mill can produce up to five cups of flour each minute.
Depending on the user’s needs, it can produce flours in various textures, ranging from coarse to fine. Additionally, it can process a variety of grains, including rice, wheat, oat groats, dried beans, and lentils, just to name a few.
4. Soap-Making Kit
Many homesteaders will enjoy making their own soaps. You can add some fun to this by buying them a soap-making kit. This DilaBee Soap Making Kit will give them everything they need to make their own delectable soaps right at home.
With two pounds of shea butter base, they can make a lot of soap to share, sell, or use for themselves. It makes a great starter kit for those who have never made soap. They will learn the ropes and decide if it is something they want to become more advanced at knowing.
5. Fermenting Kit
Fermenting food is becoming increasingly popular for the health benefits it provides in the gut. This FARMcurious Mason Jar Mold Free Fermenting Kit is perfect for those who don’t want to deal with the yeast and mold that grow on top of a traditional fermenting system.
It works with any wide-mouth mason jar, so your gift recipient can make their favorite batch of fermented food in a tiny sample size or a large half-gallon size. This is an excellent gift for those just starting with fermenting and those who are seasoned.
6. Off-Grid Sewing Machine
There are sewing machines available for the arts and crafts type homesteader that do not run on electricity. This is beneficial for those who spend a lot of time mending or making new clothes. The Janome Treadle Powered Sewing Machine is an excellent option.
It features ten utility stitches and a buttonhole stitch, covering all the basics. It is compact and will fit nicely in their sewing cabinet or storage area.
7. Rain Collection System
Collecting rainwater can mean the difference between having plants last through a drought and thoroughly drying out because there’s no extra water on the homestead. Buying a rain barrel for your homesteader can be an excellent investment in their future.
Having this rainwater available during a drought will allow them to water their plants and yards amid water use restrictions. While everyone else’s yards are turning brown, you could have provided to solution to keep their yard beautiful and green.
This Rain Barrel DIY Kit is not only great at catching rainwater, but also is environmentally friendly. It is made from a recycled food-grade barrel, preventing it from going to the landfill.
8. Greenhouse
A greenhouse is an excellent way to extend the growing season or start seedlings with a perfect chance of survival. The Ohuhu Walk-in Plant Greenhouse offers 12 wire shelves, a heavy-duty design, and a rust-resistant frame.
This greenhouse is also a budget-friendly choice, so you will not need to make a large investment to provide a wonderful gift to your homesteader. They will have easy access through the zippered door. It also offers them the ease of being portable, allowing them to move it as needed.
9. Composting Barrel
One thing you will find in common with most homesteads is a compost area. One way to keep this neat, clean, and pest free is by containing it in a barrel. The FCMP Outdoor Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter does this and more.
It has two chambers, allowing the homesteader to develop two batches of compost simultaneously. They can either be started at the same time or at different times to have different levels of compost available.
The chamber is also unique in that it has a tumbling action. This will more efficiently mix the compost, allowing for a more even breakdown. It is corrosion-resistant and built to last for the long haul, making it an excellent gift.
10. Oil Lamps
An oil lamp can be a necessity for off-grid living. It offers a light or can light a stove when there is no electricity. The modern-day oil lamp uses smokeless paraffin fuel, making it safer indoors than in days past.
This Lamplight Chamber Oil Lamp is a great choice, as it will burn for up to 25 hours. Its capacity is 12 ounces of fuel.
11. Sewing Kit
No homestead is complete without a sewing kit. There is always mending to be done, and sometimes, someone will be sewing homemade clothing. Even if they have a sewing kit already, another one will not hurt, especially if it is fully stocked and nice.
This wooden box sewing kit has all the essentials made from high-quality materials. They will get two pairs of scissors and 24 threads of various colors.
12. Breadbox
A breadbox is crucial for storing and maintaining all that fresh-baked bread for as long as possible. Laura’s Green Kitchen Large Bread Box is excellent for small spaces but holds a lot. It is durable and made from the finest bamboo.
It will make a great addition to the countertop of any homestead kitchen. Additionally, your bread will be safe from your pets.
What Do You Give Someone When You Have No Money?
When money is tight, all that matters is your gift comes from the heart. You can make plenty of things that you can share with your friends and family. We are going to explore several of these options.
Homemade Meat
If you have a homestead or a farm, you can prepare your own cuts of meat. Many make their own jerkies. You can then share these items with your loved ones as long as you have taken the preventive measures to keep them safe.
Homemade Bread
Homemade bread is a lot easier to gift than homemade meat because there are not as many restrictions on keeping it food safe. You can be highly creative with this gift idea.
It does not have to be just plain bread. There are many options, from banana bread to beautiful streusel-like bread. Adding these flavors to the holidays will surely bring a lot of joy to the table.
Homemade Cheese
Cheese is a fan favorite all around, and it is even better when it is freshly prepared. If you know how to prepare and age cheese, add this to the Christmas gift baskets. It will be a pleasure for all the cheese lovers who receive it.
You can even make a combination basket with bread, meats, and cheeses to add a wow factor and give everyone a taste of each thing you have prepared.
Sewing Projects
If you are the crafty type, sewing projects can also be a beautiful gift. Whether seasonally associated or based on special events that mean something to the recipient, they will be recognized as a gift from the heart.
There are many options for projects, from creating elaborate scenes with stitchery to making new clothes. Custom-tailoring the gifts to the tastes of those receiving them will go a long way toward making this type of gift a success.
Homemade Soaps and Essential Oils
Homemade soap and essential oils can be some of the best personal products available. Many make a living off selling them because the quality is so good. These items can make an exceptional Christmas gift.
What Can You Send Someone Away From Home?
If your loved ones live too far away to visit this Christmas, there are plenty of gift ideas for you to choose from so they will be included in the festivities. Whether you want to go all out or are looking for something simple, we have some ideas for you.
Gift Baskets
Themed gift baskets are an idea when you need something quick. For example, if you have a dog lover with multiple dogs you are shopping for, you might get a dog-themed gift basket for them and their dogs to enjoy together.
Gift baskets come in various options, from food to spa themes to pet themes. You can find anything you need to meet your gift recipient’s tastes.
Box Subscriptions
If you find a fantastic subscription you know they will love, you can buy them a year-long membership. It will allow them to decide if it is something they want to keep once the time runs out on it and possibly introduce them to new things.
Self-Care Package
Create your own self-care package and send it off. Include things to make it a full spa day at home. With all the stress from the hustle and bustle of daily life, this will be a much-welcomed gift.
Gift Cards
When you cannot think of anything else, you can always send a gift card to their favorite store. This will allow them to pick what they want and save you on shipping costs if it is big and bulky.
Building Plans and Templates
Another great gift for the homesteader in your life? The gift of knowledge! I've created a few building plans, recipes, and other templates you can buy to give to a friend or family emmeber - they'll make the next year of homesteading way easier!
Check them out here:
Final Thoughts
Buying for a homesteader can be fun, as you learn more about the lifestyle as you shop for them. The best gifts are all ones that can contribute something to the daily life of the homesteader and make sense, given how they live.
When you are short on money, some of the best gifts you can give are homemade. Not only are they creative, but they are from the heart. You can create delicious gift baskets of homemade meats, cheeses, and bread to wow your loved ones.
Sending gifts away can be tricky, but there are several excellent options for this as well. Gift baskets, box subscriptions, and homemade self-care boxes make excellent gifts. When you cannot think of anything else, a gift card is also a viable option.
Want to learn more about farming? Be sure to check out these featured articles!
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