From scratch {life on the homestead} The Ultimate Gift Guide All the best gifts inside
Special From Scratch Magazine Gift Guide
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Equipment & Clipping
Fencing
Poultry
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The Ultimate Gift Guide Letter from the Editors
Photo from Homesteader’s Supply
F
rom Scratch magazine actually has a little known policy: We don’t promote, either via advertising or editorial, products, services or companies we don’t like. We classify “liking” a product, service or company as believing either in the product or the company that produces that product. That means every company represented in our publications are companies that produce amazing things and do it in such a way that best represents the spirit of homesteading and sustainability.
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These companies can be any size, but they must produce something that helps our readers -- and a larger community -- make the world a little bit better. This can be done in many ways: Halcyon Yarn helps our readers produce beautiful fiber arts. Scratch and Peck gives people a way to raise their animals without using GMO sourced feed. Vat Pastuerizer gives homesteaders and farmers a chance to compete against big, industrial dairy operations. The Herbal Academy of New England teaches our readers about the ancient art of herbal medicine. The list goes on and on. Sometimes, we just find beautiful or clever items we believe more people should know about, so we tell them via our regular From Scratch Finds feature. There is an inherent value in every company or organization represented in the pages of From Scratch magazine. Every year since we started this publication, we produce a gift guide. This gift guide does a couple of things: It allows us to compose a wish list of the amazing things we find while working on our magazine and it allows us to feature once again the companies, services and products we believe in. During the holiday season, commercialism seems to rule over every aspect of American life. While we’d be the last people to eschew capitalism, at the same time, we’d like to think the reason we seek out the companies we work with goes a little bit beyond commercial consideration. This gift guide is a reflection of that. We’ve put together great gift ideas for our readers. We’ve invited companies to participate in this publication. But, you should know, any of these items in this gift guide represent our desire to work with the best companies and help promote the best products and services. These gift ideas are not only lovely, practical and desirable, but they’re also, quite frankly, gifts you can feel good about purchasing. So as you go through our personal wish list, go ahead and click around. The gift guide, like everything we produce, is completely interactive. If you like something, click on it. You’ll be redirected to a website where you can find more about a particular product. And you’ll be able to get great presents for anyone on your list this year. Happy Holidays!
Steven and Melissa Jones
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Home Freeze Dryer Machine Amazing technology — a must for every self-reliant family. The BEST Preservation Method More stable than dehydrated, bottled or canned foods, freeze dried food has an extremely long shelf life — 25+ years — and preserves freshness, nutrition, color and taste. Geodesic Dome Greenhouses The perfect greenhouse — regulates climate all year round. Harvest Right’s Geodesic Greenhouses are amazing structures: their unique attributes make them ideal for a variety of uses, including energy-efficient gardens, portable/emergency shelters or even swimming pool covers.
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Equipment That Works! From folks who use it... every day
Red Bird Feeder
Birds feed through the mesh. Suitable only for black oil sunflowers--which many birds love (particularly cardinals).
Heated Pet Bowl Heated 5 quart pet bowl for use in winter applications.
PermaNetÂŽ & PermaNet Electric Netting All PermaNet designs are a barrier to raccoons, coyotes, deer, bears, dogs and livestock and are also effective for rabbits, woodchucks, opossums, chickens, domestic ducks and geese.
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As a family business, Scratch and Peck Feeds are happy to be helping backyard chicken farmers, and other home livestock producers, to make honest and true choices about where their food comes from. Raising your own chickens for organic, non-gmo eggs and meat gives you a direct connection to your food that is profound and fun. Feeding your livestock Organic, GMO-free foods supports the healthy lifestyle that more and more families are working towards.
Scratch and Peck Feeds • • • • • • •
Organic Chicken Feed Organic Turkey Feed Organic Pig Feed Organic Goat Feed Organic Grains Supplements Non-GMO Meat & Eggs
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Stainless Steel Pail Milkplan Chillers / Holding Tanks
Cream Separator
Butter Churn
Stainless Steel Pasteurizer
Jaybee Precision produces products that are perfect for your farm based business. If you have a larger dairy you can go big by buying a machine that can handle 30 gallons of milk or juice, or you can purchase a four gallon machine perfect for small farmsteads. That doesn’t include the other products: Cream separators, butter churns, chillers -- even buckets. All of these products are high quality and built to last. Vat Pasteurizer allows any size farm to produce dairy products up to the USDA specifications, which means every farmer or homesteader can compete in just about every market. Buying products from this company is an investment in the future of your dairy, creamery or farm related business.
Hand Butter Churn
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Freeze Dry At Home
Better Than Canning Better Than Dehydrating Preserve your produce, meat, and meals by freeze drying; they will be fresh for 20+ years! Home freeze drying is now available to every family. The shelf life of your food will be 25 years and will maintain all of the food’s fresh taste and nutritional value. This new appliance from Harvest Right makes the process completely automatic. Just put your food in the drying chamber and press start. The freeze dryer will let you know when it is finished.
You no longer need to can, dehydrate, or save your food in your freezer.
