20 original Christmas gift ideas for farmers

It’s that time of year again. The temperature has dropped, the nights have drawn in and Christmas will be upon us in no time at all. And that means it is time to get the gifts organised.

Whether you love or hate Christmas shopping, our gift guide should be handy.

We’ve pulled together a selection of stocking fillers, kids gifts, foodie delights and real treats for your loved ones. And several of our recommendations are produced by fellow farmers or rural businesses.

See also: Tell us about Christmas on your farm and win £100

Check out our list for some great ideas that will take the stress out of present shopping.

Cow paintings

“Milly, Molly and Mandy” is the work of Somerset-based artist Jackie Spurrier, who has been painting cow portraits for 14 years.

“They were peeking over a wall at me as I drove by on my way to pick up the kids from school,” she says. “I had to stop and take hundreds of shots of them as they seemed to love having their photos taken and were posing in groups.”

Cows on Canvas. A paper version is £45 (58x31cm), and the canvas is £165 (90×27.5cm) or £210 (110×32.5cm).

Weather station

The farmer in your life might well already have a rain gauge, but let him or her indulge their interest (OK, obsession!) with monitoring the conditions with this temperature and humidity forecast station.

From ClimeMet, a family business based in rural Suffolk, the 9088 can be set up to measure indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, pressure, sunrise and sunset times, plus moon phase.

It allows you to store historical minimum and maximum records, and also set alarms to alert you to different weather conditions.

ClimeMet. £50 for the 9088 station

Stirrup cups

These four stainless steel stirrup cups come in a fine leather case with stud fastenings.

Each cup holds around 125ml, so they’re the perfect flask accompaniment for a winter warmer.

Gamekeepers Cottage Gifts have kindly provided a 10% discount code for readers who place an order before 11 December – simply enter the code “farmersweekly” at the checkout.

Gamekeepers Cottage Gifts. £29.99

Lid Sid

Lid Sid helps your pans let off steam. The small silicone chap hangs over the edge of your saucepan, propping the lid up to save any of that boiling-over mess.

The perfect gift for busy cooks or budding chefs.

On stockist Luckies’ website you can also find Sid’s friends Hug Doug the spoonsaver and Juice Bruce the citrus squeezer.

Luckies. £9.95

David Richardson’s autobiography

In at the Deep End: How a Young Farmer Came to Cultivate the Media is David Richardson’s autobiography.

Norfolk farmer David, a long-serving Farmers Weekly columnist, has established a reputation as one of the foremost agricultural journalists of his generation, drawing comparisons with the late, great AG Street.

In this book, David blends stories of practical farming with insights into his career as a print, radio and TV journalist, plus his take on notable events, agricultural VIPs and perspective on some of the changes he’s lived through.

Poppyland Publishing. Hardback £16.95; paperback £12.95

Sussex charmer hamper

This medium-sized hamper comes from Bookham & Harrison, based on the Surrey/Sussex border.

It includes their famous Sussex Charmer cheese, which is described as a cross between a traditional mature farmhouse cheese and a Parmesan. The cheese has won a lot of awards and is produced exclusively with milk from the herd at Rudgwick.

Business partner Rob Bookham is well known as a staunch promoter of British food and a pioneer in the late 1990s of farmers’ markets. Most weekends, you’ll find him in his brown bowler hat selling their range of products to the public in Sussex, Surrey or Hampshire.

Bookhams. £22

Cornish spirits

Aval Dor Vodka and Stafford’s Gin are produced from potatoes on the Dustow’s family farm near Fowey in Cornwall.

At Colwith Farm they grow a variety of main crop potatoes, but only the King Edwards are used in Aval Dor Vodka and Stafford’s Gin. Those spuds are extremely high in starch and with their floury complexion they’re perfect for the transformation into a premium spirit.

Aval Dor. Aval Dor Vodka – £22.95 for 35cl; Stafford’s Gin – £37.95 for 70cl

Kids’ overalls

Mum-of-two Jannike Taylor spent 18 months developing the Lakes and Lambs brand, which is inspired by the Lake District, farming and country living.

Based in Penrith, Cumbria, it was launched in June, and these stylish “Little Farm” children’s overalls are among its products.

Designed to be worn over clothes outdoors, they’re lightweight, durable, stain-resistant and available in sizes 1-5 years.

“As we work in agriculture, we have a house full of boiler suits,” says Jannike. “But we struggled to find any that were small enough for very young children learning to walk, or that were designed with children in mind.

“We wanted our own design to be functional but fun and playful as well.”

Lakes and Lambs. £34.99

Jack Russell egg cup

We all love a Jack Russell, right? Well, make the enthusiast in your family happy by beginning their day with one of these fine china egg cups.

This little dog will guard their eggs and soldiers, and other breeds are available, too.

Fur Feather and Fin, based in rural West Sussex, also sells a 6in high china Jack Russell moneybox we rather like the look of.

Fur Feather and Fin. Egg cup £13.50; moneybox £21