Gift AlmanacA directory of good gifts

Around the yard

Head torches, lanterns, carts, compost tumblers, worm farms and raised beds that earn their keep around the place.

7 gift ideas here, each with a real shop for your country where we've found one.

A Feuerhand oil lantern

The classic Baby Special 276 oil lantern, galvanised against rust. Handy for the power cuts that come with rural life, and lovely on the verandah anyway.

A pocket knife and tool sharpener

A small sharpener for pocket knives, kitchen knives, secateurs and shears. Lives in the shed or the ute and makes every blunt tool on the place useful again.

A rechargeable head torch

Both hands free for shutting in the chooks, checking on a sick animal or fixing a fence after dark. This Ledlenser model charges by USB-C but also takes AAA batteries, and has a red light that doesn't wreck your night vision. Same model in all three countries.

Raised vegetable bed

Also in Veggie & fruit growers › Raised beds & grow bags (Gardening)

A bed on legs or with a cover means less bending, fewer slugs and possums, and a tidy patch even on a patio. A big gift that's often shared between family.

A compost tumbler

Also in Water, weather & compost › Compost tumblers & worm farms (Gardening)

A barrel on a stand that you turn every few days instead of forking a heap, and the lid keeps pests out. Tumbleweed's Australian-made 220L tumbler can sit on pavers or concrete; the US Maze has two chambers, so one side cooks while you fill the other.

A worm farm

Also in Water, weather & compost › Compost tumblers & worm farms (Gardening)

Stacking trays where worms turn kitchen scraps into castings, with a tap for draining off worm tea for the garden. The Australian Worm Café is Australian-made from recycled plastic. Composting worms usually need buying separately, so add a box of worms if you can.

A folding garden cart

Also in Easy-reach gardening › Lightweight hoses & carts (Gardening)

Saves a lot of carrying, whether it's pots, mulch, feed bags or firewood, and folds flat for the shed. The Australian and UK picks are fabric-lined folding wagons; the US one is a foldable wheelbarrow-style cart for yard debris and logs.