A Few of My Favorite Things

I am sitting in front of the fireplace watching the snow fall, flipping through gardening catalogs. Trying to decide if I want red or purple impatiens this year, contemplating if the convenience of seed starting kits is worth the cost, should I replace the compost tumbler before adding another rain barrel, and thinking maybe I should order heating cables for the cold frame. Thinking about all those gardening accessories I have purchased over the years that were indeed wasted money. I am trying to let reason win over lust. I do have a few tools and accessories that I would hate to be without. Some were a bit costly, some didn’t cost anything and several were designed and created by my ingenious husband, Randy. 



                                                                                               

A favorite I inherited from my late father-in-law, his trenching shovel from WWII. It is small and works well moving potting soil from tubs, adding compost to squares in the raised beds, and various other small shoveling tasks. Plus I get a “warm and fuzzy” when I use it!

I love my Mantis tiller. Light enough for me to handle but tough enough to break up hard clay soil.

The self-watering pots designed by my engineer husband work just as well as the $80 ones I bought several years ago and at less than half the cost.

My custom garden shed designed and built by Randy features a “top of the line” potting bench and book shelves to house my reference books.

I really like this hummingbird feeder. It uses recycled plastic bottles. When I am pressed for time and the feeder is empty I can grab a clean bottle and dispose of the dirty one

Propagation mats and “Soil Moist” are now essential for seed starting as well as propagation by cuttings.

My compost bins and tumbler takes composting to a higher level.

Everyone that composts needs a good paper shredder. I shred junk mail, scrap paper and light cardboard for the compost pile and the vermicompost bin.






And who wouldn’t like a sink (added last year by, you guessed it, Randy) for washing pots as well as produce.

Okay, the snow is pretty but I have had enough. I am ready to get out those tools and go to work. Maybe I will use a mix of purple, lavender and orange impatiens.