Join me for our annual brainstorm for homegrown gift ideas for the holiday - because allowing gift giving season to bring you down is no good. Better is to choose some things you can hand-make and give to a community of others who appreciate the care over the commercialism.
Featured Event: Dec 6-10, Live Free Academy Online Health Summit (1st 2 days are FREE)
Sponsor 1: Paul Wheaton and Permise.com - Stocking Stuffer for the Gardeners in Your Life: https://gardener-gift.com?f=442 (2 for $50, 12 for $140, 100 for $805)
Sponsor 2: StrongRootsReources.com: https://bit.ly/42UPCgJ
Livestream Schedule
Monday, 2pm: Homegrown Gift Ideas
Tuesday, 12:30pm: Tuesday Live with Toolman Tim Cook and John Willis
Wednesday, 1pm: Interview with AJ Harrison, Using Propane to Be Off Grid
Friday, 9:30am: Homestead Happenings
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Meal planning strategy, no kitchen: Premade stews from freezer, a chicken, pulled pork
- Incoming cows - not sure when!
- Outfitting the camper: Crockpot cutting board, and sioux vide
- Keeping resupply to a minimum through the renovation
Weekly Shopping Report
Black Friday deals going on.
Dollar Tree was first. Although we found parking easily enough, they were busy enough to have three lines open, which is rare, and I saw at least one person stocking shelves. One of the food coolers in the back appears to have croaked, as it was empty ("66" on its display), but all the others were 3/4 full. The drink coolers were in good shape too, except for one making a bad rattling noise intermittently as it tried to start.
Home Depot was next. Ryobi has a new line of USB-charged tools, and we picked up a rotating brush on the spur of the moment. The new batteries are NOT compatible with their old low-voltage ones. They have USB-C ports on them.
Aldi was last. We found everything we wanted. The only muzzle in sight the whole trip was the woman taking care of her mom with cancer, and she'd be wearing it without the scamdemic. Staple prices were: milk: $3.02, eggs: $1.24 (+), heavy cream: $4.69, OJ: $3.29, butter: $3.49 (+), potatoes: $3.49, bacon: $4.49, sugar: $3.09, flour: $1.99, 80% lean ground beef: $4.49.
A gallon of untainted gasoline remains at $3.899.
Frugality Tip from Margo
You can get yourself, or a friend, prepared for an upcoming surgery, life event, or just a day when you don't want to think about what's for dinner, by making up crockpot meals. Chop veggies, add seasonings and bag and freeze. Take the meat out the day before and add the frozen veggies with seasoning to the crockpot. I like to freeze bone broth in ice cube trays and throw a couple in the crockpot with a roast, stew meat or chicken, so add them to the bag of veggies for a quick and easy ready to go meal. Saves you from ordering that take out, and saves you some time.
Operation Independence
Take advantage of cyber deals that are actual cyber deals - which requires pricing awareness. You can get $.99/lb turkey, 80% off at Wayfair, or other deals this week.
HRC has free gift wrapping through Friday.
Main topic of the Show: Homegrown Gift Ideas
- Custom Cutting board
- Cookie in a jar: Christmas Macaroon Mix
- Soup in a jar: Country Soup in a Jar
- Dried herbs in a jar
- Home canned goods basket
- Aprons and napkins
- Shapely Suet TreatsMaterials: 1 1/2 cups shortening (look for palm oil free options), 3/4 cups nut butter (any kind), 3 1/2 cups wild bird seed, 1 cup quick oats, 1/2 cup corn meal, mould
- Cookies, quickbreads, treats
- Sachet (with your dried herbs)
- Homemade tea blends
- Freeze Dried Anything (Affiliate Link: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1095.html)
- Service Coupons
What ideas do you have for homegrown gifts?
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
Community
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Resources