I’ve recently learned that you don’t have to live on a farm to be a farmgirl. Farmgirl, they tell me, is a state of mind. I struggled with my gift list this year until I asked myself, “What would a farmgirl do?” It’s an odd question to ask myself since I am a farmer but it worked. I make most of the gifts I give for holidays. They’re usually tied into my farm in some way. There isn’t always an interest in or the time to make gifts though, so a backup plan is sometimes called for. And that’s when you can start feeling like you’ve hit the wall on ideas. It can be hard to find just the right gift no matter how many times you walk the mall or shop online. Here’s what I came up with while putting together this year’s gift list.
My favorite gift to make and give is a food basket. Neither the basket or its contents need to be fancy or expensive, but they do need to be of good quality. What did you grow this year and what can you do with it? Perhaps you have herbs that can be used to make a wreath or garland. When hung beside the stove, the cook pulls off the herbs needed for the dish and leaves the rest for next time. Imagine the wonderful scents released when this herbal gift is used! If you have extra apples this year you can turn them into jars of applesauce. You cut up your apples, add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pot, cover and simmer until the apples soften. Using a potato masher, mash the apples and simmer to remove excess juice. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the apples to remove the seeds and peels. Return the pulp to the pan and add sugar and seasonings to taste. Jar and hot water bath appropriately. It’s that simple!
Do you know crafty people who like to work with their hands? Paula Farrar of Done Roving Farm [2] puts together needle felting packages that are great for older kids and adults. She combines the needle, holder, fiber and instructions in one bag. She also teaches many classes based on fiber arts. You can visit her sheep, llamas, cattle and poultry while you’re there. I love the needle felted characters she has on display. They’re quirky and fun. I’m lucky enough to have been to this farm…many times. Crafts don’t have to be of the artsy type. Quaker Farm [3] offers Simple Living classes designed to teach people the basic skills of bread making, soap making, holistic cooking (which I think sounds very interesting) and more. In our fast-paced lives it’s good to occasionally slow down, knead a batch of bread and make an effort to return to these old timey crafts. There really is no comparison between real soap or homemade bread and what you find in grocery stores. Stream Cliff Herb Farm [4] offers herb classes for both children and adults. I wish I could attend “The Divas are Cookin' for Christmas Seminar!” I’m definitely not a diva in the kitchen and I could use some instruction on using more herbs. All of these farms not only provide a concrete object, they offer experiences that can be shared with the person you’ve given a gift.
Outdoor people appreciate warm clothing. Wool sweaters, warm boots, knit hats and heavy gloves or mittens make a farmer’s chores much more pleasant. There are people who aren’t able to wear commercially prepared wool because it causes them to itch. Many of these same people are able to comfortably wear wool raised by conscientious shepherds. The shepherds breed their sheep for excellent quality, carefully process the fiber and knit the finished yarn into warm clothing. The fiber quality and processing methods make for soft, warm clothing.
Locally made items are often appealing to both givers and receivers. Don’t you love farm-made cheeses, preserves and bread? Then there are the beautiful pieces potters make with their own hands. You might be surprised at how much is available in your area. Locally made gifts are appreciated by people who live nearby as well as those who don’t get to visit you often. You can search online for farms, gift shops, artisans and co-ops located in your area. The Yellow Pages might be helpful but if you live in a rural area, don’t count on finding much listed. The local feed store should be very helpful. They know who’s buying livestock feed and probably know which farms are making cheese, raising meat animals or have fiber flocks. They should also be able to tell you about farmers who grow and grind whole grain flours and offer value added products. They could be a good lead to all kinds of farm products. Check the store's bulletin board and talk with the folks who work there.
My mother made trays and platters and tins full of candy each year. There were small plates with a variety of candies made up and ready to go home with anyone who happened to drop by. Her favorite was Needhams.
Needhams Recipe
3/4 c cooked mashed potato
1/2 tsp salt
2 lbs of confectionery sugar
1 stick of margarine
1/2 lb of flaked coconut
2 tsp vanilla
Milk chocolate chips
Add all of the ingredients together in a double boiler. Mix until smooth and creamy. Pour this mixture into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Allow to cool completely. Cut into squares (a pizza cutter works well). Melt the milk chocolate chips in a double boiler. Dip the squares into the chocolate; set on waxed paper to harden.
My grandfather loved Needhams. Each year he ate an entire batch, until he asked Mum for the recipe. When he found out about the mashed potato in his candy he said he’d never eat them again! That was a tradition he wasn’t able to break. The next year he was right back into the Needhams.
Children can make great gifts in an afternoon. A wide picture frame can be decorated with pieces of pine, spruce and cedar cones or whole small cedar cones and a bottle of glue. Collect cones on a dry day and leave them in a dry area for a few days to finish opening. If the cones are quite wet or covered with pitch you can bake them on a cookie sheet in a 200° oven until the cones dry and open. I suggest using an old cookie sheet or covering it with parchment paper. Adding a hand drawn picture makes this gift even more valuable! Children can also paint and decorate terra cotta pots to which you add an amaryllis bulb. Looking for a quick ornament to give Nana? Roll some of those cones in glue (everyone’s already sticky with glue so you might as well make the best of it!), then in glitter, and let dry. Add a piece of jute, yarn or fishing line as a hanger and you’ve got a future family heirloom to hang on the tree.
Choosing gifts for children is usually quite simple. As a child what he or she wants for Christmas and the answer could a list a mile long. Remember the gifts you played with for hours when you were a kid? Lincoln Logs and Erector sets and Tinker Toys were big when I was a kid. They’re still available all these years later. Our imaginations ran wild with those toys. Couch potatoes can be cured with new bicycles, fishing poles, skateboards and rollerblades if you’re in a warm climate. Don’t forget safety equipment like helmets (have you seen how cool helmets are these days?) and knee and elbow pads. Got snow? Cross country skis, snowshoes, snow block makers and lots of extra warm mittens and gloves are a must. Kids want mittens on Christmas morning about as much as they want underwear. They’ll be thankful when all their other pairs are clumped with ice and snow.
There’s another group of people to consider when you put together your gift list. Are you wondering who wants a goat? What about a water buffalo? If those are too big you can choose from rabbits, ducks, geese and even honey bees. What? Who gives those things??? You can. You can shop through Heifer International for all of these creatures and more to help farming families. The cost of a gift includes help to get the birds, bees and animals off to a good start on their new farm. Volunteers will work with the new owners to teach them the proper care and feeding of these animals.