Happy day-after-Thanksgiving friends! I hope your bellies and hearts and fridges are full of goodness.
Today I’m sharing something a little different… two curated gift guides for the holidays! See below for two different guides – the first “Eat Like a Farmer” guide is geared towards cooks/food lovers, and the second “Grow Like a Pro” guide is for all the (experienced or aspiring) gardeners in your life.
Below the visual for each guide, you’ll see handy links to purchase each item (a note that I did my best to link to a wide mix of different sources for these gifts, and if you can find any of these items at your local culinary or garden store, I of course recommend shopping small + local if you can)! I put a lot of thought and energy (and fun!) into these guides, and I promise that I can personally vouch for each and every item you see here.
Last but definitely not least, please do keep scrolling to the end, where I also share a list of inspiring food + farm non-profits for anyone looking to support some hard working organizations holiday season.
Okay, now on to the gift guides…!
1. Six Seasons Cookbook by Joshua McFadden – one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks that epitomizes what it means to #eatlikeafarmer!
2. Microplane – one of my most-loved (and easily overlooked) kitchen tools.
3. Canning Kit – I personally use and love this canning kit, and it has everything you need to preserve seasonal bounty via hot water bath canning.
4. Whetstone Magazine – food-lovers will delight in a (print or digital) subscription to this groundbreaking magazine, which focuses on diverse storytelling around food origins and culture.
5. Le Creuset Dutch Oven – it's an investment for sure, but a classic dutch oven will last for generations and is one of my most-used (and most beloved) tools in the kitchen. The 4.5 quart size is the most versatile, in my opinion!
6. Ronco Food Dehydrator – this is a perfect (and affordable) starter dehydrator for anyone looking to get into dehydrating + preserving fruits, veggies, herbs, etc.
7. Diaspora Co Spice Set – A set of the 9 most popular spices from Diaspora Co, a company dedicated to ethically sourced, single-origin spices from India / Sri Lanka.
8. John Boos Cutting Board – Not only are they useful, these John Boos wooden cutting boards are so beautiful that I happily leave mine out on the counter at all times.
9. Hedley & Bennet Carryall Apron – You can't go wrong with an apron from Hedley & Bennet, and I've gotta say I'm in love with this apron in a perfect "Farmbelly Blue" hue!
10. Lodge Cast Iron Set – A five piece set of high quality Lodge cast iron pans for under $100?! This is a steal of a deal.
11. Souper Cubes – I'm kinda obsessed with these! Perfect for preserving seasonal bounty by freezing + portioning out soups, stews, sauces, etc.
1. How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons – This is hands down my favorite book for getting started in gardening/farming (though it's also full of helpful info for experience growers too).
2. Felco #2 Pruners – Classic and high quality pruners that any gardener will constantly use and love.
3. Grow Bags – Grow bags are a great solution for growing plants at home if you don't have room for raised beds. Perfect for herbs, greens, potatoes, squash, etc!
4. Cobra Garden Tool – This is a super versatile (albeit funky looking) tool that can be used for weeding, cultivating, and planting. One of my top 5 favorite tools we use here on the farm.
5. Drying Rack – For anyone growing lots of onions, garlic, winter squash, etc – this drying rack is the perfect way to store + cure the harvest!
6. Dovetail Overalls – I got my first pair of Dovetail overalls this year, and I practically live in them! This clothing brand is specifically designed for women, and I'm a huge fan.
7. Row 7 Seeds – Gardners will love planting seeds from Row 7 – a seed company founded by chef Dan Barber, featuring vegetables specially bred for incredible and unique flavors. They also sell gift certificates.
8. Opinel #8 Pocket Knife – You can't go wrong with this classic and stylish pocket knife that is super useful for quick harvests and odd jobs working outside.
9. Harvest Basket – Who doesn't love a big, beautiful harvest basket to collect bounty from the garden?
10. Muckster Garden Boots – I got my first pair of Muck Boots this year, and I'm a total convert. They are super comfortable, waterproof, and warm in the winter + cool in the summer. They have lots of different styles and colors to choose from!
11. Watering Wand – Not all watering nozzles are created equal, and this is one of the best for gently watering plants in your garden and/or tender seedlings in a greenhouse.
DONATE
If you aren’t looking to purchase any more physical items this holiday season, or are looking to donate to a great cause, here are some incredible options in the food + farming space: