I really enjoy giving gifts. Sunday, June 21st is just around the corner! With all the unease in the world right now, it’s easy to forget about holidays, breaks, and celebrating those we love. Though chaos and worry has plagued our minds, it’s the perfect time to rest – and say a sincere thank you to our family.
I’ve been racking my brain to think of great gift ideas for our most important male figures. My list for Teacher Appreciation gifts mostly consisted of herbal mixes and flower bouquets. While many men would appreciate those, I wanted to think of very practical, thoughtful additions to give to the dads (and bonus dads) in our lives.
But, if I’ve learned anything from my Mom, it’s to not forget that our Fathers need tenderness, and appreciation too. So, I’ve compiled a list of easy, sentimental gifts that you can make from your own Victory Garden. Gifts that say – I appreciate you, I love you, so here’s something useful!
- Herbal Dry Rubs (For Dads Who Love Cooking, Grilling, and Barbecues)
At any family event, I’ll find my dad at the grill or in the kitchen (sometimes with his finger in the desserts). He loves creating hearty, meat dishes that will fill up the whole family. If your dad is anything like mine, then an herbal mix for his burgers and wings is the perfect gift.
For this gift, simply pluck a medley of fresh garden herbs, and mix them in a glass jar. Remember to be sure to write a date to toss the mix, as fresh herbs can grow bacteria within 1 week. Make sure to tell your dad to refrigerate the mix, too! (For a longer storage life, use dried herbs.)
I “phoned a friend” for this gift, and asked my dad about his favorite herb combinations. Here’s a list of his suggestions:
Herbs for Beef
For dishes centered around ground beef or steak, you’ll want to use peppery, fragrant herbs. Also, herbs with a slightly minty or sweet tang pair great with this savory meat. This is why basil, sage, and thyme are perfect choices for dry rub.
After you pluck them from your garden, you can choose to combine them with spices like cayenne and pepper. Or, you can add in produce like bell peppers and onion for a marinade! Get creative, and choose flavors you know your dad will love.
Herbs for Chicken
Chicken is a mild, healthy meat, which means it has loads of different herb options! For dads who love a balsamic kick, try adding in a classic like rosemary. Or, for those who like more light and Earthy notes, try cilantro or dill weed.
More savory herbs like mint, thyme, and marjoram also work well to add more flavor to chicken. My dad’s secret for any herb mix, however: add in a bay leaf! Bay leaves are a great “glue” that bring out the complimentary flavors in herbs.
If you want to go above and beyond, add in a peel from an orange or lemon, or some garlic cloves. Citrus and garlic are a great flavor-booster to any chicken dish!
Herbs for Pork
Since pork has a savory, sweet taste to it, it has few herbs that pair well with it. Sage, for instance, is a great warm contrast to pork’s saccharine taste. Other herbs that may work include dill weed, parsley, sage, and rosemary.
As always, you can add in some garlic cloves, or even ginger to add more dimension to your gift. If you’d like a truly unique flavor, try adding in any fresh berries, cherries, or tart fruit from your garden! You may also try adding in some honey, as well. These flavors bring out the natural sweetness of pork, and are perfect for dads with a sweet-tooth.
- Pickled Goods (For Dads Who Love Eating!)
If your dad is more passionate about eating than cooking, try making him your own canned goods. Here is a list of homemade garnishes that can make any meal tastier, and more sentimental!
Pickling some produce from your Victory Garden is a perfect gift for dads who love the zeal of vinegar. Things like okra, cucumbers, and peppers are perfect garnishes for summery dishes. However, you may also choose to pickle onions, cauliflower, or even cherries!
For most pickled goods, you’ll want to use a distilled white vinegar. However, you may also use apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or whatever you prefer.
As a general recipe, you’ll want to brine the produce in a mix of water, vinegar, salt and sugar. As a good rule of thumb, use this guideline:
- 2 cups of sliced produce
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vinegar
- 1-2 tsp. of salt
- 2 tbsp. sugar (optional)
(Tip: Be sure to add sugar to any pickled fruits, like cherries or grapes, to avoid too much acidity).
