As we gather our lists for Christmas this year, we homesteading folks tend to add tools & supplies to our lists. It seems there’s always something that has worn out & needs replaced or maybe something new we’ve been wanting to try. So, today I’m talking about 5 things that have really helped out this homesteading wife.
- Cast Iron Cookware – I believe I’ve started a collection, but it’s easy to do once you start using cast iron. And I mean ALL SORTS of cast iron. I use my skillets every day, as I’m sure many of you do. I also have enameled dutch ovens that I use regularly for soups, artisan bread, roasts, etc. Here are a few examples:
- Instant Pot/Crockpot – Troy bought an Instant Pot for me for Christmas last year & I am getting more and more use out of it as I have been browsing recipes online. I cracked the inner pot of my crockpot, so the Instant Pot has even more responsibility. May even look into getting another…
- Canner – Canning is an excellent way to preserve many of the foods we produce on our homesteads, along with freezing, dehydrating & fermenting. Power outages can be common on our farm, so I like having less things stored in the freezer & more in our pantry. Currently, one of our favorite items for the canner is bone broth. We processed around 90 chickens this summer (some to sell & some to keep) & every time we cook one, we make chicken broth (weekly). Here’s our blog post about that.
4. Boots/Work Gloves – I think every homestead requires boots, but I know at our pig farm, we may even need waders! Seriously. Have you seen the mud here? Without boots, our daily routines would not even be possible. There are many good boots to choose from, but our experience with these have been great!
5. Cookbooks/Kitchen Accessories – And a final category to lump in some kitchen accessories… I am always interested in trying new recipes & have several people I follow online. I love new cookbooks, especially by cooks I trust. Our family has enjoyed many recipes by the Pioneer Woman, Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food, & so many more. Here are a few cookbooks & accessories on my list this year:
I hope these ideas are helpful for your gift giving this year. And ladies, please jump in with more ideas in the comments! My Christmas list may need a few more ideas.
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