Homestead Gift Guide | Homestead And Farm Essentials
Have someone in your life who lives the homestead lifestyle or wants to, but you’re not sure what kind of gift they would like? Or maybe you’re looking for homesteading essentials to add to your own list? Either way, this post is for you!
I’m at a point in my life that I think all adults get to. The place where I really don’t want more useless junk to clutter up my house and make my daily responsibilities harder to accomplish. Anyone else?
Instead, I like functional items that I can use and that will actually make my life easier! Since those are the kind of gifts I like to receive, they’re also the kind I want to give. All of the ideas on my homestead gift guide fit that bill perfectly for someone growing their homestead or farm!
This post contains affiliate links which means that I may make a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. See my full, boring disclosure here.
The Essential Homestead Gift Guide
Pressure Canner
Homesteading is all about self-sufficiency and growing or raising much if not most of your own food. One good way to preserve a wide range of foods is pressure canning. By canning, you can preserve foods ranging from stew to jelly to green beans.
Canning is also nice because it preserves the food while not taking up precious freezer space. Every year my mom cans enough green beans to last their family the whole entire year. This year she added pink eye purple hull peas to her canned goods. She’s also done squash, salsa, and other fresh garden veggies.
As a matter of fact, my mom blogs over at Rambling Rose Farmhouse and has some great posts for anyone interested in getting started with canning. She has a post all about what you’ll need to get started canning, how to can green beans, and how to prepare your green beans for canning.
A good standby for learning to can is the Ball Blue Book. It’s what my mom used to learn to can and the updated one is just as good as it was 30 something years ago!
I can’t wait to get a pressure canner and add canning to my list of homesteading skills! I have done pickled okra and pickled eggs since my husband is a pickled everything lover, but haven’t stepped up to pressure canning yet. Crossing my fingers for this summer!
Skinning Knife
A knife may seem like a strange thing to include in a gift guide, but all of the people I know living the homesteading lifestyle appreciate a good knife! It goes hand in hand with raising {or hunting for} your own food.
This Old Timer skinning knife is by far my favorite one that I’ve ever used. It has a really good feel and it’s extremely affordable, too!
It’s not fancy or expensive but it’s sturdy enough to stand up to some pretty hard use!
Food Saver – Vacuum Sealer
Relating to our last gift idea, if your homesteading friends {or you} do any kind of hunting or raise their own meat, a vacuum sealer would make an awesome gift!
Air is one of the biggest enemies of keeping frozen food fresh. It leads to freezer burn and that’s just not cool at all. Plus it tastes disgusting. But when you use a Food Saver, you suck all of that troublesome air out of the package and seal it up tight! No freezer burn. No yuck. Just amazingly fresh, delicious food!
I have the Gamesaver model Food Saver. I’ve had it for 4 years since I got married and it’s been a workhorse! We’ve used it to seal all of our deer and my family borrows it to put up theirs as well. We packaged up a huge crop of summer corn using the Food Saver plus a giant wild hog that a friend gifted to us. All of that to say that this thing has seen a ton of sealing and is still going.
The biggest downfall of a vacuum sealer is that they get hot when sealing. If you do very many consecutive seals, you’ll have to start waiting between seals for the machine to cool off. It’s not the end of the world, but it can sure be aggravating when you’re trying to get your meat packaged and in the freezer.
The only solution to that problem {if you want to vacuum seal which I personally think is the only way to go when freezing} is to step up to a heavier duty machine. You can get what I would consider to be an “entry level” commercial sealer like this Avid Armor Vacuum Sealer or you can step all the way up to the big boys. This Vac-Vida Chamber Vacuum Sealer is a serious investment but from the looks of it, would be serving you for many, many years to come. I plan on stepping up to one of these heavier duty machines when mine finally gives out.
Cast Iron Griddle
I’ve been exposed to cooking on cast iron my whole life but had never done it much personally until I got married. At that point it came about out of necessity since that’s almost all my husband had. I used them whenever I could but still had to resort to teflon for a few things like omelets, fried eggs, and scrambled eggs.
A few months ago, a friend gave us an old cast iron griddle that he no longer needed. My husband had used it and was raving about how great it was and how much I was going to love it. I was pretty skeptical but told him I’d give it a try. He was absolutely right! It’s completely changed the way I cook.
This cast iron griddle is amazing. The bees knees. Better than pockets on a shirt. The best thing since sliced bread. You get the idea. I know it probably sounds overly dramatic and exaggerated but I assure you the cast iron griddle really is that good! It’s completely eliminated my need for non stick teflon pans and I can still cook all of the variety of eggs that we enjoy including scrambled!