Freeze drying is far superior!
Call Today to Find Out How Much You Can Save:
Ask about our easy to build Geodesic Greenhouses to grow all year round!
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3070 W. California Ave., Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Ph: 1-801-386-8960 • harvestright.com
RANDALL BURKEY COMPANY Quality Products Since 1947
FREE Catalog
QUALITY PRODUCTS · Tested Quality · 1 Year Limited Warranty · 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee
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randallburkey.com
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The 1550 SPORTSMAN HATCHER incubator is designed to provide optimal hatching conditions. Unlike setting incubators, hatchers usually operate at slightly different temperature and humidity settings to obtain optimum hatch. With five hatching drawers, the 1550 Hatcher will hold the complete setting of the 1500 incubator. For expanding operations, the 1550 can be matched with up to three 1500 incubators. The 1550 can be used to set eggs, but each egg will have to be turned by hand.
A cozy home for your small flock. The CHICK-N-HUTCH is a great first coop for beginners, or for separating a few birds from a larger flock. Durable wooden design.
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HAPPY HEN TREATS Watch your chickens dance and peck in a frenzy for these 100% natural whole-dried mealworms! Contains natural dried mealworms that chickens absolutely love to eat.
Now you can show it with these wonderfully designed EGG CARTONS from Happy Hen Treats.
Use these SPIRAL LEG BANDS to indicate differences in age, breed, medications, names, etc.
Quality NEST BOX without the high price. An ideal nest for urban and rural chickens.
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In the Kitchen
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1. French Press Coffee Maker | $17.21 2. KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Mixer Empire Red | $319.99 3. Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven | $50
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6. 4.
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4. Cuisinart CRC 4-Cup Rice Cooker | $45 5. Knife Sharpener | $5.99 6. Cuisinart Smart Stick 2-Speed Immersion Hand Blender | $27.99 7. Cuisinart 9-Cup Food Processor | $119.99
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In the Garden
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1. Woodstock Amazing Grace Chime | $30.36 2. Rain Barrel 50 Gallon | $92.39 3. Wheelbarrow, Dolly and Cart | $159.99
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4. Authentic Haven Brand Manure Tea | $12.95 5. Microgreens Garden in a Box | $18
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If there is one thing that a homesteader is at the end of the day it is tired and sore. What better way to celebrate the holidays than purchasing a Snorkel wood-fired hot tub. Snorkel® Hot Tubs are 100% manufactured in the USA using premium-quality all heart, clear Western Red Cedar from the forests of Canada. With more and more companies sending manufacturing overseas these days, they are prouder than ever to be “American Owned & Made.”
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Below left: The Ultimate Shovel; Below right: a California style knife
Single wheel hoe
Right: Cold Frame; Below: Double wheel hoe with attachements
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Turn any mason jar into an easy fermenting tool
Before we had the technology of keeping food fresh with a refrigerator, we had to preserve our food by pickling. In fact, fermenting food is the original food preservation method. When you get a 12 pack, you get the flexibility to scale your fermenting project up to 6 gallons if needed (twelve, ½ gallon jars). You also have flexibility of adding extra weights when you need to, and the entire stock of 12 is not in use. You usually don’t need all 12 kits, but is sure nice having them when I do need them.
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Now you can mold a 1 pound block of butter with this well made BUTTER MOLD!
Homesteader Supply put their CHEESEMAKING KITS together with you in mind! They took some of the guess work out of the process and put together kits for beginners and for the more experienced cheese maker alike. Below: Artisan crafted TRIPLE WOOD CUTTING BOARD AND ROLLING PIN SET, designed and manufactured by Homesteaders Supply!
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Everything You Need for Your Homestead • Cultures and Supplies for Cheese Making • Canning Supplies • Butter & Yogurt Making • Dairy Milking • Livestock Care
Encouraging self sufficient, self sustainable living and homesteading of all varieties... family farm, urban homestead, country homestead, or even in NYC! Environmentally friendly products, U.S.A. made and manufactured whenever possible. PO Box 6399 • Sparta, TN 38583 • (928) 583-0254
Hard Cheese Making Kit from scratch magazine •
www.HomesteaderSupply.com
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FROM SCRATCH MAGAZINE
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Explore. Experiment. Dream. Liberate Your Learning with Oak Meadow! Oak Meadow’s progressive homeschooling curriculum for kindergarten to grade 12 is flexible, creative, and experiential. It meets your child’s unique needs at each stage of development and helps you set a natural rhythm of learning for your entire family. Our student-centered approach gives children the freedom and flexibility to explore their interests, talents, and passions. Use our curriculum independently or enroll in our fully-accredited distance learning school. We’re here to support you every step of the way as you discover your own joyful path to learning. View curriculum samples for all grades Learn about our extensive high school options Check out our online Bookstore Read our free educational journal, Living Education
Oak Meadow encompasses the whole child, the whole family, the whole self. The curriculum engages both the learner and facilitator in a journey and encourages authentic learning through intentional study. We couldn’t imagine a better way to learn even if we wanted to.
