Farm life is pretty unique in a lot of ways. For someone marrying into the family, those differences can hit them pretty hard. I was asked by a follower if I could provide a list of potential bridal gifts for a newly-minted farm wife. What exactly does a farm wife need to survive this crazy life?
Here are some ideas.
Crockpot
During our busiest seasons on the farm, namely planting and harvest, coming home late in the evening means we don’t necessarily get a lot of hot meals. But an Instapot or crockpot can make life so much easier! Also, the bigger the better so we can make larger meals and enjoy leftovers! Bonus: Crockpot recipe book (here or here – both have easy and healthy meals!).
Instapot
See above. Instapots create the same time saving help for warm meals (and even desserts!). Bonus: Insta Pot
Pyrex baking dishes with insulated carriers
Lots of time we’re making meals and transporting them to the farm. Having a way to get those meals to the field warm is a game changer! Again, the key here is making meals away from the house easy. With Pyrex, the dishes are high quality, and also come with the added convenience for travel.
Versatile Travel Mug
Early mornings and late evenings during busy seasons means coffee is always an option. Better yet – try travel mugs that can handle hot or cold, and include a tea infuser! A large thermos for keeping coffee hot in the field is also a must have to keep those travel mugs full throughout a long shift.
Large Cooler
Are we sensing a theme here? Large coolers are a must for hot days in the field to make sure farmer has plenty of drinks to stay hydrated! The OtterBox cooler offers the durability expected from the brand, which is always helpful when tractors are involved. It can even keep ice for 14 days, so it should out last a day of farm works.
Shop Vac
Farms are messy, so farm spouses need the tools to clean up those messes quick! From dirt and mud to animal hair and bits of feed, farmers inevitably drag parts of work home with them. Keeping a shop vac handy makes housework a whole lot easier. I like this one because it can handle dry and wet debris, and also comes with lots of accessories (you know, for cleaning out trucks!).
Boot Dryer
Work on the farm doesn’t wait for nice weather, so farmers often find themselves with wet boots, gloves, and hats. A boot dryer is a great way to get the farm uniform ready and prepped for the another day of work. Because who wants to wear wet gloves and boots? I like this one because it has a timer, so when farmer comes in at the end of a long day, (s)he can set up the boot dryer and forget about it.
Heavy-Duty Outdoor Flashlights
Inevitably, something goes wrong and requires immediate attention…in the middle of the night. Having reliable and quality flashlights can make a job so much easier. Bonus: those living in the country know that we sometimes lose power for longer periods of time because we’re usually the last ones to have power restored. Having additional options, such as lanterns, can be a life saver!
Extra Bed Sheets and Towels
Listen, no one has time to do laundry when life on the farm gets busy. Having extra sheets and towels makes a hectic schedule more accommodating. When in doubt – good quality sheets and towels will always be appreciated!
Personalized Farm Signs
When I asked my sister-in-law about the best gifts received, she quickly mentioned personalized farm signs. You can find these types of signs on Esty or Amazon, and they create a unique gift for a couple just starting out and building their farm story.
Roomba
As mentioned, farm houses and their occupants usually come in after a long day of work a little bit dirty. Any product that can helps us clean up without a lot of work is so helpful. A Roomba can clean floors all by itself, which is a gift that just keeps giving!
Tool Kit (Preferably, in Pink)
This one is specifically for those farm wives! Listen, she’s going to have to tackle all sorts of projects on her own. Might as well look adorable while doing it; right? A pink tool kit is definitely the solution!
A special thanks to all of my favorite farm wives that offered up suggestions, especially Jodi from Of Kids and Cows (you can find her Farm Mom Christmas list here).
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Canning jars, big soup pot for boiling corn, soup and canning. Power tools, cordless drill, chain saw, and who says girls get wimpy pink tools, girls need real tools for real work.
Carol, everything is better in pink.
I would add an outdoor propane stove, especially for canning. Mine has two large burners, so I can do two canners at once. We set it up on the front porch and the heat and mess are kept outdoors. We also use it for boiling sweet corn and we take it along for camping. The best $100 I’ve ever spent.