I would highly suggest keeping your eye out for an older, ultra smooth cast iron griddle because I think that’ll give you the best results. Not long ago, I was able to find another super smooth, old griddle at a barn sale we went to. I found a new griddle for y’all, but I don’t think it’s quite as smooth as an old, well used and loved griddle would be. But they’re cheap enough to be a decent stand in while keeping your eye out for an older one!
Fruit Trees & Blueberry Bushes
There’s something immensely satisfying about walking out to an orchard that you planted and tended with your own hands and pick fresh fruit to feed your family. Just a few trees and bushes can produce enough to preserve for year round enjoyment.
Growing up, we had blueberry bushes and with their bountiful harvests each year we had frozen blueberries for whenever we needed them.
Right after my husband and I got married, I decided I wanted to plant a little blueberry patch. Well, fruit trees and blueberry bushes aren’t cheap and on a newlywed budget I could only afford to buy a couple. I asked for some for my Christmas gifts and they’re growing into a thriving little blueberry grove!
You can find good blueberry bushes for your area at local nurseries and sometimes feed stores. I’ve bought quite a few from home improvement stores like Lowe’s.
A Good Flashlight
On a homestead or farm, you inevitably end up doing chores in the dark. Especially if you work a full time job on top of your homesteading lifestyle. Feeding often gets pushed to before the sun comes up or after it goes down.
A good flashlight becomes essential for those times! Maybe I’m a little too picky, but I find a good flashlight difficult to find. Either it’s not bright enough or it doesn’t shine far enough. I guess I have high flashlight expectations. I’ve also gone the rechargeable route but didn’t like that one at all.
We found a really good flashlight that met all of my qualifications and of course they discontinued it!
Although I can’t find the exact light that we love, I think this flashlight will be a good replacement and it’s what I’ll be ordering to try when mine finally bites the dust.
Leather Gloves
I used to never be a glove wearer. Mainly because I could never find any that fit my hands right so I could still do things with them on. I hated how bulky and awkward gloves made it to try to do anything with my hands that required any kind of precision.
In 2013, I spent about 7 months working on a dude ranch in Wyoming. Right before heading up there I found these gloves and they changed my opinion on gloves! They fit pretty snug so they don’t make it super hard to actually do anything. They’re such soft, supple leather and they fit so good. They fit…like a glove. Sorry, I know that’s cheesy but I couldn’t help it.
I wore those gloves until they had holes in them. I finally broke down and ordered a new pair and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long!
The only negative thing I have to say about these particular gloves is the yellow color of them. If you get them wet when you’re working, the yellow color will bleed onto your hands. My last pair did it from the day I got them until they were worn slap out. Other than that, they’re the most amazing pair of gloves ever. My husband was even impressed by how soft they are!
Carhartt Jacket
I know there are a lot of different jackets out there, but Carhartt brand is made for working! Carhartt jackets are made out of duck type canvas and they are so tough.
The last Carhartt jacket that I bought {and am still wearing} had a sherpa lining. Before that I didn’t even know sherpa lining was a thing, but it is and I love it! I don’t think I’ll ever buy another Carhartt without it! It’s super soft and cozy while still having the tough, wind blocking exterior that Carhartt is so good at.
Even though they aren’t waterproof or even advertised as water-resistant, I’ve worn my Carhartt jackets in some really miserable weather conditions and it provides excellent protection from the elements! This is the exact Carhartt pictured above that I wear and love. This is the men’s version of the same jacket.
Lightweight Shirt Jacket
Sometimes it’s unpleasant enough out that you can’t do your chores in your short sleeve t-shirt but you’d be sweating in your big Carhartt jacket. A shirt jacket is the perfect solution! Warmer than a long sleeve but cooler than a full blown winter jacket, it’s perfect for that in between weather. It’s also a whole lot cheaper if you’re looking for a useful gift on a smaller budget.
I really love the look of this one. It’s not very feminine so may not work good for both men and women but it looks very comfortable and warm! I’d definitely wear it around the farm.
Winter Hat With Ear Flaps
This might not be the most fashionable winter hat on the market but it’s the real deal! It keeps your head and ears warm even in the nastiest weather!
When I was working in Wyoming, we had to pack a group of hunters into the mountains right after a big snow storm started. It was seriously the coldest I have ever been in my whole life. I was kind of afraid my toes were getting frost bite. Not really, but it was miserably cold. The kind of cold that makes you feel like you can’t even move and you lose feeling in your extremities.
