This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. My skin is dry all year long, and in the winter, it seems like dryness is unavoidable. But I don’t like slathering on tons of chemical-laden lotions from the store since I know those chemicals will penetrate my skin right along with the moisturizing ingredients. I prefer to use something more natural and choose nontoxic, food-grade ingredients when possible—like the following ingredients in my sugar scrub recipes for dry skin. Sugar options Body scrub exfoliates your skin, leaving it glowing and feeling silky smooth. I use regular granulated sugar in my scrubs, but you can try using brown sugar, organic cane sugar, or turbinado sugar if you like. (I find turbinado to be too coarse for my skin in general, but it’s great for a foot scrub.) Oil choices The oils in bath scrubs moisturize your body, trapping extra moisture from the shower or bath and locking it in place. I use olive, coconut, and almond oil in my bath scrubs. Sometimes, I’ll add a little shea butter or cocoa butter for an extra luxurious scrub. Here’s a comparison of common oils to help you get started. You may already have one or more of these in your kitchen! Apricot oil: Apricot kernel oil is great for sensitive or mature skin and contains high levels of vitamin A. Coconut oil: Coconut oil has antiviral and antibacterial properties due to its lauric acid content. Use it to moisturize and condition dry skin. Jojoba oil: Commonly used in hair care products, jojoba oil absorbs quickly and is non-greasy; it’s actually a liquid wax. Olive oil: Olive oil is a humectant (it draws moisture into the skin) that penetrates deeply into the skin’s layers. According to The Olive Oil Source, “Olive Oil contains the largest percentage of squalene among the common vegetable oils.” Squalene occurs naturally in human sebum—a natural lubricant. Sweet almond oil: Sweet almond oil helps skin maintain elasticity and improves skin tone. It is high in vitamins E and K and is reported to be a natural UV blocker. Essential oils and blends If you add essential oils to your sugar scrub, you can have a wonderful aromatherapy experience in your shower or bath. I recommend going light on the essential oils at first unless you already know that they won’t irritate your skin. Essential oils vary in strength depending on the brand, how the essential oil was extracted, and how long it has been sitting on the shelf. You can adjust the recommended number of essential oil drops if needed. Here are some of my favorite stress-reducing essential oil blends. Eucalyptus and spearmint Bath & Body Works nailed this combination when they created their Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint body care line. I love the bright notes of spearmint, which I find less irritating to my sensitive skin than peppermint essential oil. Lavender Lavender is possibly the most commonly used essential oil for stress relief and the first that comes to mind when we think of a relaxing scent. Try combining it with sweet orange for a citrusy note or vanilla for a sweet, earthy scent. Sandalwood and clary sage Clary sage has an earthy, herbaceous fragrance that compliments the warm notes of sandalwood. Bergamot and lime Bergamot has a fruity, sweet, uplifting fragrance that pairs well with the refreshing citrus aroma of lime. Color me relaxed What can you use to add a hint of color to your sugar scrub? To keep your creation natural, add small amounts of powdered herbs and flowers, beetroot powder, matcha green tea, or mica. Start with ¼–½ teaspoon and add more as desired. Some ingredients, like dried hibiscus petals or freeze-dried blueberries, can be ground to a powder in a mortar and pestle. These ingredients will add flecks of color to your scrub blend instead of turning the whole mixture into another shade. The recipes Now that we have the ingredients out of the way, let’s move on to the recipes! Feel free to experiment with different oil combinations, sugars, and your own favorite essential oil blends. You don’t need to add a preservative since we aren’t using water or water-containing ingredients. For all of the recipes, you’ll need a mixing bowl, mixing spoon, and jars with lids to package your finished scrub. These recipes are for small batches, but you can double or triple the recipe to upsize it for gift-giving or to use as party favors. Basic sugar scrub recipe This unscented sugar scrub uses two food-grade ingredients: oil and sugar. Now, I’m not suggesting that you eat this sugar scrub—but isn’t it nice knowing that it’s safe enough to be edible? 1 cup granulated sugar ¼ cup olive oil or coconut oil If you choose coconut oil, you may need to soften it to mix it with a spoon. If your house is warm or you’re using fractionated coconut oil, go ahead and stir away! Combine both ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well to blend, and scoop into a small jar. Cap it with a lid, and store at room temperature for up to one month. Note: If your mixture is too dry, add a little more oil. If it’s too wet, add a little more sugar. Easy 3-ingredient body scrub with essential oil This simple bath scrub only requires three ingredients. Change up the essential oils to customize the fragrance to fit your mood. ¾ cup coconut oil 3 cups sugar 15 drops essential oil or a total of 15 drops essential oil blend (I used 8 drops spearmint and 7 drops eucalyptus.) Soften the coconut oil just enough to make it easy to stir with a spoon or whip with a hand blender. Combine the coconut oil, sugar, and essential oil. Blend well, and spoon into small jars. Top with a lid, and store at room temperature for up to one month. Simply luxurious sugar scrub Get ready to indulge your senses in this soothing lavender scrub! This shea butter sugar scrub is sure to give you a mini spa experience at home. Shea butter contains several fatty acids—linoleic, palmitic, oleic, and stearic—and acts as an emollient, hydrating and softening dry skin. ⅛ cup shea butter ⅛ cup sweet almond oil ¼ cup coconut oil 2 cups sugar 10 drops lavender essential oil or your choice of another fragrance One vitamin E capsule (break open and squeeze) Natural colorant Gently warm the shea butter, almond oil, and coconut oil over low heat until they just begin to melt. Remove them from the heat as soon as you notice a melting effect; stir well to continue the melting process and thoroughly blend the oils. Allow the oils to cool to room temperature before adding the sugar, vitamin E oil, essential oil, and colorant. Add just enough colorant to bring the mixture to the desired shade (I used ½ teaspoon of powdered hibiscus blossoms to add dark pink flecks to my lavender-scented sugar scrub.) Spoon the mixture into small jars, top with a snug-fitting lid, and store at room temperature for up to one month. Get creative Although I like to use white sugar (it’s cheap!) in my body scrub recipe, you can substitute sea salt if you prefer. Use what you have readily available—there’s no need to spend money or go hunting for exotic ingredients unless that’s what makes you happy. If you use finely ground sugar or sea salt, you can leave out the essential oils and use these recipes for an amazing lip scrub or facial exfoliant, too! Want more stress-relieving bath suggestions? Check out these bubble bath ideas to wash your worries away!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. I love the smell of warm cookies. A cup of hot tea is equally inviting. And if either of those is made with something that can soothe and balance my nervous system—I’m all in! Oats were a breakfast staple in my childhood home. On school days, oatmeal came from a sugary packet, dumped into a bowl with a little hot water added to turn it into an instant excuse for breakfast before I ran down our quarter-mile dirt road to the bus stop. Nowadays, I prefer my oats cooked slowly and topped with fruit or baked into heavenly oat bran muffins. Rolled oats Oats are a perfect example of a wonderfully warm and soothing nervine food (although some may consider it a nervine herb when made into an infusion or tincture). You can bake them into bread or cookies, make overnight oats for a quick breakfast pick-me-up, or mix them with dried fruits and honey to create your signature granola. Nervines are foods or herbs that affect the nervous system. Nervine tonics nourish and support, reducing stress and bringing calm and focus into your life. In contrast, nervine stimulants excite, and nervine sedatives suppress the nervous system. Herbal folklore claims that oats may help your nervous system recover from anxiety and nervous exhaustion. But their delightful nutty flavor and versatility are enough to keep me coming back for more. Milky oat tops and oat straw Although most of us are familiar with rolled oats, the unripe tops have the strongest tonic effect. The milky green tops of the common oat plant (before the grain is fully ripened and ready for your breakfast bowl) are referred to as “milky oats” or “milky oat tops.” The stems that are harvested during the same stage are known as “oat straw.” Oat straw and milky oats are highly regarded as nervine tonics in the herbal world. If you’ve never tried a cup of oat straw tea, you might want to give it a sip. The light, mellow flavor is sure to please. (I like to add a swirl of honey.) If you’re not a fan of hot teas, you can drink it iced or add a few drops of milky oat tincture to your favorite beverage to reap the benefits without ever heating the kettle. But oats aren’t only good for us on the inside. Externally, an oatmeal bath can help relieve itchy, dry skin. If you’re the creative type, give the following recipe a try. Just remember to use old-fashioned oats—not the quick kind—for the best results. How to make an oatmeal bath What you’ll need 1 cup old-fashioned oats Blender Optional ingredients (do not use with infants or young children without the advice of a doctor or herbalist): a few drops of lavender essential oil and ¼ cup Epsom salt Put the oats into a blender with a snug-fitting lid. Pulse to blend into a fine powder. If you add optional ingredients, pour the oats into a bowl, and then stir in the essential oil and Epsom salt. (Don’t add these to the blender! You don’t want all of your future smoothies to taste like an essential oil.) Store the mixture in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. To use, pour half the mixture into a warm bath and swirl the water to dissolve the powder. Homemade granola recipe If you're more inclined to enjoy your oats from the inside out, try this simple granola recipe. It only takes 30 minutes in the oven, and you can swap out the nuts and dried fruit for your favorites! Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Ingredients 4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit 1/2 cup sliced almonds or chopped nuts 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds 1 tsp. Ceylon cinnamon 1/2 cup melted coconut oil 1/2 cup real maple syrup Combine all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Slowly pour in the melted coconut oil and maple syrup, and stir well to make sure all of the dry ingredients are coated. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet or in a jelly roll pan. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. After the 30 minutes are up, remove the baking sheet and give the granola one more stir. Allow it to cool on the baking sheet. Store in a clean 2-quart glass jar or another airtight container. Enjoy! Want more bath ideas? Click here for 15 stress-relieving bubble bath ideas.

