Gifts for Every Homesteader on Your List

Gifts for Every Homesteader on Your List

Homesteaders are a special kind of person. They are passionate about the life they live, and they're always looking for ways to improve it. Homesteading is hard work, but if you have the right tools and the right knowledge, it can be a rewarding way of life. The best gifts for homesteaders reflect this spirit: they're practical and useful but also show that you understand what a homesteader values most. (Note: This blog post contains affiliate links.)

Here are our top homesteading gifts for everyone on your list:

Subscription Gifts for Homesteaders

Subscription gifts are always a good option for the homesteader on your list. Check out these options:

  • Homesteaders of America Membership ($35/year) – Includes access to their online forum, blog, and more. They also have a library of courses you can take to learn new skills and grow your homesteading knowledge. This membership fee fits into the holiday budget!

  • Backwoods Home Magazine (affiliate link) ($26/year) – Backwoods Home Magazine features articles about self-sufficient living and homesteading practices from around the world. If you're looking for ideas on how other people manage their land, this magazine will give you plenty of inspiration.

  • Modern Homesteading Magazine ($20/year) - This quarterly publication covers topics ranging from urban farming tips all the way through raising backyard chickens, beekeeping basics and much more!

Tools for Homesteaders

Homesteaders love tools that make the tough jobs easier. These are tried and true tools we use on our homestead and have field tested for you.

  • True Temper Looped Action Hoe Cultivator (affiliate link) ($50) We love this tool so much we have TWO of them in the garden with plans to add another next season. This is the most used and most coveted garden tool we have. For those with back issues, this helps you stand upright and attacks weeds with ease. Sometimes referred to as a stirrup hoe, this is the #1 tool you should give to a homesteader!

  • Vivosun 6.5 ince garden scissors / pruning shears (affiliate link) ($7) When it comes to pruning tomato plants, you need a a tool that stays sharp and won't fail on you. This tool is a workhorse in our greenhouse during the growing season. These pruning shears make a great stocking stuffer for the homesteader on your list.

  • Metabo HPT 10-Inch Miter Saw with Laser Marker (affiliate link) ($200) Need a saw that can cut quickly and is easy to set up and use? This is it! The Metabo Miter Saw can help you cut anything from wood boards to PVC pipe using its adjustable fence system and quick clamp feature for fast changes on the fly without tools! It also includes an onboard digital readout (DRO) which helps measure cuts more accurately than ever before! This is one tool you’ll be glad you got when it comes time to build fences around your property or even just make repairs around the house.

  • Gorilla Carts 7GCG-NF 7 Cu. Ft. Heavy-Duty Poly Garden Dump Cart with No-Flat Tires (affiliate link) ($275) There's a reason that so many homesteaders have Gorilla Carts. They make hauling and dumping a breeze, while being rugged enough to last through every season. Our favorite feature of this cart is the ability to dump by lifting the handle and no-flat tires feature. While this is a higher-priced item, it is one that pays dividends on the homestead.

Kitchen Gadgets for Homesteaders

Homesteaders love to cook, so they'll be thrilled with these kitchen gadgets.

  • Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express Foood Dehydrator (affiliate link) ($85) Homesteaders need to preserve their harvest and keep it from going to waste. This gift is perfect for the homesteader who needs a basic tool without the fuss. We've ran this dehydrator for the past 8 seasons. It's basic but do you really need more when it works well?

  • Granite Ware 8-Piece Canner Kit (affiliate link) ($70) This water bath canning kit has everything for someone who is new to canning because it includes all of the basics to get them started.

  • Vegetable Chopper/Dicer/Slicer/Cutter - No Electricity Required (affiliate link) ($20) This tool was added to our kitchen last summer and we've never appreciated the simplicty of quickly processing food with ease. This is our #1 recommeded kitchen tool for processing your garden harvest. It makes slicing and dicing so easy and quick. In fact, get two of these - one for yourself and one for the homesteader on your list.

  • AcuRite Digital Wireless Fridge and Freezer Thermometer with Alarm (affiliate link) ($35) When you fill your freezer, you want peace of mind that the contents inside won't spoil. This handy device is an insurance policy to alert you if your freezer stops working or the door is left open (ahem...anyone with kids knows this is a reality). Protect your food supplies with this freezer alarm. We have one in every freezer so that we are protected against loss.

