Homestead Mamas are just a little different than the rest. We aren’t pining away over jewelry. We don’t want lavish vacations or flashy handbags. In general, our hearts are tuned to the beat of our homes. To the piece of paradise we’ve created in our own backyards, however large or small they may be. We delight in the mundane daily tasks that will never gain us an employee of the month status, but that will create security and comfort to the lives within our four walls. We’re a different breed, and as such, we long for different things.
As I sat down to compile a list of all of the things that I would actually want for Mother’s Day, I noticed a trend. Practicality. I’m not discounting the joy of a gift that is not really needed, but wanted. But I do see that there is a common theme among all of the gifts listed here, and after speaking to my other homesteading friends, they agreed. For a woman who chooses daily to put her hands to the work of the home, and in this case, the farm and garden as well, a gift that might ease that load, or at least make it easier to manage, is greatly favored.
Time
I can guarantee that if you were to ask any mama, homesteading or otherwise, what they want for Mother’s Day, 99% of us would ask for quality time. It seems like that is so few and far between in our modern world. Even now that I get to be home with my kids full-time, I still feel the pull of the rat race. Between homeschooling, home tasks, creating content, farming, running multiple businesses, sports, and life in general, it can feel really hard to hit the pause button and just play. I know from talking to friends that I’m definitely not alone in feeling this, so maybe you can find a time to help Mama put all else on hold and carve out some intentional, quality time.
A few years ago I wrote a post about how we did just this very thing for my birthday. It doesn’t have to be a big trip, or an extravagant outing, it could be as simple as a quiet walk in the woods where the kids don’t ask for a snack for 20 solid minutes and no one complains about their shoes not feeling right.
A girl can dream.
Service
Now, if you’ve decided to give Mama some time, you’re gonna have to throw in some acts of service. Because while she’s enjoying her moment, those dishes aren’t going to wash themselves. I think one of the reasons it’s so hard for us mamas to relax is that we can’t think past the things that are waiting on our neverending to-do list. If I knew that some of that was taken care of, even just for the day, it would be much easier to unwind without that nagging feeling of not doing enough.
Now, this gift can be taken a step further. Why not tackle one of the projects on Mama’s list? Because I can guarantee you, she’s got a list. A homesteading Mama always has a project up her sleeve, and while we are pretty darn self-sufficient (like building our own raised bed garden), some projects might require a little extra help. For example, we recently revamped a livestock pen for our surprise baby goat (you can read that whole story here). We had to cut up a huuuge tree that had fallen on the fence, put in new posts, run a new section of fence, and build a new door….it was quite a job. I’m probably going to step on some toes when I say that yes, I am woman and I can do almost anything I set my mind to, but…I am not as strong as my husband. He can move things that I can’t, and some jobs just call for muscle. This was one of those jobs.
Next, I’m going to enlist his carpentry skills to help me build a milking stanchion for that goat, and a chicken tractor...he just doesn’t know it yet!
It doesn’t have to be a big muscle project though. Maybe Mama just wants to repaint the chipping front door, or weed the flower bed that she hasn’t had time to take care of, or organize her pantry. I bet you’d make her day if you jumped in and helped.
Homestead Kitchen
Homestead Pantry Staples
Speaking of the pantry, I guarantee you that Mama wants a well-stocked one!
If the mama in your life is taking any part in growing her own food, chances are she is focusing on cooking some meals from scratch too. This requires actual ingredients, not just pre-made food. Earlier this year, I shared a big post on how I stock and organize my pantry, with everything from my favorite staple items, to the system I used to keep it tidy.
Sticking with our theme of practical gifts, for Christmas I received a gift card to Azure Standard. This is my favorite company for purchasing bulk pantry items (and animal feed, plants, and supplements), and it was one of my favorite gifts because it was so useful! It might not sound fun and glamorous, but being able to bring high-quality ingredients into my kitchen is a top priority, and I have been so impressed with the items I’ve purchased from Azure. If you’d like to purchase a gift card for the special Mama in your life, you can click the link below and use code NEW10 to save 10% on purchases of $50 or more, or code NEW15 to save 15% on orders of $100 or more!
Another great gift idea would be a local CSA share. This stands for “community-supported agriculture” and is a wonderful way to support your local farmers. Typically, when you join a CSA, you get a weekly box of local produce, and sometimes meat. This is a great gift, even for the Mama who gardens, because the weekly box will often contain items that she may not grow on her own farm, or might help to fill in the gaps where her crops are a little behind, or weren’t successful for whatever reason. I think knowing that you have a big box of produce coming to your kitchen every week is exciting, and also gives a sense of food security. Plus, any chance we get to tighten up the supply chain and support our local farmers is a win, and the homesteading mama will appreciate that. Oh, and she can probably skip having to drag kids to the grocery store, so amen hallelujah to that.
If you’re local to me, our sweet friends at Henry River Farms are offering a CSA program this summer with their farm fresh produce and organically raised meat! Check them out below!
Now, since Mom has all these amazing items in her pantry, and produce in her fridge, she will probably want to do some canning and preserving. It can be a bit overwhelming when you have a ton of food coming in and need to put it up before it spoils. Fermenting is one of my favorite ways to preserve food. It’s shelf stable, you don’t have to heat up the canner, and it requires very few tools to get started.
I have been using my fermenting tools from Year of Plenty for several years and have been so impressed with their quality. This is a small, family-owned business. They operate their own homestead in Pennsylvania, and know just what we fellow farmers need to preserve our harvests.
Click below to shop Year of Plenty, and use code HOMEGROWN to save 10% on your order!
I’ve also gathered some of my favorite basic kitchen tools that I love and use every single day!
Lodge Cast Iron Set | Kitchen Compost Bin | Charcoal Compost Filters
Stoneware Bread Pan | Mortar & Pestle | Copper Measuring Cups
Gardening
Of course, chances are, if the homesteading mama isn’t in the kitchen, she can be found in her garden. I like to romanticize the garden, and it is a beautiful, bountiful gift. But as romantic as it is, it’s also a dang lot of work! The right tools help to lighten that load a bit.
I’ve compiled some of my favorite garden tools, for everything from soil prep to harvesting. Each thing here is something I’ve used and loved, and I’m sure the gardening mama in your life will too.
Broadfork | Stirrup Hoe | Rain Barrel
Utility Cart | Harvest Basket | Grow Bags
Natural Skincare
Now, after Mama has worked in the garden all day long, she’s gonna want to take care of her skin. Of course, not just any old moisturizer will do, the homesteading mama needs all-natural, clean ingredients. There are numerous “natural” skincare options on the market now, but you still have to pay pretty close attention to the ingredients. I’ve tried a lotttt of different options over the years, and have finally landed on a handful of products that have done wonders for my skin. These are some of my tried and true favorites.
Frankincense Tallow Balm | Charcoal Face Bar | Glow Serum
Long Lash Mascara | Tinted Lip Balm | Liquid Foundation
Books
One thing that I’ve found to be true of most mothers, is that we are constantly learning. Children tend to keep you on your toes and force personal growth. For the homesteading mama, that hunger for learning and growth seems to be intensified. Finding the time to actually sit down and read can be challenging, but when I do, these are some of my favorite books.
Welcome to the Farm | Seasons at the Farm | Savor
The Meateater | The Layered Garden | The Tiny But Mighty Farm
The Beekeeper’s Bible | Mom Heart Moments | The Call of the Wild and Free
Real Learning Revisited | The Valley of Vision | Southeast Foraging
I hope this has been helpful in your search for the perfect way to make the homesteading mama in your life feel appreciated and loved!
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