Homemade Christmas Gifts Straight from the Garden

During the long, hot days of summer, the last thing we think about is Christmas shopping. After all, that's a task we usually relegate to the month of December, right? But the truth is, the job of shopping for Christmas gifts is something many people loathe. Parking lots are crowded, malls are jam packed, and finding just the right gift for that special someone can take hours, or even days. What if there was a way to get some of your Christmas gifts ready during the summertime and put them away in storage so they'll be ready to go when the holiday season rolls around? Before you grab your keys and jump in the car to go shopping now, stop and take a look around your own home and garden. There may be some gift possibilities lurking right under your own nose that are homemade, thoughtful, and very inexpensive.

Many of us raise vegetable gardens in the summer, and we wind up with more fresh produce than we can possibly use. Instead of letting it rot on the vine or givin g it all away to neighbors, consider canning. Many vegetables like fresh green beans and tomatoes can be canned and then given away as gifts at the holidays. Fresh bell peppers can be made into relishes, and cucumbers can be pickled and canned. Cans of fresh produce also make wonderful hostess's gifts when you are invited to holiday parties. Top off the jar with a colorful square of fabric and tie with a ribbon to make the gift really attractive and special.

If you enjoy cooking, consider using your fresh produce to make other items like homemade spaghetti sauce, fresh salsa, or pickle relish that can be canned. For a really nice touch, put a couple jars of spaghetti sauce into a gift basket and then include some related items such as a pound of pasta and a loaf of fresh Italian bread. Other nice touches might include an Italian cookbook, a bottle of good red wine or gourmet olive oil, and even some fresh parmesan cheese. The idea of themed gift baskets based on your homemade canned goods can be expanded into other areas, too. For example, if you've made some fresh salsa, include items in your gift basket like tortilla chips, margarita mix, and a bottle of good quality tequila.

Homemade gifts from the garden don't have to be limited to only vegetables. If you grow fruits such as blueberries, cherries, or raspberries, consider making homemade jams or pie fillings that can be canned for holiday gifts. Nice additions to round out a gift basket with these items could include a new pie dish, or some homemade bread for toasting. Fresh fruits can also be made into syrups that can be given as gifts along with some homemade pancake mix. Furthermore, if you grow fresh herbs such as parsley or basil, consider making fresh pesto at the end of the summer and canning it into small jars to give as gifts.

Homemade Christmas gifts that have come from your garden make nice gift items for almost anyone. After all, everyone enjoys good food, e specially when it's homegrown. Even better, a gift like this is very thoughtful, and shows the recipient that you put some time and thought into what to give them. So if you've got a garden that's overflowing with fresh produce, take an afternoon and do some canning. You'll save yourself both time and money when December rolls around!

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

With many of us facing greater financial challenges this year than last, Christmas gift shopping poses a real threat to our budget and wallets. We still want the holidays to be memorable for our families, yet how do we strike that critical balance between giving the perfect gift and still staying within your budget? The answer might be easier than you think; homemade Christmas gifts are a way for you to give the best of yourself and your talents to those you love. Homemade gifts are often more treasured by the recipient than a purchased item because they show you put in a lot of thought and effort, and thus they hold more sentimental value.

If you'd like to try your hand at making some homemade Christmas gifts this year, but aren't sure where to start, let your hobbies and talents be your guide. What things are you good at? We've got a list of ideas to get you started.

Gardeners:
If you are a gardener, you have a talent that many people envy. The holidays are a great time for you to share the fruits of your labor with those you love. If you grow produce, consider canning some of it at the end of the summer to give as Christmas gifts. Homemade tomato sauces, ketchup, or salsa are all good options. For the flower gardener, dried or pressed flower blossoms make wonderful crafts for use in bookmarks, wreaths, and arrangements. You could also give pots of bulbs that will bloom in late winter or early spring.

Cooks or Bakers:
Baked goods are always a great gift and are fun to present in a tin, basket, or on a pretty gift plate. Another fun option is a homemade food basket with recipes and some pre-made mixes that will allow the recipient to make a meal. For the elderly or new parents, pre-made frozen dinners and casseroles are also greatly appreciated.

Woodworkers:
Homemade gift ideas from someone who enjoys woodworking are almost endless. Toys make beauti ful heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation. Cutting boards are a nice gift for families, as are coaster sets and keepsake wooden boxes.