  • Cosori Bread Maker (affiliate link) ($70) Homesteading is about making things from scratch and is there anything better than homemade bread? With the current cost at the grocery stores, we made the investment into a bread maker as we struggled to make a consistent loaf of bread in the oven (know your limits...my kitchen nemesis are rice and bread). This machine is easy to use, makes several different types of bread (we've been eating brioch every morning) and is uber quiet. Plus, we can control the ingredients going into the bread which is healthier for our family.

Clothes for Homesteaders

Having the right clothing for the job makes all the difference. Here's some of our favorite clothing we wear on our homestead:

  • LaCrosse Alpha Range boots for Women & Men (affiliate link) One could probably start a heated debate over which boots are the best on the homestead. LaCrosse Alpha Range boots are my all time favorite footware in the mud and cold. They are comfortable to wear all day long without being heavy. Plus they are made to fit regular and wide-calf legs! (Can we do a celebration for all of us wide-calf homesteaders?) I first learned about these boots from a dairy farmer in Wisconsin and while the investment wasn't cheap, they have been my staple boot for years without rubber ripping or breaking down.

  • Carhartt Duck Bib Overalls for Women & Men (affiliate link) Workwear gear is made for dirty and tough jobs. On the homestead, you want gear that will last and keep you warm and dry. Carhartt makes great bib overalls for every day use. We wear our bibs for daily chores from about mid-November through mid-March. They are must have for cold-climate homesteaders.

  • Mechanix Wear: The Original Leather Work Gloves (affiliate link) These gloves are a good balance of durability and dexterity and we use them every day on our homestead.

Books for the Homesteader

Homesteaders are people who love knowledge, but you might be wondering how a homesteader builds their knowledge bank. It's with books! Here's our short list of the best homesteading books:

  • Ten Acres is Enough by Edmund Morris (affiliate link) This book was recommended to me by an Amish friend. Edmund Morris shares his journey from city life to country life in the 1860s as his family goes back to the land. He is an OG homesteader. The book challenges how much land we really need to produce food for a large family and shares lost farming techniquies that homesteaders can implement on their homestead.

  • The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan (affiliate link) This is the book that started our homestead journey. It's a great resources for understanding how to set up the early stages of a homestead plus it includes some great recipes.

  • Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving (affiliate link) This book is all you need to get started with canning recipes and knowhow. It's simple to follow and the #1 canning book in the USA. This is a staple on my kitchen counter every canning season.

  • Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World by Joel Salatin (affiliate link) This is one of those books that makes you go "hmmm". It is thought provoking and funny. Joel has decades of farm experience and shares that knowledge along with his thoughts on how society has gone astray. It's an interesting read for the more conservative homesteader.

  • Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (affiliate link) We call chickens the gateway animal for homesteaders. However, when you need to know how to treat chickens or what to feed chickens, Storey's animal guides are the practical reference book to keep around.

Gifts for the Kidsteader

Shopping for the kidsteader on your list? Here are some favorites from our children.

  • The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy (affiliate link) This collection is a gem. My kids loves sitting down to spend an afternoon reading through these anatomy books. The visuals and information are incredible and engaging. (These are great for adults too.)

  • Indoor Herb Garden Kit (affiliate link) ($30) Teaching children to grow their own food is the greatest gift you can give. This kit is perfect for budding gardeners with all the the tools they need to grow an herb garden in the kitchen or sunny spot at home.

  • Beeswax Candel Making Kit (affiliate link) ($30) I've lost count of how many times we've purchased this kit. It's a favorite craft for all my kids and one we've shared with friends. The kit comes with everything you need to roll beeswax candels and create beautiful works of art.

  • Story-Time Read Alouds for Little Kidsteaders - These are some of our favorites in our personal library. Sleep Tight Farm by Eugenie Doyle follows a farm going "to bed" for winter from the height of summer production. The illustrations are charming and its one of my personal favorites to read at bedtime.

     

There you go! Now you have plenty of ideas to get started on your holiday shopping. Whether you’re buying for the homesteader in your life or just want to treat yourself, there is something here for everyone.