Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Christmas Gifts for the Homesteader



As the holiday season approaches finding that perfect gift for those you love can be challenging.  To me the perfect gift is first, affordable and within your budget limits.  It can be easy to get caught up in the seasons festivities and over spend. Second, the gift shows you know them personally and put some thought and love into the gift.  A gift from the heart is always appreciated and cherished.  

Gardeners and homesteaders are always fun to shop for if you are into those hobbies and lifestyle choices and challenging if you are not.  So here are some ideas for gifts. Keep in mind your homesteader may have some of these items but often new improved equipment is fun to get. Accessories and supplies for these items could also be your focus and may fit in better with your budget. Affiliate links are included in this post.

Incubator for hatching eggs 


Chicken egg rack or basket

Lots of styles and fun options to store eggs on your counter or look for a wire basket to gather eggs



Sourdough starter kit or accessories



Good kitchen scale

Useful for canning, sour dough bread making, and soap making.


Yogurt Maker

Insta pots often have a yogurt function.  Other items that are useful if using raw milk are a stainless stock pot, long whisk, and thermometer. 

Dehydrator

I have been using an older cheaper dehydrator but this has some features that would be wonderful to have like a quiet fan, even heating, auto functions, and temperatures high enough to do jerky. I might have to ask Santa for an upgrade. Got my upgrade an Excalibur.   Definitely worth it.  Produces a much better evenly dried product.  Great for jerky too!



Cheese making kits, molds, cultures and supplies

If new to cheesemaking a kit is nice.  If experienced there are molds, presses and always cultures that are needed.



Fermenting kit or supplies

A healthy, fun hobby to start


Pruners

I love my Stihl pruners they are lightweight and sharp.  I have both lopper sizes to accommodate different branch widths.  I always carry my hand pruner in a leather pouch on my belt. I have separate hand pruners to trim goat hooves.  Check out the battery garden pruner. That could be really handy. Can't say enough about Stihl products.  A must for the the garden and home orchard. Pick up at your local hardware store.

 Homestead and Gardening Books

I always have a gardening book on my wish list plus a gardening read included in my daily reading. 

 

   

Pressure Canner for canning

I like a weighted pressure canner.  Dial pressure canners need to be  checked every year to ensure the dial is accurate.  This can be done at an extension office so it's not a problem but maybe an inconvenience if you are not close.


 Stainless steel water bath canner

These are durable canners for the serious canner.  Don't forget accessories for canning if you are looking for a cheaper option or stocking stuffers.

Ball Canning books

Always used tested and trusted recipes.  Ball has some great options. 


Attachments for Kitchen Aid such as pasta maker or meat grinder

Homemade pasta is simple to make with the Kitchen Aid pasta maker. Beet or spinach powder can be added to make colorful healthy pasta.  If you raise beef, pork, turkeys or hunt a meat grinder is a great gift idea.



Smoker or accessories

I have a Traeger and love it. If your homesteader has a smoker look for accessories such as silicon gloves, sauce pots and basting brushes, marinade containers, racks for veggies and meats, pink butcher paper meat claws, prep and serve trays. Lots of fun options and a variety of price ranges.



 Rubs and sauces for smoking.  Herbs for canning.

If you can, BBQ or smoke then having a variety of herbs, seasonings and sauces is a must.  These are fun inexpensive stocking stuffer ideas. These can be bought in kits or individually.  Any hardware store that stocks smokers and BBQs will have lots of options.  You could put together themed herb collections for canning pickles, relishes, salsa or chili. 


Vacuum Sealer

Perfect to extend self life of products you are freezing and prevent freezer burn.  Great for raw or smoked meats, veggies and fruits. If you freeze leftover bbq and smoked meats you can just put the bags directly in boiling water to reheat and it keeps meat juicy, moist and delicious.


Mason jar vacuum sealer

I love this little gadget. Mason jars make great storage jars.  I use it for dehydrated and freeze dried fruits and veggies. Great for anything you store in mason jars that needs to be kept fresh!




   

Heated water buckets

These are a huge time saver for the homesteader and provide constant water for your animals in the winter months.  They come in different sizes and are perfect for chickens, goats, dogs, cats, and other farm critters.


Insulated bibs & gloves

Doing farm chores is much more enjoyable if you are warm.  Insulated bibs, flannel lined jeans, a durable jacket, and insulated gloves are all great gift options for any homesteader


cast iron kettles for fireplace or humidifier

For those with wood stoves these add moisture to the air. They not only add humidity but you can add cinnamon sticks, oranges, or cloves to make your home smell like the holidays. Be sure to look for rust resistant humidifier that have a porcelain enamel coating. 