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. I once lived in a home where the only cooking options were a small, electric, single-burner element in the kitchen and a barbeque grill outside. During the year that I lived there, I learned two things about cooking. 1. I missed modern conveniences—especially a large oven. 2. You can cook just about anything with the tools I had at hand: a single burner and a barbecue grill with a closing lid. If you spend any time off grid, you know cooking is both a convenience and a necessity (and one of the essential off grid skills). Tasks we take for granted—like boiling water to make a cup of coffee—quickly become noticeably more challenging if you aren’t prepared with an alternative. You can only eat just so many sandwiches and raw veggies before you start wishing you could have a hot meal. Or biscuits. Or a baked dessert. Whether your off-grid experience is limited to camping trips and weekend cabin getaways, or you are setting up your off-grid home, the following suggestions will give you a starting point for whipping up your favorite gourmet meal. I’m not including a discussion of tea light stoves or other emergency, small-scale cooking methods in this article (like a rocket stove or backpack camp stove). Instead, let’s focus on long-term cooking equipment that you can use on a daily basis in your outdoor kitchen. Baking outdoors How do you bake in a grill or over a fire pit? That’s exactly what I had to discover for myself back in the days before everyone had the internet in their homes. I certainly didn’t have any books that explained how to do it, and since Google wasn’t a thing yet, I couldn’t just hop online and search for outdoor off grid cooking methods. As it turns out, baking outdoors isn’t that difficult. It does, however, require patience and attentiveness. Until you master the art of baking outdoors, you can’t just set a timer and expect your baked goods to come out the way you want them to. To bake outdoors, you’ll need to trap the heat and try to keep it low and even around your baked goods. Some outdoor cooking methods are easier to do this with than others. Grill: Does your grill have a temperature gauge or temperature control? If so, this will make your life a little easier because you won’t have to open the grill every time you want to check the heat. Bake with the lid closed using a low flame on a gas grill or glowing coals (but no flame!) on a charcoal grill. Smoker: Use light wood or fruitwood, so your baked goods don’t take on a heavy, smokey flavor. Since you’ll be baking at a lower temperature, your food will take longer to bake than it would in a conventional oven. Fire pit: You’ve probably heard of Dutch oven cooking. A wood fire pit is a perfect way to put that method into action. You’ll need to let your wood burn down to coals, put your prepared ingredients into a cast iron Dutch oven, and then pile the coals around and on top of the Dutch oven lid. Some pros recommend heating the Dutch oven lid separately (put it on a grate and pile coals on top of it) while you are still putting the ingredients in the pot. Then use ashes with very few coals underneath the Dutch oven, and pile glowing coals around the sides and on top once you lower it into the fire pit. Solar oven: You can bake in a solar oven with little to no risk of burning your baked goods. Just be prepared to combine your ingredients in the morning and let your recipe bake most of the day in the sun. Tip: smaller baked goods will bake faster and more evenly than larger baked goods. Think cupcakes vs. sheet cake or mini loaves vs. a standard-size loaf of bread. Outdoor cooking methods Solar ovens Arguably the most environmentally friendly source of heat is the sun. Solar ovens and solar cookers leverage this free resource to cook food and boil water. Solar ovens can be as simple as a DIY project you make at home or as elaborate as the GoSun Fusion hybrid model that uses both the sun and electricity to generate enough heat to cook a meal for four people. The pros to using solar power are that the energy is free and eco-friendly, you won’t burn your food, and no electricity or gas is required (unless you are using a hybrid model). Since the source of heat is the sun, no toxic waste is generated. Solar ovens are also portable—a feature that allows you to take them with you to show off your off-grid cooking expertise at outdoor picnics and potlucks. (Click here to watch me bake chocolate cupcakes in my GoSun solar oven!) The cons to using a solar cooker are that, well … you need sunlight. This means cooking at night and on cloudy days requires an alternate source of heat. Few solar ovens can gather enough sunlight to warm up to the necessary temperature for preparing meats or boiling water when clouds hide the sun. And unless you have a hybrid model with a power source at night, you are limited to cooking only during daylight hours. Solar dehydrator Solar dehydrators also use the sun, but instead of generating high enough heat to cook food items, they use slow, gentle heat to dry out foods and preserve them. This is an amazing way to make your summer harvest last into winter or preserve meat by turning it into tasty strips of jerky. Since the dehydration process takes hours, using a solar dehydrator outside not only reduces power consumption—it doesn’t heat up your kitchen from blowing hot air around all day. If you’re a raw food fan, you may be familiar with dehydrated raw crackers and bread. A solar dehydrator will allow you to make these foods without adding to your utility bill. The main con to using a solar dehydrator is the requirement for sunlight. The extended drying time requirement can make a solar dehydrator impractical during the winter and in far northern states. Barbeque grills and smokers Charcoal and propane grills, wood pellet grills, and smokers are reliable heat sources for cooking food as long as you have fuel available. They can be used whether or not the sun is shining. Fuel costs—and the space you need to store it—should be considered before choosing which type of barbeque or smoker you’d like to purchase. Although charcoal barbeque grills are less expensive to purchase up front than gas grills or wood pellet grills, the cost of purchasing charcoal for fuel can outweigh the initial savings over time. Charcoal takes longer to heat up than gas, which is instantly hot depending on how high you adjust the flame. You will also have more cleanup with a charcoal grill than with gas because charcoal will leave ash for you to dispose of. A gas grill cannot match the rich, smoky flavor that charcoal imparts to food unless you add wood chips specifically designed for this purpose. If you cook a lot of vegetables or foods that you don’t want to taste smoky, a gas grill will give you a smokeless option. Wood pellet grills let you get that smoky flavor with a nice, even heat and without the excess smoke created by charcoal. The type of wood pellets you use (mesquite, hickory, cherry) will influence the flavor the smoke imparts. Pellet grills have a more precise temperature control than charcoal or gas, too. But what if you plan to use your grill the way I used mine back in the day—for baking? In this case, a gas grill may be your top choice. With few exceptions, you won’t want your baked goods tasting like smoke, and a gas grill will give you the ability to gently bake food over a low flame without the smoky aftertaste. Smokers slowly cook meat, poultry, and fish with indirect heat from the smoke instead of direct heat like you’d get from a grill. If you use a light wood (like apple), you can bake in a pellet smoker or wood chip smoker, too. Electric smokers might give you more options for baking, but you’ll have to decide if you want to use your stored solar power to heat a smoker for a pumpkin pie. Fire pit Fire pits can be as simple as a hole dug into the ground and properly stacked with wood for fuel or as elaborate as a steel, smokeless fire pit. Anything that can be cooked over a grill can be cooked over a fire pit. And if you have a lid for your fire pit, you can slow-cook meat overnight or bake simple recipes over low heat. Propane stove A small propane stove is highly portable and cooks with a visible flame. If your propane grill doesn’t have a side burner, I recommend getting a single- or double-burner propane stove to use outside so you can boil water and make stews and soups. Some propane camp stoves, such as the Camp Chef, have accessories that expand their use for all of your cooking purposes. We have a two-burner Camp Chef stove that we use for everything from canning with my All American pressure canner to baking with our Coleman Camp Oven. In conclusion The things you can cook without being connected to the electric grid are endless. As long as you have some type of fuel source—fire, the sun, wood pellets, or charcoal—and a vessel to cook in, you can make delicious meals, baked goods, desserts, and even your morning cup of coffee or tea. If you would like to explore indoor off-grid cooking methods (like vintage cast iron stoves and wood stoves), check out the post I wrote just for you!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. In an earlier post, we covered outdoor off grid cooking methods. But there are certain times cooking outdoors isn’t practical—like during adverse weather, for example. In this article, we’ll discuss several options for cooking indoors when you aren’t connected to the electricity grid. My great-grandmother, Emma, used to cook on an old-fashioned wood stove. Every evening, after milking the cows, she’d put a jar of fresh milk on the back of the stove (which stayed warm with gentle heat overnight), so she could have clabbered milk for breakfast. I’ve always wished for a wood stove like the one Emma had. As I began researching them a few years ago, I discovered more kinds of wood stoves, kerosene stoves, and cast iron stoves and ovens than I had ever imagined. Each has its pros and cons, from price to size to practicality. One important side note: make sure you have adequate ventilation for your chosen indoor cooking method. You don’t want smoke or carbon monoxide to build up in your home. To ensure you’re staying safe around gas appliances, install a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector as a warning system. Indoor cooking methods Last year, our power went out for several hours after dark—right when I was putting pies in the oven. Since we were connected to the grid, I had to scramble for a way to finish baking the pies without electricity, and I was able to use my knowledge of baking in a propane grill to finish the job. Still, an indoor option would have been preferable to cooking outside with a battery-operated lantern as my only light source (and a swarm of bugs that were drawn to the light!). Propane The first off grid kitchen cooking appliance most people think of is a propane stove. Modern propane stoves have fuel stored outdoors in a rented (or owned) propane tank. In many rural areas, you can rent a large propane tank from a propane company, and they will refill it every month. The same propane tank can feed a propane refrigerator and tankless water heater, too. Check with your local propane dealer to find home propane delivery options near you. Keep in mind that propane stoves and ovens need an ignition source. Often, this requires electricity, but there are also battery ignition systems. If you would like to use a propane range off-grid, make sure you get the ignition system that works best for you. You’ll want to choose a battery ignition unless you have a reliable solar or alternative power setup. Kerosene A kerosene stove may seem like something from yesteryear, but they are still available today, albeit harder to find than propane models. Lehman’s sells an Amish-made kerosene stove that lights with a match—the Perfection Two-Burner Cookstove. Kerosene is a fairly clean-burning fuel with low carbon monoxide emissions. Kerosene stoves are typically smaller than propane stoves or a full-size wood-burning stove/oven combo. Wood-burning stove A wood stove is a practical cooking appliance if you live in an area with plenty of timber. Wood stoves do not depend on electricity, and wood is a renewable resource when ethically harvested. You’ll need to find a dual-purpose wood stove if you want one for cooking meals and heating your home. Some models have a third benefit as a water heater. These come with a tank attached to the side or sitting on top toward the back. The Kitchen Queen 480 is one example that can be used for all three purposes. Check manufacturer details to determine whether your chosen model can be plumbed into your home’s hot water delivery system. Dual-purpose stoves that can be used for cooking and home heating are typically made from cast iron and can be extremely large and heavy. The Magnum Soapstone Wood Cookstove is on the smaller side at 33.5”H x 23.7”D x 37.4”W and weighs approximately 441 pounds. The Pioneer Princess, which has an optional 9-gallon reservoir, is at the larger end of the scale and comes in at a whopping 600 pounds (650 with the reservoir)! Off-grid electricity: solar and wind You have additional options for your off-grid kitchen if you can generate electricity through a solar panel array, wind turbine, or hydroelectric system. You’ll use less electricity to run a gas stove than an electric range—but you’ll still use more with an electric ignition than you would with a non-electric version. Butane stove YouTube chefs have turned single-burner butane stoves into a trendy kitchen accessory. Whereas propane camp stoves should only be used outdoors, butane stoves can be used indoors with proper ventilation. Butane canisters are only functional in mild temperatures. If you’re using a butane burner indoors, extreme temperature fluctuations shouldn’t be an issue. Thermal cooker I’m including thermal cookers as an indoor off-grid option simply because they continue to slow-cook your food once you’ve removed the initial heat source. A thermal cooker traps heat and maintains enough warmth to continue cooking for hours (I love mine, and it holds just the right amount of food for easy transport). If you prepare your recipe midday, the heat will slowly dissipate throughout the afternoon—providing you with a hot meal at dinnertime without heating your house or wasting precious fuel. You’ll need to bring your food to a boil before placing it in the thermal cooker. Soups, stews, and meats or vegetables in sauces are well-suited to thermal cooking. Other cooking gear and food storage Maintaining heat is important while cooking off the grid. Using cast iron pans or a Dutch oven will help hold heat and keep food cooking with less fuel. Although this isn’t exactly gear, if you have a root cellar in your off-grid home, you can store canned and fermented foods (and long-lasting garden fruits and vegetables) at cool temperatures for extended periods of time. Being able to cook food in large batches and preserve it for later use is important in an off-grid environment. The less fuel you have to use over multiple cooking sessions, the better. Wrapping it up Living off the grid has many benefits, and you shouldn’t have to go without modern conveniences in exchange for living a sustainable lifestyle. By creating an off-the-grid kitchen and using fuel-efficient appliances, you can cook and bake all year long without worrying about the power grid going down. If you’re interested in learning more essential off-grid skills, check out this post!

Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. When I go to a party at someone’s house, the first thing I do is look for the dog. The introvert in me gets nervous when I meet new people, but making friends with the family dog brings me right out of my shell. Even a party with people I already know makes me a little tense. I like to be doing something—actively participating—so it’s not unusual to find me helping out in the kitchen or finding some other way to distract myself (like playing with the dog!). And it helps the party’s host if they know they can count on me to chip in with a little elbow grease. Hosting a party doesn’t have to be stressful—but frequently, it is. If you love parties but procrastinate planning because you want to avoid the stress, you’ll love our stress-free party planning ideas. Your party might not be completely stress free, but you’ll have less stress knowing you have everything covered! Check out these tips (and a printable checklist) for hosting a spooktacular Halloween party for dogs and people alike! Photo by mark glancy from Pexels Why host a dog Halloween party? Parties are a fun way to socialize with friends and meet new people. Halloween gives us a chance to step out of our comfort zone and share something about ourselves by dressing up as someone or something that appeals to us. By adding our furry friends into the mix, we can give everyone a chance to show off their little buddy in an adorable Halloween costume—an instant ice breaker. And for people like me who always look for the dog to pet (it’s such a helpful way to de-stress), a dog party is a dream come true! “Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).” ~ HopkinsMedicine.org You can find dog Halloween costumes at places like Party City or online at Amazon, or you can make a unique DIY pet costume. What am I forgetting? One of the reasons party planning is so stressful is because we are afraid we might forget something. Did we remember to pick up ice? Will the food be ready in time? Did everyone RSVP, and if not, have we double-checked with them to see if they’ll be able to join in the fun? I’m a list maker, so I’ve put together a stress-reducing party planning checklist so you can check off each item when it’s complete. There’s even a little “notes” section you can customize with personal party details. Use this list to reduce stress by checking off the suggestions one by one. One month before the party About a month before the party, you’ll want to choose a location and pick a date and time. (Having it at your home or a friend’s house is usually more convenient than renting a venue.) Make sure the location is dog-friendly and has easily accessible places for them to potty. You’ll also want to plan an area for timid or tired dogs to take a break. If you don’t have a separate place in the house or two different fenced areas, you can set up an exercise pen to create a safe barrier where dogs can still watch without feeling the pressure to play. An exercise pen is also a great idea if your doggie guests have a large difference in size (put the tiny dogs in the pen) or age (separate the puppies from the senior dogs if anyone gets grumpy). You should also set a budget, create your guest list, and think of some helpers who can assist with planning, getting the house ready, and cleaning up after the Halloween party. Three weeks before the party Now it’s time to send out invitations and plan your menu. Are you having a themed party? (Think scary Halloween with scary snacks or a fairytale party with food fit for royalty.) Make sure all menu items are safe for your dog guests as well as yummy for people. Face it—stuff gets dropped, and you don’t want tummy aches to be what your party is remembered for. And if planning a full menu isn’t your style, you can just plan light refreshments and snacks—or assign menu items to guests for a potluck buffet. On your invitations, include any additional info you think would help keep the event safe and relaxed for everyone: dog guests should have up-to-date vaccinations and be in good health; if children are attending, make sure their parents know they’ll need to chaperone; aggressive dogs should be left at home or participate with their pet parent via video (i.e., virtual Halloween party). Pick up decorations and tableware that go with your theme, and make a list of party favors and treat-bag fillers. If you need to order any of this online, now is the time to place those orders. Are you going to have a dog costume parade? What about prizes for best dog costume, best dog and person costume combo, silliest or most elaborate costume, etc.? Pick up prizes or get them ordered so you’ll have them in time for the big day. Two weeks before the party Ready for another shopping trip? When you go out to run errands this week, remember to pick up party favors, treat bags and fillers, and any nonperishable food items. You may also want to buy a stash of poop bags to have on hand for owners to clean up after their furry friends. It’s also time to plan your menu—and your cooking timeline if you plan on making any of the Halloween treats yourself. If you’re ordering from a bakery, get those orders placed. You should also plan the Halloween games and activities and decide what you’d like to set up for a photo area (like the photo prop in the image below—click to purchase!). Buy or make props and supplies if needed. If you’re making keepsakes (instant photos or clay paw prints), pick up what you’ll need so you won’t have to worry about it at the last minute. One week before the party The Halloween festivities are getting close! Check in with guests who haven’t RSVP’d and make sure you have everything you need for games and activities. During this same week—a few days before the party—make sure to check your camera batteries and memory card. You can also buy some perishable ingredients a few days ahead of time and get started with items that can be cooked ahead (cakes and cookies can be frozen and then frosted and thawed the day before the party, for example). One day before the party Time to decorate! Have your helpers come over to assist with putting up the Halloween decorations and tidying up the bathroom and kitchen. Set up the exercise pen and put out a community water bowl. Put the poop bags in a cute bowl or basket near the designated potty area, and remember to place a trash can nearby for pet parents to dispose of waste. You can also cook any make-ahead items, chill the drinks, and pick up last-minute groceries and ice. Go through the checklist one more time to make sure you have everything you need. Party day! The big day has finally arrived! Now it’s time to finish the last-minute food prep, fill treat bags (if you haven’t done this already), and set out tableware and refreshments. Take a quick walkthrough before your guests arrive, then dress up your dog in their Halloween costume and get ready for the fun! After the party Your helpers should help you with a quick tidy-up session after the party. When everyone pitches in, the cleanup gets done in no time. And when all your guests have gone home, remember to give yourself some you time (warm bubble bath, anyone?). After all, you deserve it!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. If you’ve ever experienced the pleasure of picking home-grown vegetables or creating a bouquet of flowers from your yard, you may already know how much joy comes from harvesting something you grew. But science has discovered that gardening provides benefits greater than just food on the table and pretty flowers. Gardening relieves stress. Gardening can reduce cortisol levels, help you live longer, and reduce the risk of dementia. If those aren’t enough reasons to get your hands dirty, here are eight ways gardening is good for your health. Physical exercise Gardening is a type of physical exercise. Pulling weeds, turning soil, and pushing a wheelbarrow all burn calories. In fact, gardening has been shown to burn up to 300 calories in less than an hour! Sunshine and vitamin D We all need a little vitamin D, but most of us spend so much time indoors that we don’t receive enough sunlight for our bodies to produce the vitamin D we need. Spending time in the garden can provide us with the sun exposure our skin requires to metabolize vitamin D. On top of that, sunshine helps strengthen our bones (so does exercise!) and triggers our brains to produce serotonin—a natural antidepressant. Mental health Because the sunlight exposure we get while gardening helps our brains produce serotonin, it can help alleviate depression. Sunlight is often recommended in cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Gardening also provides a healthy outlet for built-up tension, worries, and stress. Using gardening as a stress relief tool can improve your mood and give you quiet moments to relax as you watch your plants grow. Soil microbes You might not enjoy the thought of billions of tiny microbes hiding in the garden soil you’re putting your hands into, but these soil microbes can benefit your health and boost your immune system. Master gardeners know that soil health directly affects garden health. And healthy soil is teeming with friendly bacteria (like Mycobacterium vaccae) that act as a helper to plants and people alike. Sense of accomplishment There’s something wonderful about knowing you can provide for yourself. Being able to put food on the table isn’t just something our grandparents used to do, and you don’t have to be a farmer to supplement your pantry. An herb garden can be grown outside or on a kitchen windowsill and adds freshness and flavor to your meals. A flower garden adds beauty to your yard—talk about curb appeal!—and brightness to the bouquets you display in your home. Creativity If you think gardening is strictly about planting vegetables in rows, think again! Gardens are a creative outlet where you can express yourself through the vibrancy of life and color. Try planting a fairy garden, complete with fairy houses, tiny fairy furniture, and mushrooms. How about a salsa garden that includes all the ingredients you need to make your special summertime hot sauce? You can also find new ways to upscale old items in the garden. Plant a rainboot filled with succulents, or purposefully tip a broken wheelbarrow on its side and arrange colorful blooming plants in a way that looks like they’ve spilled out alongside your garden path. Mindfulness Gardening is a tactile experience. When we immerse ourselves in an activity that includes multiple senses—holding gardening tools, smelling the damp soil, seeing the colors of freshly planted flowers—it becomes easier to let go of past and future worries and live in the moment. Add beauty to your space Whether you have a large garden in the backyard or a variety of houseplants artfully arranged along an indoor windowsill, plants add beauty and interest to our living spaces. A small windowsill garden can brighten up a room without breaking the bank. And an apartment balcony is the perfect spot for a fun container garden. One more thing ... Studies show that viewing gardens (as well as working in them) helps us to relax. Gardeners of all ages and abilities have testified to the physical and mental health benefits of gardening for stress relief. Need a gift idea for your favorite gardener (or want to encourage someone to get started with their garden)? You might enjoy this gifts for gardeners post, too! Not ready to start a garden of your own? You can still benefit from being around plants. Visit a garden center and admire the beautiful colors and plants that are available for sale. You might just gather enough inspiration to start planning your ideal future gardening experience.

