The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Modern Homesteader

Homesteader in pasture holding a chicken.

Let’s be honest: most gift guides for homesteaders are either impractical, not tested, or painfully generic (“mason jars!”). This isn’t my first rodeo. I grew up on a dairy farm, and now live on a working cattle and sheep form (formerly hogs, too).

I have a lifetime of gift giving experience for friends and family in outdoor trades. You get to benefit from all of the years of trial and error, benefitting from the real ideas that will be sure to put a smile on your homesteader guy or gal’s face!

Table of Contents

Know Your Homesteader!

Not every homesteader is alike. They may share the common theme regarding skepticism about consumerism – or not. There are times when the gift of a high-quality, well-built, and even practical item gets their heart leaping. Take it from me, I know.

Other times, frugal tendencies take over – experienced homesteaders know where not to spend money – they tend to be conservative. The best bet? Give them a tool they’ve been longing for that will bring efficiency to daily chores and other tasks.

Comfort Homesteader Gifts

I would guess that your special homesteader is often out in the weather elements. Giving the gift of quality gear is always appreciated. Here are gifts that I have given over the years (and what homesteaders actually ask for):

Farmer smiling with arms crossed in foreground' background barbed wire fence.
Don’t be surprised if farmer fencing supplies is on top of their wishlist!
  • Leather gloves for fencing, etc. My guys swear by SuperiorGlove Endura #378GKTFG, These are kevlar lined gloves perfect for fencing. Although offered on Amazon, I couldn’t locate this specific number (but this goatskin glove might be the same). I ordered mine from FirstPlaceSupply.com that had more details. They’re made by Superior Gloves, but it doesn’t look like I can buy directly off of the Superior website. From the First Place Supply website: “Goatskin has high tensile strength and abrasion-resistant properties and is often referred to as nature’s strongest leather. Soft and lightweight, our Endura 378GKTFG white drivers-style, goat-grain leather work gloves are fully lined with Kevlar for the added bonus of cut resistance. And unlike other Kevlar-lined gloves, we’ve used a cut-and-sewn knit for optimal fit, since seamless string knits are ambidextrous, and as such tend to cause bunching in areas like the thumb.” FYI, my neighbor found another brand at Cosco or maybe Sam’s Club called “Frontier” gloves that were pretty good, but not quite as good as the Superior Endura gloves.
  • Muck boots
  • Carhartt clothing
  • Good hats and gators
  • Long johns/long underwear like Smart Wool long underwear merino base Icebreaker long underwear wool Merino.tech with merino wool base layer looks like another good option (because when wool gets wet, it still keeps you dry)
  • Hand and foot warmers
  • Rain gear
  • Electric boot dryer – it’s been a godsend!
  • Flannel from Vermont Flannel Company

If not your local farm store, check out The Vermont Country Store online for a nice selection of clothing. Other great online clothing/gear catalogues:

Duluth Trading Company (my guys love the socks, underwear and relaxed fit extra long t-shirts -such great quality!). Lehman’s Catalogue (all around great website for preparedness, sustainability, clothing, gear, tools, etc.)

Personal Care Gifts for Homesteaders

Don’t laugh – if you live with a farmer or homesteader, you know what type of personal care they need! This can mean blocking the stink, and trying to soften up leather-like hands.

Deodorant for some might powerful sweat! The jury is out on this for recommended brands that work but also do not contain aluminum that has been connected to cancer. Remember that deodorant is just a scent and antiperspirant blocks you from producing sweat, which creates the bacteria that is stinky.

Farmer hands need cleaning
Ground-in dirt in skin needs extra help to restore squeaky clean and soft hands!

As a female, I can’t stand any strong-smelling “men’s” perfumes like cedar or old spice – yuck! They’re too powerful and smell like they are covering something up. I’ve been reading construction worker feedback, and they all hate the gel deodorants (but they also say it helps to trim the arm hair back). I’m looking into Mitchum 48 hour, Harry’s antiperspirant, Native, Mando, Arm & Hammer aluminum free and unscented, Women’s Suave powder scented or Women’s Secret clear gel (yes- women’s), Tom’s Natural, Degree antiperspirant, charcoal deodorant, Mineral Salt Deodorant.

There is also some post on Reddit where a doctor shared to use diaper rash cream with zinc because it kills the stinky bacteria (boy, am I getting off topic, lol!). More random: bathing the pits with lime juice takes the stink away …and more random: Get glycolic acid (in the beauty cleanser section) or use baking soda. Wipe it on after a shower. Don’t rinse it off. Let it dry. Apply your deodorant. Heck, one more: rub coconut oil into your pits and then a dash of baking soda. Coconut oil is antibacterial and anti microbial, and baking soda cuts the stink. Lasts an entire work day (10+ hrs) or longer. -rock86clime Reddit user

There is nothing wrong with not wearing deodorant, but when you have to be around others – please do! Another person recommends switching between brands every new bottle. Do know that your body may go through a detox/transitional period on some of the natural stuff, so you might have to give your body time to adapt.

