MATERIALS

The great thing about gardening is you can just go do it without investing money into equipment.

CLOTHES: Throw on some that you don’t mind getting dirty. I judge a good day in the garden by how muddy my pants, hands, and hair are!

SHOES: I swear by my rubber garden clogs. Slip them on, get to gardening, and hose them off at the end of the day. Sandals and flip-flops aren’t safe (those little toes are exposed) and allow so much dirt into them you’ll spend half a day scrubbing your feet when you’re done.

GLOVES: A nice tight fit makes gripping things easier. I’m a fan of West County Gloves. Those one-dollar work gloves in the discount bins are always too big and quite useless. Invest in a good fitting pair, and they’ll last forever.

WATER CONTAINER: Stay hydrated when gardening outside! Use a bottle with a lid to keep stray soil, bugs, and leaves out.

TROWEL: This is a small, hand-held shovel that you’ll use all the time. Don’t waste your time with a cheap plastic one. You’ll break it soon enough. Invest in a metal one with a pointed tip (not rounded) and sturdy construction. Test it in the store and try to bend it where the handle meets the blade. I’ve got a groovy ergonomic one from Radius Garden that is fantastic.

Honestly, that’s all you need.