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Going to the grocery store isn’t as convenient when you live in a remote area. You can’t just hop in the car and make a quick trip to pick up a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread when the closest store is miles away. So how do you save time, money, and gas when your off grid home doesn’t produce all the food your family needs, and you still need to make shopping trips? Try grocery shopping once a month! In this post, we’ll talk about how you can plan ahead, meal prep, and take the stress out of meal planning. Why should you plan ahead for grocery shopping? Not everything your family needs can be produced on your off grid homestead—at least, not for most people, anyway. If you live in an off grid community, you might be able to barter or trade for items you can’t produce, but there are still likely to be other things you’ll need to order or go into town for. Grains such as wheat, oats, and corn, and legumes like soy and lentils, are usually produced on a large farm—not small homesteads (although yours could be an exception). You might raise chickens to produce eggs but prefer to purchase milk instead of raising a cow. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you might make your own oat milk, but do you grow oats or purchase and store them for later use? What if you enjoy soy products? Do you make your own tofu, or would you rather buy it ready-made? Part of living a sustainable life means preserving resources and reducing waste. By making fewer grocery shopping trips, you can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels by using less gas. You’ll also save time (driving time and meal prepping) and be prepared with plenty of food during adverse weather conditions—when you’d rather stay at home in front of your cozy woodstove than make a trip to the store. What should you consider when planning a month of meals? Budget What is your current grocery budget? Does that include eating out at restaurants once in a while or having guests over for dinner? By shopping ahead of time, you can take advantage of sales, coupons, and the savings that come with buying items in bulk. Your grocery bill will thank you. Getting started with once-a-month shopping costs a little more at first because you’re buying more items at one time—but the cost decreases over time as you build up your pantry. Try budgeting your shopping trip a different week than when your mortgage or other bills are due. Shop your kitchen first Before you start your shopping list, see what you already have in your kitchen. What’s in the fridge? Did you have a lot of leftovers this week? Is there anything that you can use up or that you’ll need to replace this month? Pantry staples What’s in your pantry right now? What about your root cellar (if you’re lucky enough to have one)? Do you have a month’s supply of staple items, like flour, pasta, cereal, and canned goods? Take inventory of what you already have on hand, and work those items into your monthly meal plan. When you use up an item or remove it from the pantry into your meal rotation (like a can of tuna or box of elbow macaroni), add it to your next shopping list so you can replace it and not run completely out of stock. What’s in your garden? If you have a garden, what is it producing right now? What will be ready for harvest over the next month, and how much of it will you be able to preserve or store for future use? If your garden is abundantly producing tomatoes, you won’t need to buy them at the store. But you may need to purchase the ingredients you’ll need to preserve them. Will you be canning spaghetti sauce, making fermented salsa, or dehydrating them and packing them in oil like sun-dried tomatoes? Ensure you have herbs for seasoning sauces, salt for fermenting veggies, and sugar or pectin for making jams and jellies when fruit is in season. And don’t forget canning jars, freezer bags, or other non-food items you might need for storage and preservation. What does your family eat? Does your family have certain meals the same night every week? Think taco Tuesday or Friday fish day. Does anyone in your household have special dietary needs (gluten-free or vegan)? What about picky eaters? You don’t want to buy an ingredient in bulk just to save money if no one will eat it. Do you need to buy fresh fruit, or do you have a favorite veggie that you can only get at the store? Holidays and special occasions Planning a month of meals will look different if a holiday, birthday, or other special occasion is coming up. Likewise, you may want to purchase more if you are having guests or less if you plan to go out of town for several days. Pets Plan ahead for your pets, too! Buy dog food and cat litter in bulk to save money—and save yourself an emergency trip to the store. Meals and snacks Remember to plan for all your daily meals and beverages, plus snacks. Who wants to wake up with a middle-of-the-night cookie craving just to find out that you forgot to restock your supply? If you include homemade desserts in your meal plan, make sure you have the ingredients you’ll need to make them, too. You’ll need peanut butter for peanut butter cookies, cinnamon for apple pie … you get the idea. Meal planning After you take stock of what you have on hand, you’ll need to make a list of the meals you plan to make. If your family eats the same basic meals every week with little variation, your job just got easier. Simply write down what you usually eat in a week and multiply it times four. If your family craves variety, can you apply a theme to each week so you can use similar ingredients within the same time frame? Perhaps one week has an Italian theme (think pasta, pizza, and bruschetta), and the next week’s dinners are based on Mexican food ideas (like a taco bar, enchiladas, and smothered burritos). You’ll also want to consider which meals use perishable ingredients and which recipes can be made with shelf-stable or frozen foods. Fragile produce—like lettuce and cucumbers—should be used up within the first few days, while longer-lasting items—like winter squash and apples—can be saved for recipes in week two or three. As you’re planning your meals, think of ways to cook in bulk and use up leftovers. For example, my mom always used leftovers from meatloaf night to make meatloaf sandwiches the next day. And since she usually made a pot of pinto beans on Monday nights, Tuesday was a great day to have refried beans or burritos. Depending on how your off grid kitchen is set up, this method can save you time and fuel resources. Once you’ve created a meal list, write down the ingredients (including amounts) you’ll need for each recipe. Then take your ingredient list and cross off the items that you already have enough of. The items that remain become your grocery list for your next shopping trip! Make sure your recipe has the number of servings you’ll need for your family and for prepping meals in advance if that’s your plan. If you’re buying a specialty ingredient (like a special cheese or perishable item), can you use it for more than one meal? If you have an off grid freezer, can any of your ingredients or meals be frozen and used later in the month? Some meals, like soups and stews, are just as tasty after being frozen and take less time (and fuel) to reheat than they do to make them from scratch. Sample meal plan for one week Let’s look at a sample meal plan for one week and how you can use leftovers or cook double batches to save time. First, create a breakfast and lunch menu. I suggest repeating breakfasts and lunches each week so that you only need to change up your dinner menu. 7 breakfast ideas Sunday: Pancakes (make a double batch and freeze half for another meal) Monday: Oatmeal Tuesday: Eggs and toast Wednesday: Breakfast burritos (make a double batch and freeze half) Thursday: Yogurt and fresh fruit Friday: French toast and fruit Saturday: Breakfast smoothies. Swap out my ideas for your favorite breakfasts and the things you know your family will eat. Then do the same thing for lunches—come up with seven ideas and assign them to days of the week. Southwest-themed dinner meal plan (add in your favorite side dishes!) Sunday: Taco salad (remember, we’re using perishables, like lettuce, early in the week). Cook a double batch of beans and meat (you’ll use half as salad toppings), and save the extras for later this week. Add in other veggies, like fresh tomatoes and avocado, canned or frozen corn, etc. Monday: Burrito bowls. Cook a double batch of rice and save half. Use leftover lettuce as the base for your burrito bowl and top with rice, leftover beans, fajita peppers (make a double batch of peppers!), black olives, guacamole, and your favorite Southwestern toppings. Tuesday: Fajitas. Use up the leftover fajita peppers and add in some cooked chicken. Cook enough chicken to have leftovers to use in enchiladas. Wednesday: Enchiladas. Use up the leftover chicken and enchilada night will be an easy cooking night! Make extra enchilada sauce and save it for tomorrow. Thursday: Smothered burritos. Did you remember to make extra enchilada sauce? Wrap up refried beans, leftover meat, and cheese in a large tortilla and smother it with your leftover sauce for a quick dinner. Friday: Seven-layer dip. This Friday night meal can use up leftover ingredients from most of the other weeknights. Layer refried beans, cheese, meat, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and olives in a baking dish or square glass pan, and serve with tortilla chips. Saturday: Tacos. Crunchy or soft taco shells can be used along with seasoned ground or shredded meat. If you’re having company, plan a taco bar and let everyone build their own tacos out of a selection of ingredients. Store foods properly for the longest shelf life When you cook ahead to make double batches and freeze or can the extras, you need to make sure you are storing your food items properly to maintain nutrient value and keep them safe to eat. Use bags and containers designed for freezer use to prevent freezer burn and maintain the quality of frozen food items. You’ll want your frozen fruit and frozen veggies to still taste fresh, even though you might not need to use them until later in the month. If you’re canning some of your recipes for later use (like sauces and soups), make sure you follow proper canning protocols to prevent spoilage. Shelf-stable items can usually be stored in the container they come in as long as your pantry is protected from pests. You can also transfer boxed foods (like pasta or cereal) into plastic, metal, or glass storage containers to keep critters out. Remember: Each time you use up something from the pantry, add it to next month’s shopping list so you don’t forget to restock! Are you up to the challenge? Once a month shopping doesn’t have to be difficult, but it can take some time to get used to planning a monthly shopping trip. If monthly grocery shopping seems intimidating, try going every two weeks until you get used to planning your menu in advance. You’ll still save time and money, and you’ll gain the confidence you need to stretch out the time between shopping trips. And who knows what you can do with all the time and money you’ll be saving? You might just be able to indulge in some extra leisure activities or splurge a little for the holidays.

