Christmas is such a special time of year on the farm. Things seem to slow down as compared to the busy growing seasons. I will say, though, that every single year I’m caught feeling behind with the gift buying.

We work hard to source fun experiences and outdoor adventures over the latest electronic gadgets but please know, our kids are asking for the same things yours are! We just try hard to keep them outside! 

Reading back through last year’s list, I stand by those gifts, and you may see some familiar items here but they are just too good to forget about.

 You should also know that we are not sponsored in any way (dang it) and we get absolutely nothing from these recommendations other than knowing that we may have helped make your gifting a little bit easier. 

For Him

We will start with the man in your life. John never asks for anything and I’m not sure if that’s what makes it hard to shop for him. This is how you end up with socks and underwear in your stocking! But here are a few he will be unwrapping this year.

Evridge Farms Steak Box- Lots of time at the Farmer’s Market has led me to believe that men love a great ribeye or porterhouse steak. The thicker the better. We have a few different options and price points and I’m sure your father, husband, in-laws would love a great steak. If you aren’t sure, the gift card is great. It really is the perfect gift for the hard to shop for guy.  

Wireless Meat Probe - For the man who is into grilling and all things smoked, we love the ThermaPro Meat Probe. There are several options that are popular this year for a wireless meat probe but this one is a little more affordable and we trust the brand.

Duluth underwear and socks - John would never spend extra money on great underwear and socks so it makes these a great gift. They were included in our gift guide last year but he loves them so they made the cut again.

Moore Maker Knives - Every man needs a great pocket knife. John has had several of these but I love them for boys of all ages. They come in all colors and materials and come from Matador, Texas- a farming and ranching community- with lots of experience in making the best work tools. They seem to stay sold out of lots of knives on the website but I easily found them through several online vendors..one being Big Bend Saddlery. I could find lots of treasures there!

Good binoculars - We use these all of the time for hiking, kayaking, and working on the farm. It’s amazing how often we need them! I love a compact pair and case and this one is half off on Amazon right now! These are great for your outdoorsman.

Jerky & Snack Sticks - Who doesn’t love a snack? We have a fun variety of flavors and these make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Perfect for your holiday travel.

For Her 

Cocktail Farm Club Membership- Simple Goodness sisters are farm living sisters that make cocktail mixers out of herbs, flowers, and fruit- many that they grow on the Simple Goodness Farm. Members receive a box every other month and it includes garnishes, syrups, and recipe cards to make a variety of cocktails or mocktails. It’s like our farm club but for cocktails! If you aren’t up for the recurring subscription, some flavors we like are Apple Pie and Berry Sage. Check out the membership!

Weekend Getaway - This year has brought so much adventure for us and we are still huge supporters of any spot on Explore Ranches pages. They are all so unique and lovely. The closest to us, the Chandler Ranch, is heaven on Earth and comes with a chef for your stay and all kinds of excitement from hiking to kayaking or fishing. A favorite of mine this year was a weekend trip to Basecamp Terlingua with a stay in the tipis or bubbles (don’t worry, there is a coffeemaker) and a soak in the hot springs at Big Bend. It was one of the best weekends of the year.

Good pajamas - I recently ordered a pair of these pajama pants from Pact. They are so comfy I could live in them. They are very light, so if you are planning for colder weather, go for the flannel. Pact uses all sustainable and organic cotton.

Heirloom linens - I’ve said this one before, but I covet nice sheets like Grandma would have had. We have Redland Cotton sheets on every bed in this house. They have that weighty, ageless texture and I’m obviously obsessed with them. They are a little pricey, admittedly, but they are milled from US grown cotton in the US. That’s not easy to find anymore! Totally worth it.

Cast Iron Cookware - A good, seasoned cast iron is a must have in any kitchen. Last year, I got a pan by Smithey Ironware and this year, their large dutch oven in on my list. I use a dutch oven all of the time and my enameled ones have all started to chip into the food. That’s not gonna work! I’m really looking forward to it. These are also heirloom quality and can be engraved with her name or initials. What a great gift!

Unique Jewelry- We absolutely love the pieces that come out of Lola & Tae- a handmade jewelry maker based in West Texas. She is always on trend and has something at every price point. You could definitely impress your wife, daughter, and mother in one website visit! It’s great stuff. My other go to is turquoise. You can’t go wrong with Heritage Style if the women in your life are turquoise girls.

For Kids

Carhartt bags - The guys got these for Christmas last year and they are surprisingly roomy. You could have them personalized at your local embroidery shop. They are so nice and heavy duty, I steal them all of the time when we are just leaving town for the weekend. They have just been perfect.

Outdoor games - Like all of you, we want to encourage as much outdoor fun as we can for our kids (and ourselves). We’ve always played capture the flag but sometimes, the rules can be a little fluid. This set glows in the dark and marks a clear boundary so you always know when you cross into enemy territory. We also love kickball and bocce ball. We’ve recently started trying to play spikeball. We all need more practice but that makes it more fun. Finally, a favorite when we have other kids over is laser tag with these guns. It keeps everyone running and giggling for hours.

Camping Tent - We’ve used these in the living room, yard and on actual camping trips. The guys will set them up and hang out when they have friends over. The pop-up types are so easy and there aren’t a bunch of parts to lose. I will say, I’m not the best at folding them but the rest of the family is able after watching some You Tube videos on it.

Pottery Classes - We have a young artist in the family and, honestly, we spend so much time working on athletics in our family and community that it feels important to refocus and spend time doing other things that we love, also.  He truly his gifted and enjoys it so it will be so much fun for him to relax and learn about clay and pottery. There are a couple of options in our area but we are signing up for ArtQuest classes. I’d love to do this with a couple of girlfriends, too.

Soldering Kit - Hear me out. Last year we told you about our leatherworking kit. It was a really fun, artsy type project and the kids love it. I heard back from some of you that your grandkids loved learning and stamping designs. Well, this year we are learning to solder. I had no idea this was even out there until my dad sent the boys a kit and an electronic soldering iron. It is so cool and teaches them about electronic circuits and is a great little intro to welding. It’s a very cool STEM project that also build fine motor skills. You will need a little handheld soldering iron like this one and any one of these kits. We came across some that are Christmas trees with lights, cubes and towers. Very cool!

3D Pen- Our kids have been through a few of these and are still loving them. They can make all kinds of fun projects and these are pretty affordable.

We hope this holiday season brings lots of joy to you and yours and that this list makes your gifting a little better. Merry Christmas!