Seamstresses:
If you know your way around a needle and thread, you can really get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to Christmas gifts. For a mother and daughter, consider matching aprons. Unique and fashionable homemade purses or bags also made a great fit for the women on your list. Children enjoy stuffed animals, personalized placemats, or special quilts.

Scrapbookers:
Scrapbooks or memory books for loved ones make treasured gifts, especially if they record a special event, such as the birth of a baby or a wedding in the family. Other gift ideas might include homemade gift cards featuring photos of loved ones.

Computer Whiz:
For those of us who aren't crafty with our hands, but who are very techno-savvy, consider making family calendars on the computer to give away as gifts. The calendars can feature family photos and notations for birthdays, anniversaries, and other important family events. Another idea, if you have the equipment, would be to take old family movies that are on VHS and transfer them to DVD. A gift set of all the family's home movies can be made and given to each family member.

We all have a talent or the ability to create special gift items that others will appreciate. All we have to do is pull on our own unique talents and hobbies, add a little imagination, and anyone can create lasting memories for both the giver and recipient!

Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter - Does it work? Read my review!

Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter - What is it?

I love to cook, and I've recently been experimenting with making my own homemade salsa and pasta sauces. Obviously, I've been using tons of canned tomatoes in the process. A friend at work recently brought me a few home-grown tomatoes, and I asked her how she possibly had time to grow tomatoes herself. She said she's been using a Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter. I was instantly interested in finding out more. I thought that would be a wonderful way to save money on buying tomatoes at the market, and have much better home-grown tasting tomatoes at the same time.

The Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter is a simple planter that allows you to plant tomato seedlings upside down. The roots stay in the planter and the plant hangs underneath. The sun warms the planter, which acts like a greenhouse. This makes the roots very happy. When you water, it allows the moisture and any tomato food you use to drain directly down onto the plant.

I bought this back in April, and I decided to plant cherry tomatoes in it. You can put three plants in each planter. You can even mix different tomato varieties, or even grow other vegetables or herbs. But, for my first try, I decided to stick with small tomatoes. A few weeks ago, my plants just exploded! My plants grew so fast, and then tomatoes started popping up- I have picked probably a hundred tomatoes so far and we probably have a hundred more ready to pick! The vines are almost touching the ground! I can't even describe how wonderful they taste!

Homemade Canning - The Home Canning Essential Equipment Checklist

Before beginning to can at home, it is important to have the right equipment on hand. There are two types of homemade canning: boiling water canning and high pressure canning. However, aside from the style of pans used for canning, the rest of the supplies are identical.

Essential Supplies Needed for Canning

The following are the supplies and equipment you will need to successfully can meats and produce at home:

Canning jars Boiling canner Pressure canner Or Dutch oven Large kettle to pre-boil equipment in Jar tongs Proper canning jars Canning lids Lid rims Wide mouth funnel Food mill Food sieve Colander Spoons Heat proof rubber spatulas Measuring cups Different sized bowls Towels Bakers cooling rack Knives Cutting board Filtered water (preferably also distilled) Food to can Waterproof labels and label marker

Use the Right Kind of Canner

A boiling canner is used for high-acid foods such as fruits, jams, tomatoes, pickles, relishes, preserves, and tomato based salsas and sauces. High-acid foods only need to be brought up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of boiling water, for the specific time specified in the recipe.

Father of Canned Aloha

James Drummond Dole had a vision, and that vision ended up supplying pineapples to the world. Born just outside Boston, Dole graduated from Harvard University with degrees in agriculture and business and moved to Hawaii at 22.

James Dole

Arriving in Honolulu in November, 1899, Dole quickly set about purchasing a parcel a 60-acre plot of land in Wahiawa (near the North Shore of Oahu). Dole experimented with different crops on his farm. His first thought was coffee, yet after some brief experimentation he settled on planting pineapple.

His new venture became the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (Hapco), and despite the Honolulu Advertiser labeling it a "foolhardy venture," in a short time the company grew wildly successful. Of course, when your cousin is Sanford Dole, the acting President of the Republic of Hawaii (and the man who helped orchestrate the overthrow of the monarchy), the odds of achieving success are vastly improved.

In spite of his family connection, James Dole was an innovative businessman. After just seven years, Hapco built one of the largest canneries in the world next to Honolulu Harbor. Dole knew that canning pineapple was the only way to make exporting the fruit profitable. Speeding up the canning process was imperative (since the fruit was hand-peeled and cut), so in 1911 he hired Henry Ginaca to invent a machine that could core and peel 35 pineapples per minute!