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. As I’m writing this post, I can see the leaves on my maple tree beginning to turn red for autumn. There’s a small, yellow aspen leaf tucked between the pages of a book on the table beside me—I’m pressing it to use for a bookmark craft project in the near future. I picked up that little aspen leaf last weekend when we drove to look at the fall colors in the mountains. Green pine trees and golden aspens covered the mountainsides, and plump red rosehips dotted the bushes on each side of the trail we were on. It was gorgeous. Watching nature as the seasons change always makes me feel like everything is right with the world. It’s a lovely escape from the news and social media, and it reminds me of the importance of taking time to reconnect with the natural world in all its beauty. I truly feel like it’s good for my mental health. As we drove home, I saw a rainbow in the distance, and I smiled. Another amazing display of color in nature. What is color? Colors are what we see when wavelengths of light are reflected. Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) have longer wavelengths than cool colors (green, blue, indigo, violet). Objects reflect these wavelengths, and we perceive them as various hues and saturations. We know that the amount of light we receive affects our circadian rhythm (our internal clock) and that people tend to suffer more from depression during the short days of winter (ever heard of the “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder | SAD?). But do the colors we see in nature affect our moods, too? Or is it really just about daylight? Ultraviolet (UV) levels from the sun are lower during the winter. We can’t see UV rays, but they still affect our energy levels and our mood by altering how much vitamin D and serotonin our bodies produce. Can we also affect our energy levels, lighten our mood, increase positivity, and create calmness in our lives simply by surrounding ourselves with the right colors? For many people, the answer is yes. Let’s examine the colors that we associate with certain times of the year or places in nature and how that might affect the way we feel. Spring Green is the color most often associated with spring. It’s what we see peeking through the melting snow when the first blades of grass begin reaching up toward the sun. Tiny green leaf buds begin to unfold on the tips of tree branches that were previously barren and gray, and we know that warmer days are coming. In the spring, we feel like the world is fresh, new, and invigorating. We feel our energy increase, and many of us engage in spring cleaning to freshen our homes. The soft greens and gentle hues of spring help us come back into the present moment and live mindfully. In “Green is Good for You,” the American Psychological Association points out a study conducted in the 1970s that led to decades of research about how the color green affects people in nature, at home, and in the workplace. What they discovered is that looking at green, natural surroundings improved the way people felt about their jobs: “... office workers with a view of nature liked their jobs more, enjoyed better health and reported greater life satisfaction.” Cool colors, like blue and green, have a calming effect. Blue is a calming color, and green is often thought of as a healing color, representing renewal and balance. Many people think of healthy eating when they see green associated with food—think about fresh salads or a green smoothie. Maybe that’s why spring detoxes are such a trendy way to help shed extra pounds gained from the comfort foods of winter. Summer Summer is associated with brightness, crisp colors, and carefree days. Think of red rose petals and watermelon, bright blue skies, and vibrant meadows filled with flowers in every color. We bring these bright colors into our clothing and accessories during the summer, too. Children play with beach balls in primary colors. We grab red-checked picnic blankets for backyard barbecues and float on yellow rafts in pools of crystal-clear water. In summer, the days are longer, and we are exposed to more light. Our energy levels increase, and we crave outdoor adventures, like hiking, camping, and spending time surrounded by nature. During the summer months, the bright colors in nature help lighten our mood, increase our activity levels, and encourage us to spend time doing things we enjoy. Fall As autumn approaches, the bright colors of summer fade into warm, dark shades of gold, orange, and red. The changing leaves remind me of a flickering flame, and I imagine that nature uses these warm hues to signal that it is time to gather firewood and prepare for the cold winter months ahead. The color orange is associated with friendship, warmth, and creativity. Orange also stimulates the appetite—many restaurants use yellow and orange in their color schemes—and may trigger us to start craving warming comfort foods. The muted, darker colors of fall and shorter daylight hours can sometimes contribute to feelings of sadness or a longing for easier times or the comfort of friendship. We try to stretch our days out by participating in evening activities, like picking pumpkins or snuggling with loved ones under a warm blanket on a hayride. Winter Gray and brown—like wintry skies and the bark of trees that have lost their leaves—are considered to evoke wistfulness, sadness, and negative feelings. Perhaps that’s why we use these colors as neutral bases in our homes and add bright pops of cheerful colors to lift the mood when we decorate. With its short days and the abundance of dull colors in nature, winter encourages us to stay inside, rest, and enjoy the bounty we harvested in warmer months. But in our busy society, we tend to do the opposite of what nature is telling us to do. We fill our cold winter months with holiday shopping, decorating (adding bright holiday colors to our homes and offices), and hosting dinner parties and gift exchanges with friends and family. We lengthen our days by staying up late instead of getting the extra rest winter’s long nights instruct us to do. As a result, we exhaust ourselves and may overeat (animals eat less in the winter because of hibernation or scarcity of resources … but we often eat more!). By the time spring arrives, we can hardly wait to find ways to cleanse our homes and bodies and find renewed energy. Use color to your advantage So how can we take advantage of the colors of nature and use them to relieve stress, lift our mood, and improve our energy levels? Take advantage of natural light When we open our curtains or blinds and allow natural light to fill our homes, we can become more in tune with the rising and setting sun and restore our natural circadian rhythm. Use a sun lamp Okay, this isn’t exactly natural light, but it can bring more healthy light into your home during the fall and winter months. Sun lamps that mimic outdoor light have been shown to help people who suffer from SAD. Take time to look at the changing seasons The seasons change whether we’re looking at them or not. But setting aside time every day to reconnect with nature and take in the changing seasonal colors can help us feel a sense of renewal and connection to the land. Take a walk outside for stress relief Whether you live off the grid in a remote location or spend your weekdays inside an office building in a busy city, try to find a few minutes to go for a walk outside every day and just breathe. Look at the sky—what color is it today? Look at the landscape—are the trees or grasses changing, growing, or going to seed? Are there flowers nearby, and if so, what colors are they blessing your life with today? Visit a green space Many cities and towns have dedicated green spaces or parks where you can catch a glimpse of nature in between out-of-town excursions. Sit under a tree or on a bench, and reduce your stress level as you listen to the natural sounds and gaze at the greenery. Participate in outdoor activities I’ve never been skiing. There’s something terrifying about the idea of crashing into a tree while sliding down a mountain on a narrow board. But I love walking in nature no matter what time of year it is. Get involved with a physical activity you can do outside: play frisbee, make a snowman, join a sport, or plan a picnic. Let the sunlight and breeze remind you what season it is and boost your mental health. Bring nature inside Indoor plants can change with the seasons, too. Plants placed near a sunny window are more likely to have seasonal variations than houseplants that rely on artificial light. Decorate your home or office with blooming plants and decor that matches what nature is displaying outside. Drape a pumpkin-colored throw over the arm of your sofa, or place a vase filled with spring flowers on your desk or table. Watch the sun rise and set Did you know exposure to blue light can lower your blood pressure? During the day, when blue light is scattered the most, the sky appears blue. But the sky turns vibrant shades when the sun rises and sets each day. Help yourself reset your internal clock by taking a few minutes at dusk and dawn to bask in the pinks, oranges, and purples of the hours between day and night. Listen to the early morning or late evening natural soundscapes, and fill yourself with positive emotion. Want more color in your life? Click here to see how coloring reduces stress.