Other practical hygiene and cleansing ideas for homesteaders:

Food Gifts for Homesteaders

I would reckon that many homesteaders start their day with a home-brewed cup of coffee. After my son informed me of the problems with plastic components in traditional drip coffeemakers (and the fear of microplastics) I invested in the Presto 02815 12-Cup Cordless Coffee Percolator – Stainless Steel, Modern Design, Easy Pour Spout, Stay-Cool Handle, Matte-Black

Homesteader canning tomatoes.
Homesteaders who preserve food would appreciate related equipment for canning, meat processing, etc.

I love it! It’s black, doesn’t show fingerprints, the pot isn’t connected to a cord, so can be lifted off the base to pour coffee. It even takes up less space on my countertop. I do think it’s overpriced, so hoping I can find it for family at a discount.

Homesteaders are often involved in gardening and home processing. Here’s a list:

A shout out to the Roots & Harvest website. I just love their Mason jar carriers! Another mention to Lehman’s Catalogue (all around great website for preparedness, sustainability, clothing, gear, tools, etc.)

For the House: Homesteader Gifts

If your friend or family is running a farmette, 1 or 5 acres of their dream, urban backyard, or massive farm, they’re going to get dirty. As a farmwife obsessed about design, I think about mudroom spaces all the time!

There is great opportunity for gifts that serve the homesteader in the house:

  • Dirt-trapping mats. We invested in large anti-fatigue mats with water drainage holes, and lined our basement door entrance – game changer for catching the endless dirt, nothing else could compare to this ultimate dirt trapping solution.
  • Boot scrapers (to stop the big dirt before it gets into the house!)
  • Lockers or hooks for farm coats
  • Baskets for gloves
  • Neutral BROWN or GRAY hand towels for cleaning up and shower area (because that grime gets rubbed into the fabric – stay away from pastel!)
  • A good bench or chair to sit and put on boots/shoes
  • A comfy recliner to relax at the end of the day – or a massage chair. You may think the massage chair is lavish, but I have a relative who has one, and I saw it mentioned in a homestead forum. But beware – you sit in one, and you’ll want one!
  • Hot tub to soak those aching muscles. Just because your a homesteader, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little indulgence.

Farmer Experience Gifts

Your homesteader may enjoy making treks to other homesteader farms and properties to see first-hand, observe, and ask questions. Homesteaders are naturally curious and enjoy this exchange of information. Even family vacations can consist of farm tour visits and agritourism themes.

Kids touring a dairy farm.
Experience gifts are the perfect way to not add to more clutter in the house!

Grassroots organizations such as PFI (Practical Farmers of Iowa) send out an annual field day guide. At my house, it’s like Christmas as we thumb through and mark the farm tours we want to visit in the state.

Consider visits to farmer’s markets in other towns and cities. Many a farmer and homesteader enjoy “people watching” at these events – all while discovering and learning about new foods and food products.

Classes can expand homesteader skills. Recently, I noticed a fermentation class in the local newspaper. Again, homesteaders are curious and there is so much to learn.

A fun, surprise gift basket could hint of one of these mini-adventure to come. Think of the route to get there, stops along the way, where you will eat, and what the day will bring. My son and I still fondly remember our Mother/Son day of learning how to butcher chickens at one of these events.

Books for Homesteaders

There are literally dozens of books flooding the shelves covering homesteading topics. Here are some worthy of highlighting. Otherwise do a search on “woodland homestead” “backyard homestead” “backyard chickens” “mini farming” “living on an acre”.

Woman homesteader reading a book reclining on bed in a log cabin.
Homesteaders are curious learners – books make a great gift for Christmas or birthday!

This has been so much fun looking up these books, I think all my family will get a book this Christmas!

Tech Gifts for Homesteaders

I started thinking of all the tech things that are just nice to have when you’re farming or homesteading:

Homesteader in field looking at Apple Ipad.
Farmers and homesteaders alike use technology everyday for agriculture.

Gifts for People With Chickens

It always amazes me how many people have backyard chickens. As a farmwife, I really think that’s cool! The more people who get back in touch with food production and self-sufficient, the better for society.

If your chicken owner is all about the perfect henhouse setup, their wish list might be adding an automatic chicken solar door. We use the Ladies First Automatic Chicken Door (I don’t make an affiliate commission off of them, but they get the award for the best name!).

Automatic chicken coop doors are timed to open up in the morning to let the chickens out and then let them back in at night. Before having one of these, I had to grab my coat and run out into the dark because I had forgotten to close the chicken door for the night.

