What to buy a smallholder for Christmas (From Smallholder)

What to buy a smallholder for Christmas

8:40am Sunday 8th November 2009

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One of my friends always counts the days to Christmas as “sleeps” which I find rather endearing.

Of course the other side of that is the feeling that while you are sleeping, dreaming happily of autumn fruitfulness and early winter tidy ups, Christmas is stealthily creeping up on you, catching you unawares as it always does my partner.

As in “Is it the 25th already? Oh dear I haven’t had time to go shopping – you don’t mind do you?

Well yes I do mind actually and last year I was so cross that I stomped off for a Christmas ride on my welsh cob, completely forgetting until we were someway up the road, that she is dreadful on her own, spooky, scary and strong.

So cross was I that we continued anyway and just about arrived home in one piece, my anger at the non-arrival of Christmas presents forgotten in the joy of still being alive.

What would I like for Christmas? I’ve been pondering this. It’s no good putting something totally unattainable on your list which for me would be a rugged truck such as a Ford Ranger or Mitsubishi with double cabs and that radio that clicks in and out to tell you traffic news or a full size polytunnel or two.

But I think I am so easy to buy for. Food and wine, especially English or Welsh, is just so acceptable. I love DVD’s and am still waiting for someone to cough up the complete Buffy or S&TC, the IT Crowd and so on – something totally different to the more down to earth world I inhabit.

I’ve been waiting years for these so I’m not holding any great hope this year either.

I always need new wellies every winter as mine get hard labour with no time off! I’d really like to have a pair of the short wellies that fit much more easily over baggy jeans (the type I favour).

I really like the Hunter Argyll short knee shape which even comes with toe protector, so important round horses but the Aigle Bison looks rather stylish in a muted way so it’s a difficult choice.

The Welly Shop have a huge selection www.thewellyshop.com.

Another present I would really like to receive and perhaps even give would be fruit trees. We are planning an orchard complete with nut trees and more unusual species such as mulberries.

A fruit tree would be much appreciated and what better way to give a present that really really lasts? Check out Walcot Organic nursery on www.walcotnursery.co.uk or Deacons Nursery (who do a great free catalogue) on www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk or call 01938 840750. Glebe farm also offer hedge plants as well as trees www.glebe-farm-hedging.co.uk.

For seeds as well, what could be more exciting than getting a collection of seeds to herald the future arrival of another spring.

Tozer Direct on www.tozerseedsdirect.com or Moles Seeds who have a lovely catalogue celebrating 60 years of seeds (01206 213213) molesseeds.co.uk offer many possibilities.

Victoriana Nursery Gardens have some really unusual plants as well as naturally grown fruiting stock, soft fruit and hedging that includes cherry plum and rosa rugosa specie. I love the sound of the Whispering Willow hedging.

Check out victoriananursery.co.uk.

It’s time too to think about planning bedding plants for next year’s hanging baskets - I want to check out some bee friendly plants.

To hang them, the brackets that The Profiles Range supply really do them justice. There is a wide choice from the traditional horse and pony and farming/poultry livestock but all done in a very lively way to the really innovative fantasy type brackets with witches and the extensive transport range.

I hope he doesn’t read this but I cannot wait to get my partner a Morris Traveller bracket to compliment his latest renovation project.

Most of these designs are also available as weather vanes or house names too and there is also a lovely range of Christmas gifts from egg holders to glasses and really lovely clocks from animalbrackets.co.uk.

Christmas is a time for relaxing and time to get out the cards and play all those traditional games, happy families, snap and the more demanding rummy and poker.

It’s lovely to use some traditional cards and also cards make an easily post able gift for friends far and wide. www.heritageplayingcards.com.

Regular readers will know that I am very fond of cats and I try to buy something from Cats Protection who have a range of gifts for, yes you’ve guessed it, cat lovers. www.cats.org.uk.

The Donkey Sanctuary have a range of cards and gifts at thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk. If you know someone who loves knitting, they also sell knitted donkeys that are made by supporters so contact them for a knitting pattern and include all the necessary wool as a Christmas present for the knitter in your life.

Years ago when I was little, relatives used to go out of their way to not give me presents that would be useful for the ponies, saying I needed to have other interests.

I am sure none of those well meaning presents remain but my ponies, albeit perhaps different ones, still do. Try and match the gift to the person, it seems obvious but usually the more unusual type of gift such as a tree or even a bag of compost, hits the spot more than the boxed bath gift sets for example on offer in mainstream shops.

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