 Muck buckets

You can never have enough buckets.  I really like the flexible ones with handles.  These can be used to haul supplies out to the garden or animals, for weeds, deadheading flowers, mixing fertilizers or potting soils. The uses are endless.  Any utility buckets or muck buckets are all great for the homestead.  


knee pads or kneeling pad

Comfortable water resistant knee pads make weeding, planting, and harvesting much easier.  They can also be used to do household chores. Easy on the knees and inexpensive. 


Seed Saving SuppliesSeed Saving Supplies

If your homesteader saves seeds there are lots of fun gift ideas. Mesh sifters with assorted screen sizes, pollinator bags, and seed packets are a few ideas the seed saver would enjoy.


 . 




Half gallon mason jars or other storage jar

These are perfect to store dehydrated and freeze dried product.  Add and few oxygen absorbers and vacuum seal the lids for longer storage.  Also great for pasta and grains.



Food processor

Makes slicing and grating quick and easy for canning, freeze drying, dehydrating veggies, fruits, and cheese.  Make biscuits, party, and pie crust with the dough attachment, and puree salsas.



Onion chopper

A huge time saver for chopping and dicing onions, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes and other produce for canning. All evenly diced!


Whole grain grinder

Having a mill or grinder for whole grains opens up the possibility for lots of healthy bread making options.


Other Ideas:

  • Tickets to a local Farm Conference
  • Good knife set
  •  Cutting boards
  • Pastry mat, bowl scraper
  • Kitchen shears
  • Clippers for goats
  • Tattoo kit for goats
  • More goats, chickens, cows, pigs, horses and ducks 
  • Gift cards to favorite online nurseries and seed companies


I appreciate the holiday season as a time to reflect on the many blessing the Lord has given my family.  I enjoy the opportunity to think of others and give of myself.  I cherish the greatest gift of the season... Our Savior.  Merry Christmas!








Monday, December 2, 2024

Cranberry & Pear Conserve



It's that time of year!  With Thanksgiving and Christmas, it means that you can probably find fresh cranberries at your market or grocery store.  What better time to can some fun holiday recipes using cranberries.  

The first recipe I want to share is a conserve.  What is a conserve?  Jams, preserves, and conserves are all fruits preserved with sugar.  Basically, all conserves are jams, but not all jams are conserves.  A true conserve usually contains fruit mixed together with sugar, nuts, and dried fruits.  Nuts and dried fruits are not apart of this recipe but because of the consistency it is still considered a conserve.  Conserves are runnier than jams and often used on meats and cheeses. This is amazing on a real chopped chicken or turkey sandwich.


Cranberry & Pear Conserve


  • 6 medium to large firm, ripe pears
  • 1 16 oz package cranberries
  •  4 cups sugar
  • 1 1/14 cups water
  • 2 Tbs lemon juice
  • 2 Tbs finely shredded orange peel
  • 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground allspice
Peel, core, and chop the pears In a 6-8 quart saucepan combine  all the ingredients





Boil gently, for 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently until mixture thickens and sheets off a metal spoon.

To check to see if it sheets off, dip a metal spoon into the boiling mixture and hold it over the pan.  When it is the right consistency, it will slide in sheets rather than drops from the spoon.

Ladle into hot sterile half-pint canning jars.

Leave 1/2 inch head space. 

Wipe rims and adjust lids

Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.  Adjust for altitude. In New Harmony add 10 minutes to the processing time.

When done processing leave jars in the canner with heat off and remove the lid of the canner allowing it to sit for an additional 10 minutes.

Makes about 7-8 half pints

Pears ripen after you pick them.


Serve with:

  • Thanksgiving turkey
  • Pulled turkey sandwiches mixed with a little stuffing and this cranberry sauce
  • Sliced turkey sandwiches grilled and spread or dip sandwich in cranberry sauce
  • Serve as a spread on cheese and crackers 
  • Omelets
Use this vinaigrette over mixed greens with dried cranberries.


Cranberry Pear Vinaigrette:

Whisk together:
1/4 cup Cranberry & Pear Conserve
2 Tbs white balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs olive oil

Serve over mixed greens salad 

Additional ideas:

Sometimes it is hard to find cranberries when pears are being harvested.  When you find them in season individually quick freeze them and store them in bags in the freezer.

Use dehydrated pears.  Reconstitute by soaking in water for 15-20 minutes.  Drain water and use just like fresh pears. It is not necessary to reconstitute but you can choose to do so.


I like to use as much of my own organic produce so if you do not have fresh pears use dehydrated pears.