As soon as we made it in from that pack trip, I went straight into town and bought myself this wool hat and some insulated rubber boots. To this day I still consider it to be one of the best purchases I’ve ever made! If something happened to mine, I would buy another tomorrow! Not even joking.
I couldn’t find the exact hat that I bought but this one is extremely close and has excellent reviews.
Silk Scarf/Wild Rag
Going along with the theme of warm clothes for winter chores, a wild rag is an essential for me. It may not get to sub zero temperatures here in Louisiana, but with the wind and humidity it can be bitterly cold at times. I even think many times that it feels colder than it did in Wyoming. It’s such a different cold. A wet cold.
One thing I learned well, while being out there working, is that having the right cold weather gear makes all of the difference in the world. In addition to a good jacket and hat, keeping your neck warm and the cold air from going down your jacket makes a huge difference in how warm you stay! A friend in Wyoming turned me on to these and I’ve been hooked ever since! I bought my brothers wild rags after I came home and they love them as much as I do.
Watch my video to see how to wear a wild rag to stay warm. I really do love this thing! It and my hat in the picture above are non-negotiable winter must haves for me!
This is the link to the exact wild rag that I have and this is the link to the Wyoming Trader store where they have so many patterns to choose from!
Chick Supplies
Chick supplies are one of the things we use around here that it seems like we can never have enough of. I don’t know if everyone’s homestead or farm is this way or if it’s just us, but we never seem to have enough waterers and feeders when we get a batch of chicks.
When you first pick up your tiny little chicks, it seems like the quart jar feeders will be perfect but they quickly outgrow that size. I like to have gallon size waterers and feeders as a minimum for chicks. That way you don’t have to worry about them running out of food and water during the day, especially during the hot summer months when they’re drinking a lot more.
I couldn’t link straight to it, but if you click on the “waterers” link above, my favorite is the ‘Little Giant 1-Gallon Plastic Poultry Fount Complete Waterer with 750 Red Base’. Same problem for the feeder so if you click on the “feeders” link above, the one we like is the ‘Harris Farms 1000297 Free Range Hanging Poultry Feeder | 7 lb’.
A brooder lamp is another must have for raising baby chicks since they easily get too cold when they’re tiny before their feathers come in.
If you’ve got a bigger gift budget and want to get a nice gift that will keep giving year after year, an incubator is a wonderful thing to have on a homestead! You can easily and consistently hatch out your own chicks and save a lot of money each year! I can’t wait to hatch out our own Rhode Island Reds next spring from the chicks we bought this spring!
Homestead Magazine Subscription
I love gifting a magazine subscription for something that I now my friends and family enjoy. Not only is a magazine subscription a very affordable gift option, it’s the gift that keeps on giving every time a new issue comes in the mail!
Some great options for friends who are living the homestead life or even still in the dreaming phase are Mother Earth News and Self Reliance. They’re both chock full of both new ideas and the good tried and true wisdom that we all look for.
Gift Cards
If all else fails and you just can’t settle on what to buy for your homestead or farm friends, a gift card is always a good choice. With a gift card, they can buy exactly what they need or want without any guess work on your part. Some good options are gift certificates to local nurseries, feed stores, or co-ops if you live in the same area and know where your friends like to shop.
If they’re DIYers or have lots of projects to work on, a gift card to a home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot could be just the thing. I know we always have so many projects going on between building fences, home projects, and general upkeep that extra funds for those things are always a hit!
For friends who are animal collectors like we are {just kidding, but sometimes it feels that way} a gift card to a Tractor Supply or some other local feed store would be an awesome gift to get. Sometimes it seems like it costs more to keep all the homestead animals fed and cared for than the little two legged animals running around in the house. And no, I’m not talking about chickens!
Happy Gift Giving
They say it’s more blessed to give than to receive and while getting gifts is certainly fun and enjoyable, there’s not anything else quite like seeing the joy on someone’s face when they unwrap the gift that you lovingly picked and bought for them. It truly is a blessing!
I hope this homestead gift guide of essentials that we use on our own little homestead has given you some good ideas
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Vac-Vida Chamber Vacuum Sealer
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WOW – SO incredible. Thank you for putting this together. I will reference back to this often!
-Alexa
Thank you, I’m so glad you found it useful!
What a great list, Rachel! Also, I didn’t realize that Missy is your mom!
Thank you, Sylvia! Yes she is. It’s so nice having her on this journey with me!