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Those of us who use off grid cooking methods know that fuel is a precious resource. Whether you're using solar power stored in batteries, a gas generator, propane, butane, wood, wood pellets, or charcoal—that fuel must come from somewhere, and it has to be replaced. Even if you’re cooking in a solar oven and using the sun as your power source, your hours of sunlight are limited, and you need to cook with daylight hours in mind. To save precious cooking fuel and power sources, I’ve created a list of 15 cooking hacks to save you time and resources. Prep your food first Wash, trim, and chop your ingredients before you start up your heat source. You don’t want to waste fuel heating pots and pans when the ingredients aren’t even ready. Have everything prepped and ready to go so you don’t accidentally burn part of your quick-cooking meal because you forgot to prep one of the ingredients. Size matters Foods cook faster when there’s more surface area and less distance for the heat to travel. The smaller your ingredients are, the greater their surface area, and the faster the heat will reach the center of each of the bits and pieces. Stir-fry meals cook up in minutes because the meat and vegetables are in bite-sized pieces. A mandoline can help you evenly slice fruits and veggies. You’re grate! Use a grater to make quick work of root vegetables like carrots and beets. The tiny slivers will cook almost instantly when they hit the hot pan. Go boneless Boneless meats cook faster. If you’re removing the bones yourself, save them to make stock or bone broth. You can use it for soups and stews or bone broth, or pressure can it to use later. If you have a freezer, you can freeze the bones to use another day. Use your meat mallet For recipes where chopped meat isn’t practical, use a meat mallet to flatten steaks and chicken into even thicknesses. Slice meat thinly or pound it into thin, flat pieces (like you’d do for chicken fried steak). Watch closely once you put it on the heat so it doesn’t overcook! Uniform pieces Make sure your ingredients are uniform in size so they’ll cook in the same amount of time. It’s not fun to bite into a raw potato cube followed by a mushy bit of something else. Bake in portions Size matters when you’re baking, too. Smaller baked goods will bake quicker, saving fuel and time in front of the oven. Convert cakes into cupcakes by decreasing your baking time by ⅓ to ½. Make mini loaves of bread, or use the bread dough to make breadsticks or dinner rolls. Cupcakes and minimuffins are perfect for baking in a solar oven. Try using silicone baking cups when baking with the sun! For even quicker bread, make pita bread on a hot baking stone in your outdoor oven, or cook tortillas, chapatis, or naan in an iron skillet or griddle over a low flame. You can even use less cooking fuel when baking pies by making them into little tarts or turnovers—perfect for parties and dinner guests or a late-night sugar craving. Use the right pan Use a pan the appropriate size for your food and cooking method. Don’t put a giant pan on a small flame. You want even heat distribution but not overcrowding, so size your cooking vessel appropriately. Shallow, wide pans might cook food more quickly, but if it’s too big for your heat source, you’re defeating the purpose. Put a lid on it Cover your pot or pan with a lid to trap heat. As long as you’re not frying or caramelizing an ingredient, pop a lid on it and trap the steam and heat inside. Cook under pressure Talk about lids! Use a pressure cooker over your propane or butane burner, or plug in your Instant Pot if you have an electricity source. Pressure cooking locks in the heat and pushes it through your ingredients in a fraction of the time. This is especially helpful for long-cooking grains like rice. For outdoor cooking over a fire, try an Afghan pressure cooker (which can be used on a regular stove as well). Regular pressure cookers with plastic handles are not meant for cooking over a campfire—the food could be unevenly cooked, and the handles may melt. But an Afghan pressure cook is designed to handle the heat. Lower the flame Decrease the flame once the water is boiling. Even pasta will cook with water at a simmer instead of a full rolling boil. Save gas by using a lower flame whenever possible. This counts for things like hard-boiled eggs, too. Once the water boils, remove it from the heat and cover the pot--the heat from the boiling water will continue to cook the eggs even after the boiling has stopped. Preheat Remember when I said not to heat your pans while you’re prepping ingredients? That’s still true—you don’t want to heat your oven or pans too early. But preheating them at the right time—right before you put in the food—will save time and fuel in the long run. Preheat your pan, so foods start cooking the instant you add them. When cooking with fire, make sure you have the flame or coals just right before you put the food on so you make the most efficient use of your wood. Double up Sometimes it’s more practical to cook a large batch instead of making smaller portions. Make double batches when it’s more practical—like when cooking soups and stews, large portions of meat, rice, or beans. You can eat leftovers the next day, freeze portions for another meal, or pressure can the extras to store for later use. If you’re slow cooking in a fire pit, double the amount of brisket, pork, or chicken. You’ll need to increase the number of coals you’re using, but not as much as you would if you were starting from scratch another day. Beans, beans, the musical fruit Dry beans can take hours to soften. Speed up cooking time by soaking the beans overnight while you sleep. For old or stubborn beans, add baking soda to your soak water or cooking water. Use About 1 tsp per cup of soak water or ¼ tsp per pound when cooking. Thaw foods or bring to room temp Always use safe thawing methods, but try to bring meats to room temperature before cooking them. You won’t waste any fuel while you’re letting it rest, and you won’t drop the temperature of your pan as much when you add the food. Chew on this Living off the grid has its pros and cons, and one of the most enjoyable is using a variety of creative cooking methods instead of getting into the habit of putting something on the electric range or popping leftovers into the microwave. But along with the creativity comes a need to protect the resources you’ve carefully stored. By paying attention to how you cut and portion your ingredients, doubling batches when practical, and using leftovers to your benefit, you’ll have more time to enjoy those evening sunsets you moved off grid for in the first place! Now that you have extra time after dinner, why not relax in a warm bubble bath and soothe away the stress of the day? Or, if you're in the mood to do a little shopping, check out our Ultimate Off Grid Gift Guide!

This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Some people are easy to buy for, and others have a unique way of looking at life—and need a unique gift to match their taste. I’m talking about people who love living off the grid, connecting to nature, and the outdoors. People who would rather go for a wilderness walk searching for wild edible plants than stream shows on TV. People who spend more time with their backyard chickens than waiting in line at Starbucks. People who are willing to brush snow off a solar panel in exchange for not being connected to local public utilities. You get the idea. These self-reliant individuals appreciate sustainable, environmentally friendly gifts made with renewable resources. We’ve got a gift idea for every budget and every season—whether you’re shopping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas gifts, or a birthday or anniversary present. So if you’re buying for a casual off gridder, a modern homesteader, or an off grid weekend warrior, this off grid gift guide is sure to have something they’ll love. Can’t wait to see them smile when they open the box? Let’s get started! Solar gift ideas Flashlight: Flashlights are something we like to keep handy in our house. There are several solar flashlights on the market, and all of the ones I’ve seen have such a small solar panel that it takes many hours (like … a couple of days’ worth of sunlight) to charge them fully. Instead, try this tactical flashlight that can plug into your solar-powered generator, a USB battery bank, or the 12V in your car. My husband loves his, and the light is super bright. Portable solar panel: A portable solar panel lets you charge your devices when you’re away from home. We use this folding portable solar panel that can charge our phones or tablets with USB—and it can charge a car battery, too! Solar generator: Solar generators offer a clean, quiet alternative to (noisy) gas generators. This Jackery solar generator is powerful enough to run appliances, a TV, your laptop, or an electric grill. Solar phone and tablet charger: With five panels and a detachable wireless charger, this BLAVOR solar charger will help your off grid friend stay connected to you while they disconnect from the grid. Solar LED desk lamp: How about a solar desk lamp for the off grid book enthusiast or student? Make sure the solar panel on the lamp is exposed to direct sunlight through a sunny window, and you’ll have enough power to read by (or charge your USB device) at night. Solar lights: Need to find the path to the chicken coop at night? How about lighting the backyard for an evening cookout around the fire pit? These waterproof LED solar lights have a motion sensor, so they’ll only be on when you need them. Now you’re cooking! Sun oven: Your favorite off grid chef will love you for picking out a solar oven to save them from hovering over a fire when they want to cook outdoors. GoSun is my favorite portable solar oven, and they have several models and sizes to choose from. Nonelectric food dehydrator: Hanging, screen-covered food dehydrators are the most economical (and energy-free) way to dehydrate fruits and veggies. But if your off grid gift recipient generates their own electricity, I recommend Nesco food dehydrators to quickly and efficiently dry several stacked trays of goodies at once. I’ve used the same Nesco dehydrator for close to 20 years, and I finally gave it to my daughter this year when I bought myself a new Gardenmaster from Nesco. Kelly Kettle: Need a holiday gift for a coffee lover? Kelly Kettles are pretty amazing. Think rocket stove plus tea kettle all in one. By using twigs and other natural fuel sources, you can bring water to a boil in just a few minutes. Make coffee or tea, rehydrate freeze-dried foods, or fill a hot water bottle! Water bottle with filter: How about a water bottle to keep your off grid buddy hydrated when they're out in the wilderness? The Survimate water filtration bottle not only has a replaceable filter that lasts for around 1500 liters of use, but it also has a little compass on the lid to help your loved one find their way back to the path. Berkey: We’ve been using our Big Berkey for over two years, and we still love it. We bought our Berkey while still connected to city tap water (yuck!). It does an excellent job of filtering out all the undesirable chemicals to make our drinking and cooking water safer for us and our dogs. Canning supplies: Gardening goes with living off the grid. But you have to do something with your excess harvest, so why not gift some much-needed canning supplies? If they have plenty of jars and lids already (can you ever have too many?), give them some canning accessories to make life easier. I bought these silicone gloves back in 2020, and they have been my best canning buddy ever since. Hand-powered blender or mixer: Sure, you can chop fruits and vegetables with a knife and knead bread by hand, but what if you want to make a smoothie? The GSI Outdoors Vortex Blender can puree fruit into a delicious breakfast drink completely off the grid. All you need is a little elbow grease. Sprouting seed sampler: I try to keep sprouts growing indoors all year long, and in the winter—when our garden is buried under snow—we rely on fresh microgreens for sandwich fillers and smoothie additions. Gift a sprouting seed sampler pack to add some variety to your loved one’s indoor culinary garden. Thermal cooker: Thermal cookers keep food hot for hours without using any electricity, and they're a practical gift for outdoorsy types who like to go camping. Simply fill with food and liquid that has been brought to a boil, and a thermal cooker will continue the cooking process by trapping heat with a vacuum seal. My favorite? The Stanley Adventure Stay Hot Camp Crock! Fermenting kit or glass weights: I adore these glass fermentation weights! I keep mine in continual use for fermented salsa and, in the fall, fermented sunchokes. Glass butter churn: Some things are just easier when you have the right tools. Churning butter is one of those tasks. If your off grid chef makes butter at home, gift them a glass butter churn that will look just as pretty on the counter when it’s not in use. Butter keeper crock: Butter was always kept in a crock on the counter when I was growing up. Always the perfect