The Best Gifts for Homesteaders
Homesteaders tend to have the make from scratch, grown your own, DIY mentality. So what are the best gifts for homesteaders? Skip the jewelry and fancy handbags. We want things for growing, sewing, baking, and making! Whether it’s for a holiday, or just because you want to say “I appreciate you,” give them gifts they actually want.
When it comes to gifts for the homesteader, think: sustainable, practical, and making home life easier. Do you know whether they spend most of the time in the garden, in the barn, in the kitchen, or in front of the sewing machine? There’s something for everyone on this list.
What are the best gifts for homesteaders?
Perennial herbs and flowers
Instead of buying annuals, buy herbs and flowers that will grow back again every year. Herbs that can be used medicinally or for cooking give a bigger bang for their buck than a flower basket for the front porch. Some of my faves:
- Echinacea
- Peppermint
- Chives
- Oregano
- Hibiscus
- Sage
- Thyme
Greenstalk vertical garden system
No matter what space you grow in, the Greenstalk vertical garden system can help you grow massive amounts of food. I use them both in my greenhouse and outside.**2022 Black Friday Sales are live and you can save 10% sitewide. You can also stack my code SILOSAGE to save an extra $10. I have four of these – so you know I’m a huge fan. ;)
Sewing machine and fabric
Homesteaders like to DIY and make their own, so a good sewing machine is a must have. Fabric is a great option for someone who already has a machine (because one can never have too much fabric ;). If you don’t know exactly what to get, try a gift card to a local fabric shop or JoAnn Fabrics.
You can find my favorite sewing supplies here.
Books
Help your favorite homesteader build their home library – books on self-sufficiency, gardening, from scratch cooking, sewing, herbs, homeschooling, etc. You can find my fave gardening books here. Check out my Amazon storefront for more books I recommend.
Fruit trees and berry bushes
Planting food in your yard that you can plant once and harvest for years – this is food security! It’s one of the best ways to stay ahead of the whims of the supply chain or the unstable food system. Pretty much every homesteader wants to check out of the food system altogether. If you’re buying in an off season, give a gift card to purchase them.
Preserving equipment
Homesteaders spend a lot of time in the kitchen preserving the harvest, so good equipment is much needed. Some things you might consider:
- Canning jars (these are worth more than diamonds these days ;)
- gallon jars
- water bath canner
- pressure canner
- dehydrator
- food storage bins
Kitchen Tools
Homesteaders tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so helpful kitchen tools are a great gift!
Chickens
Don’t give chickens to a random homesteading friend, but if you’re a close friend or a spouse, and you know someone has the structure and capacity for more chickens, most homesteaders would say a hardy YES to more chickens. Or some sweet baby chicks! (But wait for the spring for chicks)
You can also buy a coop, or plans for chicken tractors or chicken coops, with the promise to build it. ;)
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is an amazing gift for a homesteader, especially ones that live in colder climates. You can read my post (or watch my youtube video) all about my inexpensive hoop house style greenhouse, that would make the perfect gift. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever purchased for our Wisconsin zone 5b climate!
Seeds or plant starts
Have some heirloom seeds in your collection or does a local nursery have plant starts? Giving the gift of plants is pretty much always welcome on the homestead. Plant starts make a great spring gift, but seeds can be given any time. Especially if you have some from your own garden to share!
Some of my favorite seed shops are:
- MI Gardener
- True Leaf Market (free shipping on orders over $35)
- Azure Standard
Gear
Practical gear is a great gift – a good pair of muck boots, a heavy duty shovel, or a really good weeding tool. A gift card works too, but there’s something about opening up a pair of high quality books that you’d never buy for yourself that any homesteader would love.