INDEPENDENT LEARNING SINCE 1975
oakmeadow.com
—Oak Meadow parent
Join us and our school community on:
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Just click on the photos to shop for items from your Christmas wish list!
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7 FINANCING YRS
SPECIAL
ZERO DOWN NO INTEREST For up to one year NO PAYMENTS RESTRICTIONS APPLY
7 FINANCING SPECIAL 7 FINANCING YRS
YRS
Improve your animals' health
while
SPECIAL
ZERO DOWN NO INTEREST For up to one year NO PAYMENTS RESTRICTIONS APPLY
ZERO DOWN NO INTEREST For up to one year NO PAYMENTS
SAVING $$$
Take control of the quality and availability of feed for your livestock by growing hydroponic fodder. FodderPro Feed Systems are designed to rapidly produce highly nutritious, fresh feed, year-round in a compact growing area with minimal inputs. 1.800.201.3414 • www.FodderSystems.com/ADFMS
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RESTRICTIONS APPLY
Pull up your sleigh at Homestead Lady and DIY this Christmas season! https://www.homesteadlady.com https://www.etsy.com/shop/HomesteadLadyShop http://www.pinterest.com/homesteadlady/
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Open Year Round
Saturday Mornings
405 S. Brooks St. in the parking lot of Renaissance Center, Wake Forest, NC
HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET -
December 6th, 9 am to 2 pm. On this special day local Craftsman join the Wake Forest Farmers Market, offering beautiful one of a kind gifts.
WINTER MARKETS
November 1st - March 28th, 10 am to 12 noon.
Regular Markets
April - October 8 am to 12 noon.
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Louise’s Country Closet has a wide array of merchandise including key chains, jewlery, tote bags and decals like the one pictured above. CHICKEN SADDLES are made to protect your hen’s back from a roosters nails and spurs. When a rooster overmates a hen this can lead to serious and sometimes life threatening damage. Saddles made by Louise’s Country Closet are adorable and durable. The saddles are made to allow feather growth. The design covers more for better protection with high quality materials - the patterned cotton or flannel front and a tough duck cloth underneath. The duck cloth has a softer side to rest against the bare skin of a hen’s back. from scratch magazine •
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Create your own sheep portrait with Sheep Portrait of Daphne Hooking Pattern – Front Facing or Sheep Portrait of Jack Hooking Pattern – Profile. Halcyon’s Maine Made Cherry Swift and Wooden Ball Winder Combo
SHEEP NEEDLE FELTING KIT This is a fast and easy kit - great for beginners! It comes with materials, tools and step-by-step instructions.
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The TADPOLE KNITTING BOARD allows you to knit scarves, hats, bags, toys and more easily.
WINDY WILLOW HOMESTEAD Windy Willow homestead was created by Nicole See to share her love of crafting with others. She creates handmade soaps (left), fabric flower ornaments (middle), coiled fabric baskets and more.
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
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Good Seed, Glad Harvest. Seeds for Growers of All Sizes. Conventional, Organic, Heirloom and Hybrid Seeds. Customer Service & Phone Orders: (800) 825-5477 Monday - Friday 8AM - PM EST www.neseed.com
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FarmTek offers farm supplies, chicken feeders, poultry equipment, hoop buildings, hay tarps, barn heaters, greenhouse film, agricultural supplies, professional greenhouses, hay storage, barn lights, TekFoil foil insulation, game bird netting, livestock fencing, chicken watering systems, barn fans, fabric buildings, PolyMax, greenhouses, kennel flooring, barn curtain, pig scales, blackout curtain, hoop barns, feed troughs, hog supplies, cold frames, brooders, greenhouse plastic covering, equine supplies, and more to help you manage your farm, business or home.
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Equip Yourself. Save Money. Take Care of Your Health.
Join our Facebook Group! 38 • from scratch magazine
As a modern day homesteader, farmer, mother, and a photographer – I know how busy life can be. I also know how frustrating it can be to not feel your very best. To not have enough energy to get everything done. After battling some major health issues including anti-inflammatory illnesses, severe food allergies, asthma, back pain and anxiety for years and NOT getting the results from the prescriptions that the doctor’s office kept writing me, I decided to look for some natural solutions. I am now supporting my health and the health of my family with essential oils. I use dōTERRA essential oils several times a day. My friends, families and coworkers lives have all been changed by these amazing oils. I want to provide support and join you on YOUR essential oil journey. Let’s connect and talk about all of the great things that essential oils can do for you! I want to be YOUR partner and help you every step of the way. Join my online Facebook group. A private place where you can ask questions, receive support, make friends and learn all about essential oils.
Click here to email me to learn more! www.theherbalhomestead.com from scratch magazine •
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THANK YOU SHOPPING FROM OUR GIFT GUIDE! THESE MERCHANTS ARE COMMITTED TO THE HOMESTEADING MOVEMENT AND DESERVE YOUR BUSINESS!
STAY TUNED FOR THE DEC/ JAN ISSUE OF FROM SCRATCH MAGAZINE
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