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I say this with great apology to the (admittedly vast) majority of Burnt Toast readers who came here to dismantle diet culture and anti-fatness and maybe also talk cute plus size fashion, but who somehow don’t also feel passionately interested in plants: Today’s newsletter is not for you.
Today’s newsletter is for my garden people. If you’ve been starting seeds in trays under lights in your basement; if you own an excessive number of houseplants; if you’ve found the outer limit of how many plants you can fit in your vehicle; if you’re just garden-curious; or if gardening is at least 40 percent of your personality (rising to 80 percent in high season)… today’s newsletter is for you.
And if I had to guess, roughly one newsletter per month from now until November will also be for you! Maybe more if we convert some of the non-gardeners? I’ll throw a poll at the bottom of this newsletter to gauge interest in Garden Toast. Feel free to offer more thoughts in the comments ofc.
Today, I’m sharing a rundown of my favorite garden gear.
These are the tools and essentials I reach for every time I go out to garden (so, pretty much every day, April to November). I do not think you need to acquire a lot of things to be a good gardener (though I could write a whole other essay about how NOT CHEAP gardening is, and if anyone tells you to grow your own to save money, they are full of lies!! There are lots of reasons to grow your own anything, but cost savings is not one of them). But struggling with, say, pruning shears that don’t snip cleanly, can derail a gardening plan fast. And most of what I’m going to show you, I’ve been wearing/using for many seasons, so I feel like I can solidly endorse it. (I’ll note the this-year purchases so you know they are still being road-tested!)
1. The Overalls.
New this year, but I’ve already worn them half a dozen times, including this past weekend many hours of very rigorous and muddy shrub transplanting. Love, love, love. More overall discussion here.
2. Waterproof clogs (and other go-to garden shoes).
These are new this season, but I already can’t figure out why this particular Birkenstock style hasn’t gone viral the way Boston clogs have. They are sturdier and have better arch support (their removable insole is the full Birk cork deal), they give Garden Gnome in the best way, and come in so many fun colors. For really muddy or hard digging work, I wear my muck boots, which I’ve had forever (and double as my snow boots!). Once it gets too hot for clogs, I switch to these plastic Birk sandals for general garden tromping. So easy to hose off!
3. Stool/Kneeler
Last summer I threw my back out in the THICK of garden season and my physical therapist told me I’d have to quit my death sport if I couldn’t stop stooping over at the waist to plant and weed. Obviously not an option!!! This thing has saved my back so many times — you can sit on it to work in raised beds, or kneel to get down to ground level. Genius.
3. Rain Barrel
OK, this is my other new-this-season investment. I just had gutters added to my house (which is oddly gutter-less) and there was nowhere to run the downspout that wouldn’t involve digging up GARDEN, which we obviously would never, so I had them terminate in these rain barrels instead. If you have rain barrel intel, I’d love it. So far I’m excited to fill watering cans and let my kids play with this water vs. wasting it from the hose.
4. Tub Trugs! (That purple bucket thing)
I have gardened with a collection of these trugs for about 15 years now. They are great for gathering up cutbacks, hauling mulch, filling with water to let plants soak before you get them in the ground… truly, endlessly useful and my ancient collection still look brand new. Get all the sizes, idk, tub trugs for life?
5. These pruners and this hori hori knife
The two tools I carry everywhere in the garden. I’m basically never not pruning something, and the hori hori knife is both an excellent spade (for digging small planting holes) and the very sharp knife you need when dividing perennials or digging up stubborn weeds. I’ve had the knife for years; the pruners I replace most seasons but that’s just because I am notorious for losing pruners. They would last years otherwise.
6. Chicken wire cloche
I put these over baby plants and bulbs I don’t want critters to dig up. They are also useful for marking out spots where you’ve direct sown some seeds and might otherwise confuse them with weeds when they pop up. And I think they look sort of pretty in amongst things!
7. Plant and seed sources.
Where to buy plants and seeds varies so much on where you garden; a local native-leaning nursery will always be your best resource. But a few online go-tos for me: Swan Island Dahlias, Hudson Valley Seed Company, and Johnny’s Select Seeds.
Gardening CAN become a very expensive but it does not have to be. I've been poor for my entire life, that's how I know. I also think gardening gear is kinda like baby gear. Some people swear you need this and that. Maybe they swear by a certain product while to another person that same item is not useful at all. My point is, don't be intimidated to start somewhere if you are interested. Buy Nothing groups are great for finding supplies, and some BN groups also organize plant swaps where people bring plants, seeds, gear, pots, etc.
Lol. I’m not a gardener, never gonna be a gardener, and this still amused me. When you’re happy, we’re happy.