consistency for spreading, we never had to take butter from the fridge to let it soften so we could spread it on toast. How about gifting some vintage charm reminiscent of a French country kitchen with a Butter Bell butter crock? Wooden utensils: My mom always used wooden spoons when she cooked. They were equally well-loved for stirring a pot of sauce or mixing pound cake batter. If you want to gift something other than the average wooden spoon, may I suggest a set of wooden spurtles? Spurtles are a Scottish utensil for stirring soups, stews, and porridge. Plus, it’s fun to say! Sprout bag: One of the issues I’ve had when growing sprouts is not getting enough water back out of the jar … and then the sprouts start to spoil. A hemp sprout bag eliminates that problem by allowing more airflow through the tiny, growing seedlings. Hand-operated grain mill: This hand-crank grain mill does an amazing job of turning wheat berries into flour. I’ve used mine successfully for wheat, oats, and barley. Cooking pot tripod: If your gift recipient enjoys cooking over an outdoor fire but doesn’t have a great way to support their soup kettle over the flames, think about getting them a cast iron cooking tripod so they can hang their kettle or dry their socks! Afghan pressure cooker: You know how fast a pressure cooker can cook a meal. But most pressure cookers have plastic handles or other meltable parts that are not intended to be exposed to fire. An Afghan pressure cooker is different—it’s made to handle the heat! Gift this, and your off grid gift recipient can pressure cook over a campfire or in a fire pit. Camp stove: I truly don’t know what I’d do without my Camp Chef Explorer camp stove; it’s not just for camping. It’s strong enough to support my All American Pressure Canner, and with two burners, I can use the second one to sterilize more canning jars in a pot of boiling water at the same time. Reusable grocery bags: Just because someone lives off grid doesn’t mean they never need to go shopping. There are still occasional items they’ll need to run to town to pick up. These heavy-duty reusable shopping bags will support them in reducing their carbon footprint by avoiding single-use plastics when they shop. Yard and garden Heirloom seeds: Is your favorite off-gridder worried about the apocalypse … or do they simply enjoy gardening? Either way, a seed vault with non-GMO, heirloom seed varieties is sure to be a serious gardener’s delight! Compost barrel: Compost should never be stinky, but it can be dirty (and backbreaking) work to turn a large compost pile with a shovel. Save your loved one’s back and the mess by gifting them a tumbling compost barrel. Trail camera: Solar trail cameras recharge with the sun, so you never have to worry about running out of battery in between camera checks. By adding wireless technology (and a monthly wireless plan), you can see images from your trail camera on your phone day or night. Choose a trail camera with high resolution and long-distance views plus infrared so you won’t scare the critters away at night. Chicken coop: Although I’ve always let my chickens have the run of the yard, a chicken coop is a great way to start baby chicks or keep banties safe from hawks. This nifty chicken coop with a wire run is great for beginning hobbyists. Cast iron dinner bell: My dad could never hear my mom yell for dinner when he was out in the workshop at the back of our acreage. She kept a cast iron dinner bell, like this one, hanging from the porch rafters and sent me out to ring it when supper was ready. Rain barrel: Rain catchment is an excellent way to save water and use it in the garden during a dry spell. How about gifting a rain barrel kit (made from recycled materials) to supplement your loved one’s water supply? Gorilla cart: This is one of those things that you don’t think you need until you actually need it! I love using a gorilla cart to lighten my load and haul groceries, bags of feed, and gardening soil. Get one with removable sides to make unloading even easier. Gathering basket: I can’t count how many times I’ve gone out to the garden thinking there would only be a few tomatoes to pick and ended up using my shirt to carry loads of tomatoes, squash, and peppers into the house. A gathering basket makes life much easier and keeps my shirt clean. And for gathering eggs, try this egg gathering apron with individual pockets to prevent the eggs from cracking against each other. Poultry balm/chicken first aid: While we’re talking about eggs, how about gifting your off grid hobbyist with a chicken first-aid kit or some poultry balm to help those little chickies stay healthy and protected from leg sores? Steel forged garden tools: Anyone who lives off the grid and raises their own food knows that having the right tools for the job makes all the difference! Gift your gardener some sturdy, steel forged garden tools. If you think they already have all the gardening gear they need, how about something a little different, like a hori hori knife for cutting through roots or stems and poking holes for planting seeds? Walking stick for your wildcrafting and gathering hikes: I enjoy wildcrafting, and sometimes looking for berries takes me a little further into the wilderness than I had originally planned. I love my Black Diamond walking poles—they’re collapsible, lightweight, and easy to carry in my pack. Tree diapers: A tree diaper refills during rain and slowly releases the water back into the soil to keep young trees protected from drought. If your off grid loved one is trying to establish an orchard or planting fruit trees for the yard, tree diapers will help establish a moist growing medium for their newly planted saplings. Arbor Day membership: I’m all for planting trees! Give two gifts in one with an Arbor Day Foundation membership. Your loved one will not only become a member, but they’ll also receive free trees as part of the deal. Boot scraper: All that mud needs to go somewhere, and tracking it in the house on the bottom of your boots isn’t an option. How about giving an industrial-strength boot scraper so the dirt can stay outside where it belongs? Wood splitting, fire starting, and heavy-duty jobs Gloves: Leather work gloves, wool gloves for warmth, and even glove liners make a great gift idea or stocking stuffer. I bought these Merino touchscreen-compatible glove liners a couple of years ago. They’re perfect to wear under mittens, and I can still answer my phone or send a text without having to expose my fingers to the cold. Farmer sleeves: It’s easy to get scrapes and scratches when you’re out in the garden or working with animals. Gift a set of farmer sleeves to protect your friend’s arms while they’re doing chores. Trucker’s friend demolition ax: This might say it’s designed for professional truck drivers (who also spend a lot of time off the grid), but this multitasking tool has just as many uses around the homestead. Use it for chopping branches, prying nails, and chipping ice. Canvas firewood bag: Waxed cotton canvas firewood bags make transporting kindling and small logs a breeze. I like this rectangular one from WhiteDuck because the open ends don’t limit the length of the logs we put inside. Kindling splitter: Chopping wood is hard work. The Kindling Cracker makes the job easier by holding the log in place over a sharp blade while you whack it with a large hammer (or even another piece of wood). Chainsaw or folding saw: There’s always stuff that needs to be done on an off grid homestead, so saws are a necessity. Why not give a heavy-duty folding saw like this one or a cordless chainsaw? Log rack for firewood: Outdoor firewood can be stored under a porch or overhang or covered with a tarp to keep it dry. But indoors, you need a rack to keep it within easy reach of your fireplace or wood stove. Why not gift a pretty log rack to help keep everything in its place? Fireplace bellows: I remember using wood and leather fireplace bellows at our cabin once I was old enough to help with the fire. Save your off grid friend’s lungs and give them a bellows so they’ll stop blowing on the fire. Lightable fire-starter pellets: Starting a fire is easier with fire-starting pellets. I like these charcoal and tumbleweed fire starters by Melt Candle Company. Communication Hand crank radio: Hand-crank radios alert you to weather bulletins and emergencies when the power is out or when you’re off the grid. This wind-up weather station can charge your phone and play MP3s. BlueCosmo Inmarsat IsatPhone 2.1 Satellite Phone Kit: Satellite phones provide global coverage to remote areas for either emergency or ongoing communication. Make sure your loved ones can reach you when they’re out of reach of cell phone service. GPS plus GMRS: Garmin offers a high-sensitivity GPS and two-way GMRS radio combo in their Garmin Rino series. You can even send text messages between units—just remember to buy one for each of your off grid buddies. Walkie-talkies: Do you have an outdoor-loving kid on your list? Walkie-talkies are fun (and useful) for kids and adults of all ages. If you’re tired of trying to keep in contact with your children when they’re hiding out in their tree fort, a pair of walkie-talkies might be just the solution you’re looking for. So you can always keep them warm Zippo hand warmer: My hands get really cold in the winter, and having cold hands makes doing outdoor chores challenging. I was given this Zippo refillable hand warmer for Christmas last year, and I’ve been amazed at how well it works! I can fill it with lighter fluid, light it, and keep it in my pocket to warm my hands as needed. Mr. Heater: Mr. Heater makes indoor-safe propane room heaters to keep you toasty in a cabin or a tent. The one we bought can be used with both small and large propane tanks. Make sure your gift recipient follows the manufacturer’s safety instructions to use this propane heater indoors safely. Wool socks: Merino wool is soft and does a wonderful job of keeping you warm. How about keeping your loved one’s toes toasty by including some cozy merino wool socks as a stocking stuffer this year? Natural cotton blankets: For another warm and cozy idea, how about gifting a waffle-weave cotton blanket for snuggling up on the sofa or layering on the bed? For bookworms and game players Books for off grid living and homesteading: You can never have too many skills, and one of the best ways to learn new skills is by reading books written by experts. Gift a book to your homesteading friend to help them maximize their abilities. Homesteading magazine subscription: I always look forward to the next issue of my favorite magazine. Give a subscription to a magazine targeted at self-reliant individuals, like Self-Reliance or Mother Earth News. Farmopoly: Whether you play the traditional or one-hour version of this game, homesteaders are sure to enjoy a TV-free evening playing Farmopoly. More games: Need more game ideas for nonelectric entertainment? How about The Farming Game, which touts being “invented on the seat of a tractor,” or Life On the Farm, where you compete to see who can retire first! Wild edibles books: As an avid wild edible foodie, I can attest to the value of spending time outdoors harvesting berries and dandelion roots. Try gifting a book that describes wild edible plants and how to harvest and use them ethically. Other items for the home Natural soaps and lotions: People move off the grid to get away from noise and chemicals and to reconnect with nature. Support your loved one’s sustainable lifestyle by giving them soaps and lotions made without harsh chemicals, parabens, or phthalates. Avalon Organics makes lotions that are free from synthetics and are vegan and cruelty-free. Beeswax candles: Ethically harvested beeswax, provided by beekeepers who love their bees, makes naturally sweet-smelling and long-burning candles. Try these pure, unscented taper beeswax candles if you don’t have a local beekeeper or candlemaker nearby. Hand-crank clothes wringer: My great-grandmother used an old wringer washer, and I’ve always wanted one for myself. Not that I want extra work when doing laundry, but I like the idea of doing things manually and reducing the amount of electricity I use. If you or your gift recipient like the idea of wringing clothes the old-fashioned way, give this hand-crank clothes wringer a try. Low-powered washing machine: Washing machines pull a lot of power. But a low-powered washer—like this one that can wash 8 pounds of laundry—can run off a generator or the inverter for a solar system without wasting energy. Candle by the Hour 80-Hour Vertical Candle: Candlelight is always charming, and sometimes it’s simply necessary. This 48-hour beeswax courting candle looks amazing whether it’s lit or not. Now that you’ve picked out the perfect gifts, it’s time to start thinking about wrapping them! For eco-friendly ideas, pile them in a gift basket or wrap them with recycled paper. You can also tie small gifts in a tea towel with a raffia bow, or use newspaper for wrapping boxes. Bonus gift idea #70: How about making some DIY sugar scrubs and gifting them in Mason jars? Looking for even more great homesteading gift ideas? Check out my friend Samantha's gift guide at Homesteading Tips 101!

