Prepper Presents

So, you don’t want to seem like a wacko, but you have unprepared loved ones or neighbors. What can you get them for the holidays? Here are some of my thoughts on this.

DIY – First off, of course, I try to DIY and craft my own. I haven’t bought a card in years. I’ll admit that not everyone gets a card for every last occasion, but that just makes the ones they do get more special, right? Right. So go to the store and buy a large stack of construction paper, or even one of the fancy scrapbooking papers, you’ll still end up with way more cards than you would with the same amount of money thrown at Hallmark. Then, as my father says, “Cut and fold until it looks about right, then stop.”

One of the things I’m making this year is  batches of hand warmers, and a few larger neck warmers. I wanted something that could easily handle use with some of our back up heat sources, the ammo can stove and the fire pit. I recently got handed yards and yards of some wool fabric, it feels tough enough to handle the wood heat. Wool ignites at a higher temperature than cotton and some synthetic fibers. It has a lower rate of flame spread, a lower rate of heat release, a lower heat of combustion, and does not melt or drip; that sounded perfect to me. I’ve been filling them with some of the rice that we’re retiring out of our stores.

Seed packets can be fun stocking stuffers, what kid wouldn’t enjoy watching a Painted Lady Runner Bean erupt out of the soil in a little potting soil pot, or a row of sunflowers? Or perhaps you’re a veteran seed saver and you can hand mix a salad mix, or tomato medley. I’ve been known to hand out seed packets of pretty, hard working cover crops.

I may mix up a couple batches of my baby powder or powder deodorant. I use a 1 to 4 ratio of baking soda to corn starch, then I stir in my herbs of choice, usually ground first in my motor.  Sometimes for my deodorant I’ll up the ratio to 1 to 3, I don’t seem to be overly sensitive to the baking soda, but some people are.  I think the simple act of receiving a hand made version of something the receiver has always assumed needed to be bought can be an eyeopening thing.

Hand made blankets can be both treasured and functional items. Quilts made out of recycled materials, knitted afghans, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Think about it, blankets are one of the first things people get during emergency responses.

Just for fun - I’m infusing some sugars, with herbs out of the garden. Some of the end of season rosemary and lavender. I think rosemary infused sugar would be delicious baked on some ham. And I want to try lavender infused sugar on some cookies.  I’ll give some as gifts though, packaged in pretty jars. Nothing prepper about it, but who doesn’t love sugar?

Well spent money - A Lifestraw would make a good gift, it can easily be seen as a camping/hiking/hunting/traveling accessory, no need to trumpet the fact that it would make a grid down or Bug Out situation more bearable. Plus it won’t break the bank.

Winter’s cold icky weather can make it easier to find time to get to a gun range, if you have an indoor one nearby, perhaps even convince your curious spouse to take the plunge and fire a few handgun rounds. I’m lucky enough to have an indoor archery range nearby, and I get there more often in the winter than I do in the busy days of summer. Such places usually offer gift certificates or pre pay packages that could be slipped in a card.

Need a hostess gift? Get, (or make) a wine bottle gift bag, and fill it with a solar flashlight instead. Get creative!

Sound off in the comments if you have more great prepper present ideas. Tis the season!

- Calamity Jane