Gifts
for the
HOMESTEADER WRITTEN BY DIANE WHITTEN, NUTRITION EDUCATOR, REBECCA DEVANEY, MASTER GARDENER COORDINATOR, HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR, AND NICOLINA FOTI, AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SARATOGA AND WARREN COUNTIES
Apple Grinder and Cider Press. Photo by Diane Whitten, 2021.
Gifts for the Foodie on Your Homestead WiFi Freezer Alarm $14 - $125 If you have a separate freezer that stores hundreds of dollars of meat and produce, you can protect your investment with a WiFi Freezer Alarm that will monitor the temperature and humidity. Starting around $14 you can get a basic monitor that will alert you through an in-home monitor, so if you’re usually home you’ll hear the alarm. If you’re often not home, for $45-$125 you can get a WiFi monitor that has an app for your smart phone, so you can be alerted anywhere, anytime.
Cider/Fruit Press $150 - $850, grinder extra Many homesteads have fruit trees or grape vines, so a great gift would be a Cider/Fruit Press. The whole family can have fun making home-made cider or fruit juice which is a great way to use up large quantities of fruit. The type and amount of fruit you plan to press will determine which kind of press you buy, and whether you also want a fruit grinder. Soft fruit, such as grapes, won’t require a grinder, but apples need to be cut up before pressing, so a grinder is worthwhile. Prices vary depending on the size, starting with small table-top models, so do your research and consider buying a used one. A good quality press should last for generations.
Fermentation Vessel & Accessories $20 - $150 Fermenting is a great way to reduce food waste and extend the life of your produce by 4-6 months. Fermentation is easy, but having the right equipment will lead to success in making sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, hot pepper sauce and more. Traditional fermentation vessels are ceramic, these come in sizes ranging from 1 to 10-gallon crocks. Two main types are available: water-sealed or open. You’ll want to purchase weights for the crock, if it doesn’t come with them, to keep the produce submerged during the fermentation process. Today fermenting in wide-mouth quart canning jars has become popular, so many options are on the market for that. Obviously, the amount of produce you can ferment is limited in a quart jar, but it’s a great use of canning jars that you may already have. A lid system with weights is all you’ll need to create a healthy fermentation vessel. You’ll find several brands by searching online for “fermenting in quart jars.” 80 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2021
Open Fermentation Crock. Photo by Diane Whitten.
Lids that allow gases to escape, while keeping mold or yeast from entering the jar. Photos by Diane Whitten.
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