Outdoor kitchen accessories are not always the same as what you’d use indoors. Gifts for grillers and smokers need to be able to handle high heat, residue from smoke, and exposure to the elements. It’s even better when outdoor kitchen gifts use renewable resources instead of requiring a connection to the grid. If you’ve run out of ideas for off-grid gift giving or you want something a little more practical than the newest trend in luxury BBQ gifts, check out our gift ideas for both indoor and outdoor off-grid chefs. This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. This article contains an excerpt from the “Ultimate Off Grid Gift Guide for Modern Homesteaders.” Click here to read the full article. Ancient Cookware: Handcrafted clay cookware adds an artisanal touch to any table. This beautiful Chamba Soup Pot looks just as lovely indoors as it does simmering on the grill. Enameled Cast Iron Tagine: The cone-shaped lid of a tagine circulates steam to cook food evenly and keep it moist. Cast iron keeps food warm longer and is sturdy enough to be used over a gas burner or in an oven. Sun oven: Your favorite off-grid chef will love you for picking out a solar oven to save them from hovering over a fire when they want to cook outdoors. GoSun is my favorite portable solar oven, and they have several models and sizes to choose from. Nonelectric food dehydrator: Hanging, screen-covered food dehydrators are the most economical (and energy-free) way to dehydrate fruits and veggies. But if your off-grid gift recipient generates their own electricity, I recommend Nesco food dehydrators to quickly and efficiently dry several stacked trays of goodies at once. I’ve used the same Nesco dehydrator for close to 20 years, and I finally gave it to my daughter this year when I bought myself a new Gardenmaster from Nesco. Kelly Kettle: Need a holiday gift for a coffee lover? Kelly Kettles are pretty amazing. Think rocket stove plus tea kettle all in one. By using twigs and other natural fuel sources, you can bring water to a boil in just a few minutes. Make coffee or tea, rehydrate freeze-dried foods, or fill a hot water bottle! Water bottle with filter: How about a water bottle to keep your off-grid buddy hydrated when they're out in the wilderness? The Survimate water filtration bottle not only has a replaceable filter that lasts for around 1500 liters of use, but it also has a little compass on the lid to help your loved one find their way back to the path. Berkey: We’ve been using our Big Berkey for over two years, and we still love it. We bought our Berkey while still connected to city tap water (yuck!). It does an excellent job of filtering out all the undesirable chemicals to make our drinking and cooking water safer for us and our dogs. Canning supplies: Gardening goes with living off the grid. But you have to do something with your excess harvest, so why not gift some much-needed canning supplies? If they have plenty of jars and lids already (can you ever have too many?), give them some canning accessories to make life easier. I bought these silicone gloves back in 2020, and they have been my best canning buddy ever since. Hand-powered blender or mixer: Sure, you can chop fruits and vegetables with a knife and knead bread by hand, but what if you want to make a smoothie? The GSI Outdoors Vortex Blender can puree fruit into a delicious breakfast drink completely off the grid. All you need is a little elbow grease. Sprouting seed sampler: I try to keep sprouts growing indoors all year long, and in the winter—when our garden is buried under snow—we rely on fresh microgreens for sandwich fillers and smoothie additions. Gift a sprouting seed sampler pack to add some variety to your loved one’s indoor culinary garden. Thermal cooker: Thermal cookers keep food hot for hours without using any electricity, and they're a practical gift for outdoorsy types who like to go camping. Simply fill with food and liquid that has been brought to a boil, and a thermal cooker will continue the cooking process by trapping heat with a vacuum seal. My favorite? The Stanley Adventure Stay Hot Camp Crock! Fermenting kit or glass weights: I adore these glass fermentation weights! I keep mine in continual use for fermented salsa and, in the fall, fermented sunchokes. Glass butter churn: Some things are just easier when you have the right tools. Churning butter is one of those tasks. If your off-grid chef makes butter at home, gift them a glass butter churn that will look just as pretty on the counter when it’s not in use. Butter keeper crock: Butter was always kept in a crock on the counter when I was growing up. Always the perfect consistency for spreading, we never had to take butter from the fridge to let it soften so we could spread it on toast. How about gifting some vintage charm reminiscent of a French country kitchen with a Butter Bell butter crock? Wooden utensils: My mom always used wooden spoons when she cooked. They were equally well-loved for stirring a pot of sauce or mixing pound cake batter. If you want to gift something other than the average wooden spoon, may I suggest a set of wooden spurtles? Spurtles are a Scottish utensil for stirring soups, stews, and porridge. Plus, it’s fun to say! Sprout bag: One of the issues I’ve had when growing sprouts is not getting enough water back out of the jar … and then the sprouts start to spoil. A hemp sprout bag eliminates that problem by allowing more airflow through the tiny, growing seedlings. Hand-operated grain mill: This hand-crank grain mill does an amazing job of turning wheat berries into flour. I’ve used mine successfully for wheat, oats, and barley. Cooking pot tripod: If your gift recipient enjoys cooking over an outdoor fire but doesn’t have a great way to support their soup kettle over the flames, think about getting them a cast iron cooking tripod so they can hang their kettle or dry their socks! Afghan pressure cooker: You know how fast a pressure cooker can cook a meal. But most pressure cookers have plastic handles or other meltable parts that are not intended to be exposed to fire. An Afghan pressure cooker is different—it’s made to handle the heat! Gift this, and your off-grid gift recipient can pressure cook over a campfire or in a fire pit. Camp stove: I truly don’t know what I’d do without my Camp Chef Explorer camp stove; it’s not just for camping. It’s strong enough to support my All American Pressure Canner, and with two burners, I can use the second one to sterilize more canning jars in a pot of boiling water at the same time. 21. Reusable grocery bags: Just because someone lives off grid doesn’t mean they never need to go shopping. There are still occasional items they’ll need to run to town to pick up. These heavy-duty reusable shopping bags will support them in reducing their carbon footprint by avoiding single-use plastics when they shop. Want more ideas for living the off-grid life? Check out this article on 9 Essential Off Grid Skills!

Relaxation is good for your health, and it’s always nice to be pampered. But not everyone will spend money on themselves for a day at the spa or at-home self-care items. So why not spoil your loved ones (or yourself!) and give some helpful tools to enhance anyone’s self-care routine! This site is supported by our audience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only recommend products I love and/or use. Aromatherapy candles Mrs. Meyer’s candles are made with natural ingredients and without testing on animals. Choose lavender for relaxation or lemon verbena for a clean, bright fragrance. For long-burning, paraffin-free soy candles with a crackling wooden wick and exotic fragrance combinations (like eucalyptus orange or bergamot with jasmine), try Benevolence Los Angeles. They donate part of their proceeds to charity, so you’re really giving two gifts with every purchase. Wax melts made from soy or beeswax If you prefer wax melts instead of candles for your aromatherapy experience, try Happy Wax. Their soy wax melts are paraffin-free and come in classic scents. Try their Spa Day mix with fun little bear-shaped melts in lavender chamomile, sage and cedarwood, and eucalyptus spearmint. Meditation books If you or your loved one enjoy meditation and mindfulness activities, try gifting a book to give them new scripts and techniques. Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday by Matthew Sokolov has information on mindful eating and how to do a body scan to see where you are holding stress in your body. If you’d prefer something a little more classic, try You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Gratitude journal Journaling for stress relief can benefit people of all ages, as I demonstrated by showing a page from my childhood journal in my article on creative journaling. To get started, give a guided journal, like this one by Allison Task, MS PCC. The daily prompts and lined pages make writing every day easy. If you prefer a more creative approach, give a bullet journal with dotted pages that can be decorated and doodled to your heart’s content. Adult coloring books When I was diagnosed with an issue that would require major surgery (don’t worry, I’m all better now!), my sister sent me a gift box with adult coloring books and markers. They were a lovely distraction that helped me live in the present and put my worries aside. If you know someone who enjoys coloring, they’ll love these Mogyann dual-tip coloring pens. Blankets Snuggle moments are a wonderful way to relax. Plush sherpa blankets and thermal cotton throws are pure luxury year after year. If you’re looking for something made from natural fibers but don’t want cotton, try this Bamboo Cable Knit Throw. Weighted blanket If not just any blanket will do, try gifting a weighted blanket to ease anxiety, release stress, and sleep soundly. I prefer a weighted blanket on the lighter side, so this knitted 10-pound blanket works for me. Games for mindfulness Mindfulness does not always require stillness. It’s the act of focusing on the present moment and letting go of the past and present—putting worries and anxiety away and releasing them so you can enjoy your life right now. For ideas on how to practice mindfulness without just sitting in the lotus pose, try The Self-Care Bucket List or these Stress Less Cards with 50 mindfulness activities. If you have a little meditator on your gift list, how about giving them the tools to learn some self-care, too, with Meditation Cards for Kids? Soaps and bath Self-care affects all areas of our lives. Bring a little extra pampering into the bathroom by gifting some luxurious scrubbing soaps or some water mint and rosemary bubble bath. Bath accessories come in masculine scents, too. For all the fragrance without the bubbles, try gifting a set of coconut and hemp bath bombs made with essential oils, like patchouli and sandalwood. If you’re into the DIY scene, try making homemade sugar scrubs or shower steamers for a completely personalized gift. Lotion and massage oil Lotions and massage oils nourish the skin and provide the ultimate in stress reduction. This ylang ylang and ginger massage oil smells absolutely heavenly and makes skin silky soft. Face mask from natural ingredients What’s a spa day without a face mask? Clay face masks draw impurities from the skin and help remove dead cells. Try this Moroccan Red Clay mask, crafted with botanicals and lightly scented with rose. Lip mask Don’t forget to take care of those pouty lips! A collagen-boosting overnight lip mask is the finishing touch to the perfect facial. Neck massager I’m not a stranger to neck pain, so when I received this shiatsu neck massager as a gift, I immediately tried it out. Let me tell you—it worked wonders on my sore muscles. I use it several times a week for tight shoulders and a stiff neck. It costs less than a single massage and stands up to repeated use. Mine even came with a car charger for those long trips when we travel to spend time with family. Self-care calendar Need a reminder to take care of yourself? The Bliss Collections Daily Planner will give you a gentle reminder to take care of yourself while you’re making your to-do list and taking care of everyone else. Pedicure items The perfect gift for someone who’s always on their feet (got any nurse or teacher friends?), a massaging foot spa is sure to be a welcome addition to your gift recipient’s self-care toolkit. Warming slippers While we’re on the topic of tootsies, how about a plush pair of snuggly-soft warming slippers for those chilly evenings in front of the fire? Warm them up in the microwave (follow the manufacturer’s directions) and slip them on to instantly banish the chills. Mindful magazine subscriptions For the gift that keeps giving all year, buy a subscription to Mindful magazine. I bought my first subscription when the magazine was new, and it has continued to grow and provide me with helpful tips ever since. Do you have any outdoor-loving adventurers or off-gridders on your holiday gift list? If so, head on over to our Ultimate Off Grid Gift Guide for Modern Homesteaders and have a look around!