Under $20 – The Ultimate Hand Picked List of Last Minute Gifts for Your Favorite Homesteader or Homemaker

I was asked by a reader to come up with another gift list for the blog, based on gifts that were low budget. My original post is here. While many of these items are under $20 there are plenty of other items I would love to have for my kitchen and garden under that price point. Here are just a few that I either have or made it onto my wish list.

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For the Kitchen –

• Artisan (2 pk.) Non-Stick Silicon Baking Mat Set. 16 5/8″ x 11″ These baking mats are handy for a number of different uses, not just making cookies. I have used them to make veggie and potato chips without using oil, beef jerky and a number of other things. They eliminate the need for baking spray and are a great way to get more use out of old baking sheets. I always have at least a couple of these on hand.
• OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop I learned about the versatile cookie scoop when I was working in the restaurant many years ago. I loved them then and still love them now. Not only are they great for uniform and fast cookies, but can be used for butter, sour cream and much more.
• Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline This one is a bit over $20 but it is on a steep discount right now, and is one tool that every homesteader should have. Mandolins are perfect for cutting uniform slices when canning or dehydrating and make short work out of slicing cabbage for sauerkraut. This is a great deal you wont find a good quality mandolin any cheaper.
• Progressive International Vegetable/French Fry Cutter A great way to turn all of those homegrown potatoes in to French fries. This is also on sale for the holiday season.
• Prepworks from Progressive LKS-06 Lettuce Keeper These really work and can help to extend the life of your salad greens considerable. If you have an overabundance of greens from the garden they can come in handy to extend their life, especially closer to the end of the season. They are also on sale, so you might consider grabbing a few.
• Polder 5429-05 18-Bottle Spice Rack I could have really used this set of spice jars when I dried herbs last year. I was forever putting my spices in plastic bags and they tended to get lost. These jars are not prefilled so they make the perfect set for someone who likes to grow and dry their own herbs.
• AcuRite 613 Indoor Humidity Monitor This is a brilliant idea for those who do a lot of cooking. In particular baking or dehydrating where humidity can affect the finished product. It is also great to put in greenhouses to help control humidity levels.
• Singer 1512 Beginners Sewing Kit, 130 pieces I threw this in here purely because we have a budding seamstress in our home, and this year for her 13th birthday we bought her a sewing machine and this set. This is a good deal, and would be great for anyone just learning how to sew.
• CDN DTQ450X ProAccurate Quick-Read Thermometer Every kitchen needs a good instant read thermometer. I chose this one for the list specifically because it can read up to 450 degrees F making it good for more than just meat.
• Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater I have tried for years to add one of these to my kitchen, but I never seem to get around to it. These are great for zesters but I always wanted one so I could fresh grate cinnamon and nutmeg.
• OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Pastry Scraper/Chopper This is an often overlooked but extremely handy tool for bakers. It is great for scraping dough off of the counters and there is nothing better for cutting and chopping dough as you are working with it. They can also be used for measuring in inches to divide dough and in a pinch to chop things like dried fruit and nuts to go into your dough.
• Misto Brushed Aluminum Olive Oil Sprayer I had one of these for years, and I loved it. This sprayer will save you money and make you feel a lot better about the spray you use to coat baking sheets because you will always know what is in it.

For The Garden

• Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy These are one of the smartest inventions ever made. I use 5 gallon buckets in my garden all the time, and these caddies are the perfect place to stash tools, seed packets, twine and any other items you need to take out to the garden with you.
• Panacea 15251 Canvas Log Tote, Black I personally hate carrying in firewood because I always end up with splinters even when I wear long sleeved shirts. I also have back problems and this handy tote makes it easier for me to lug in wood. I use two one for each side as it keeps the loads even and reduces the risk of injury.
• Fiskars 9920 Garden Multi-Snip with Sheath I don’t have these …. YET….. but I would certainly buy them given a chance. I love fiskar products for the home or the garden and these are multi purpose, meaning they will cut twine, paper and plastic, prune branches, and cut wire. That makes them extra handy in the garden and around the homestead. These are on a good sale right now.
• Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter For the husband or wife that loves to barbeque with charcoal. This chimney eliminates the need for starting fluid and gets rid of the taste of it from your food.
• Fiskars 7067 3-Piece Softouch Garden Tool Set I have had these tools for the past couple of years, they are comfortable to use, sturdy, and long lasting.
• Assortment of 12 Culinary Herb Seeds – Grow Cooking Herbs- Parsley, Thyme, Cilantro, Basil, Dill, Oregano, Sage, More Start an herb garden with this collection! If you know someone that is talking about starting an herb garden this seed collection is a great starting point. All of the most used and loved herbs in the kitchen ready to plant.
• Black & Decker BDCS40G 4-Volt Max Gyro Screwdriver A bit over the $20 limit, but every gardener and homesteader needs a few power tools in their shed. I used a drill, power screwdriver, and saw on a regular basis.
• Black & Decker Li2000 3.6-Volt 3 Position Rechargeable Screwdriver Again a few tools is never a bad thing.
• Aspects 407 Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder, 8-Ounce This hummingbird feeder is fun and unique. It hooks right to the window, so it can go on second story windows or is perfect for the urban homesteader stuck in an apartment.
• Hydrofarm CK64050 Germination Station with Heat Mat I had to include this one, despite being $30 because seed starting season is coming up, and if you have a chilly house this mat is invaluable to ensuring your seeds germinate.
• Unger 92134 36-Inch Nifty Nabber Pick-Up Tool with Aluminum Handle If you know anyone that has back problems, bad knees, or arthritis and loves to garden, this tool will make their whole year. It can be used to plant starts, place onion or flower bulbs, and pluck weeds without having to bend over or kneel. I had one for the last year of planting I did, it saved me a lot of pain from back problems later.
• Coleman 10×25 Binoculars In my opinion every homesteader/gardener should have a pair of these. I cannot count the times when I saw something in the sky up in the treeline that fascinated me, but needed a pair of binoculars to see. I have seen bats flying during the middle of the day, deer with their fawns, eagles and much more when hanging around in the garden.

That’s going to do it for this list, I hope you find at least one thing on the list that is perfect for your someone special or something you might like for yourself even! Don’t forget that I have another gift list, which includes among other things magazine subscriptions and other important tools for the homestead.