Now, I can tell you, that for some women, getting a chicken door for a gift is equal to receiving a vacuum cleaner. *sigh* It happened to me and I wasn’t very happy about it – so be very careful in gifting something like this. If I had been presented this on an ordinary day (as the gesture of helpfulness) I would have been ecstatic. As it were, my gift came on my birthday, and there was an abundance of other gift ideas that would have been more fitting on my special day.

If your friend or family member has a love for chickens, then they may fall into the category of merchandise: like anything printed with chickens on it. You know me, I dislike frivolous items, but to each their own.

Four chickens perched on a fence post.
There are many fun and practical options for gifts for people with chickens.

How about the chicken coop itself? There are some tootin’ cute hen houses out there – just take a cruise through Pinterest. You can even buy ready-made chicken coops off of Amazon. Putting gift money to painting, lending a helping hand to building, or the delicious fun of decorating can be a great gift of time that doesn’t cost any money.

There are also accessories like chicken runs and enclosed fences to truly give those chickens a pasture lifestyle. If your homesteader lives in a winter climate, they will for sure desire a heated chicken waterer. Before this, I was using a plug-in heated dog waterer bowl, what a mess! Never give a chicken open water – they love to kick in the straw and poop in it, too.

Want to take the gift to the next level? Buy a chicken egg incubator! After my son saw someone selling hatched chickens, he became fascinated with the idea. For under a $100, he was in the chicken hatching business himself. Only give this gift if your homesteader is really interested in this idea.

Gifts for Aspiring Homesteaders

If you have someone new to homesteading, there’s so much to learn! There’s lot of good homesteading books to add to their home library.

Homesteaders old and new would appreciate thoughtful, practical gifts. I can’t tell you the simple joy when a tool works like it’s supposed to. There’s nothing worse then being in a predicament and your gear lets you down.

Here are some simple gifts that can put a smile on a homesteader’s face on Christmas:

Tools for Farmers

Homesteading requires many tools – and eventually upgrading and tool replacement. Tools always make a great gift idea for beginning homesteaders and seasoned farmers.

A selection of tools like rakes, shovels, and lopping shears for farmers.
Tools for farmers make great Christmas gifts for homesteaders.
  • Cordless drill
  • Channellock brand pliers (it’s a family favorite!)
  • 100′ tape measure
  • Pruners and limb loppers
  • High quality garden hose and reel
  • Generator (recommended Honda EU3000is because everyone knows Honda engines are the best)
  • Root Slayer/Root Assasin Tool
  • Shovel with steel handle welded to spade (no more broken handles) and look for one with a decent foot placement for leverage
  • Flashlights (I’ve ditched all the expensive, battery-hungry lights and go for the small Ozark Trail brand from Walmart which have been remarkably reliable and a nice-pocket size)
  • Head lamps
  • Clip on cap lights – people really love these little gadgets!
  • Buckets
  • Hori hori garden knife – I don’t have one, but I’m constantly tripping across people raving about it
  • Compost, mulch (you would be surprised how many people request this!)

The Gift of Safety

Homesteading can have its share of mishaps.

Gifts for Urban Homesteaders

I’m sure your urban friend would appreciate anything on this page, they just have to do it in less space. An urban homesteader will mainly focus on gardening in their backyard – to the max (they are really impressive people!).

Gifts that might be helpful in their endeavors:

They may also enjoy books for urban gardeners:

Gifts for a Homesteader Who Has (Almost) Everything

For those who have been homesteading or farming for many years, it might be a struggle to come up with a new gift. Here are some ideas:

  • Gift cards to the local co-op
  • Gift certificate for a massage
  • Replacing things they already have
  • Getting an improved, quality version of something they already have:

What NOT to Give a Homesteader

Let’s save you some embarrassment. Avoid:

  • “Farmhouse chic” decor from big-box stores: They live the life, not the aesthetic.
  • Single-use gadgets: If it only does one thing (and poorly), it’s clutter.
  • Anything scented like “barnwood” or “pumpkin spice”: Just… no.

Final Thoughts: Gifts That Respect the Lifestyle

Homesteaders value function over flash, local over luxury, and skills over stuff. The best gifts for homesteaders are tools, resources, or experiences that support their self-sufficient lifestyle—not clutter it.

If you’re still stuck, ask yourself: Would this survive a power outage, a goat escape, or a garden disaster? If yes, wrap it up. If not, maybe just bake them a loaf of sourdough and call it a day.

Renee Matt
Renee Matt

Renee is an Iowa farmwife with a background as a former kitchen designer. Supporting the family farm with hearty meals has been key to Renee's pantry readiness. She uses her professional IT background and expertise to bring the Pantry Passion website to life. Read more about this farmwife on her about page.