It's not too late to buy gifts for the country person in your life, from heirloom seed subscriptions to homemade laundry DIY kits, there’s still time to get a great gift for someone who prefers the sustainable, simple life.
This article was originally published on December 19, 2016. It was updated November 29, 2022.
Country life enthusiasts can be tricky to buy for: they prefer things simple, sustainable, natural. But there are plenty of great options for Christmas gifts that celebrate and enhance that rural lifestyle. Here are some of our favorites:
Subscription Service Gift Ideas
Food Delivery Services Make Great Gifts
Meal kit delivery services like Blue Apron or its plant-based counterpart, Purple Carrot, are all the rage.
Green Chef is the organic answer to meal kit delivery. Perfect for the eco-conscious eater, Green Chef uses responsibly sourced ingredients and allows recipients to select from omnivore, vegan, pescatarian, paleo and gluten-free menus.
But the subscription options don’t start and end with food. Here are a few other subscription picks the country folk on your list may appreciate:
Subscriptions For Country Gardeners
GrowVeg. Part of the draw of rural life is living off the land. But for novices and experts alike, keeping track of your plot from year to year can be a challenge. From garden plans to e-mail reminders to color-coded crop rotation, GrowVeg is a huge time and headache saver. Gift a one-year subscription for just $35. Make this a quick gift by wrapping a seed packet along with a notice of subscription.
Grow Journey offers a similar service, delivering a seasonally selected variety of heirloom seeds each month.
Natural and Healthy Beauty Product Subscriptions
Most hobby farmers and homesteaders choose to use only natural products on their skin.
This is where a clean beauty subscription box, like Cratejoy'sSelf Care Box, can make a perfect self-care themed, all-natural gift.
Their Clean Beauty Kits are sourced from women-owned, American-made companies, and contain full-size, non-toxic, all-natural beauty products you can gift for 1-3 months.
Products may include skin care, nail care, hair care, makeup, body care, etc. and are vegan, organic, inclusive, and celebrity make-up artist-approved.
The classic: Country Magazine Subscriptions
Or, go for a classic subscription to a niche magazine like Garden & Gun or Country Living.
Experience Gift Ideas
Many who choose the rural lifestyle are seeking to simplify. The last thing they want is one more knickknack taking up space. “Experience” gifts or non-tangibles will touch their hearts and don’t need to be dusted around.
Give the Gift of Knowledge
Give the gift of knowledge and community with an Herb Mentor membership. Members can take an herbal basics course, access the extensive reference library, or take advantage of the online community of herbal enthusiasts. An annual subscription is $97 or $15.99 monthly.
Giving an Adventure for a Gift
Give a truly unique and customizable experience with Tinggly. The company partners with vendors across the world to provide adventures like shark diving in South Africa and kayaking in Florida. Loved ones can select their own adventure and location to coincide with a vacation or choose something closer to home.
Philanthropic Gift Ideas
For the philanthropic-minded, make a donation in your loved one’s name.
For an extra-personal touch choose a cause that lines up with his or her passions, whether that’s supporting farmers at home and around the world, access to clean water, or using agriculture to end world hunger.
Gifts You Can Have Delivered to a Rural Area Fast
Still seeking that perfect physical gift to wrap up and place under the tree? Here are some great Amazon Prime finds (two-day shipping eligible), as well as other retailers who offer speedy delivery options:
- This beautifully packaged oak tree is a a poignant representation of love and friendship over time. It’s a gift that will keep giving as it takes root and grows. Rush delivery will cost more, but ensure pre-Christmas arrival.
- Speaking of growing. Give the gift of heirloom seeds with an e-gift card from Seed Savers Exchange. Print out the card and wrap it up with an assortment of heirloom seeds like these from Amazon.
- For the essential oil enthusiast, this starter set includes lemongrass, rosemary, peppermint, tea tree and more. Throw in An Introductory Guide to Essential Oils for good measure.
- Canning devotees and beginners alike will appreciate this go-to contemporary canning guide. Package with a starter canning kit for a complete experience.
- A homemade laundry soap kit, like this one from Lehman’s is a great gift for the natural-minded DIY-er. Order the individual ingredients or a similar kit from Amazon and wrap up in a five-gallon bucket.
Whatever gift you choose, the greatest gift is your time --- whether you're able to see your loved ones in person or just talk to them on the phone, there's no substitute for telling them you care. We hope you and yours enjoy a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!
Are you looking for land to start your country life? Imagine being in your country homestead by next Christmas! Take a look at properties for sale throughout the South on our parent company's website, RaydientPlaces.com.