Put the mixture in a glass jar, and let it sit in the refrigerator. You could even create a mix of complimentary vegetables, too. Use your imagination, and consider the garnishes your dad loves. (If he loves pickles on his sandwiches, for example, choose cucumbers!)
- Seeds and Plants (For Dads With a Green Thumb)
If your dad has his own garden, or is looking for somewhere to start – sharing seeds is a perfect gift option. I recently posted about my surprise tiny tomatoes that sprouted (I do NOT recommend saving these, lol). By collecting seeds from your Victory Garden, you can pass them along as great gifts. (These seeds also lead to better and healthier, gardens, which I also touch on in that post.)
Simply gather seeds from your produce, and seal them in plastic or paper bags. Choose plants you know your dad loves – whether it’s a fruit, herb, or flower. Perhaps you can even make a “salsa starter” kit, full of tomato, cilantro, and chili seeds!
Or, you can choose to gift already growing plants. By carefully digging and transplanting a plant into a pot – you can give your dad a jump start on his own Victory Garden.
If you’d rather not take the risk of uprooting your plants, however, you can pluck him fresh produce. A basket full of homegrown fruits and vegetables is great for those who are less patient, and want yummy produce right away! (I don’t blame them!)
- Worms (For Dads Who Compost, Fish, and More)
One of my most cherished gifts was from my grandson – it was a handful of worms! (See Backstory for more of my grandson’s gifts) This gift is perfect for dads who want to start a compost. The worms will feast on the decomposing food and scraps in your compost, which turns it into a fertilizer. (This is also a great option for dad’s looking to start a garden, or who love sustainability!)
On the other hand, if your Father loves to fish, worms are a great bait. By keeping a place for the worms to thrive, he could have his own multiplying supply! (Give a man a worm, feed him for a day…give him a whole colony, feed him for life?)
What’s more, worms can also be a useful gift to any dad with pets such as birds or reptiles. This is especially thoughtful, as it’s helping him provide for another living creature. If I know anything about dads, it’s that they get amazing satisfaction knowing they helped care for something.
- Pest Repellents (For Dads Who Are Always Outside)
From lawn mowing, to weed pulling, and cutting down trees – I’ve seen my dad do most of his house work outside. If your dad does yard work or has his own garden – he probably encounters flies, mosquitoes, and more. With all of their other responsibilities, I’m sure healing bug bites with tea tree oil is the last of their desires!
For a practical gift to an outdoor-lover, consider giving him a natural pest repellent. This is a great option for families, like mine, who want to spend some time in their own backyards.
If your dad’s home is in a more humid climate, or has a water source that attracts mosquitoes – consider a bat house. I purchased a bat house for my own dad, which has been a lovely success. Since bats eat 1000’s of mosquitoes a day, they’re a great natural pest repellent. This makes a more fun, natural way of controlling mosquitoes over harmful chemicals.
However, if he wants to get rid of pests like aphids and flies, there are more options. To control these insects, you can give your father flowers that attract pollinators. Pollinators like birds, lacewings, and some beetles, eat common backyard pests. So, by attracting them to your backyard, you have a natural, pretty pest control!
What’s more, pollinators are also a great option for gardens. Since they transfer pollen to other plants, your dad’s garden will see a healthier, more bountiful yield. And, he’ll be helping to save the pollinator population, as well. This idea is a win-win for green-thumbed, sustainable men.
Closing Thoughts
Though we should not compare the work done between mother and father, I’ve noticed most dads restlessly work to provide for their families. And most of them, like a lot of parents, do it without expecting a thank you or something in return. However, we can always sweeten the pot, and give them dashes of sentimental gifts along the way.
It’s easy to take our parents for granted, but by giving our fathers a gift we grew ourselves, it’s as if to say – “I put in a little work so you can enjoy something, just as you’ve done all my life”. Remember, in the midst of the buzz and chaos of life, we must turn our attention to those around us.
We can’t control how long our parents are here, but we can at least control how long they felt appreciated, and loved.
Wishing All our Dad’s Happy Father’s Day!
Happy Planting- And Gift Making!
DeeAnn – The Victory Garden Gal
With Brittany Haas