I know. I know. It’s the same thing every year on every website, but truly, I want to make sure my gardener friends get something they’ve always wanted under their Christmas tree.
Gardeners deserve good tools. With good tools, I can work faster and more efficiently. At the top of my list is CobraHead’s Brook and Hunter digging fork. Last fall, I dug Bermuda grass out of a new bed with only this wonderful tool. It took one afternoon, and I removed every piece of grass. If I’d used a gas motor cultivator, broken, rooting pieces of Bermuda would abound. Further, tied up with a bow, this fork would look mighty sexy, and if you bought it for your favorite gardener, who knows what you might receive in return.
Other tools I love are those from Bulldog Tools in England. Earlier in the year, they sent me some of their hand tools to try, and I love both the Alan Titchmarsh hand trowel and the evergreen transplanting trowel. By the way, Clarington Forge tools are marketed as Bulldog in England. They are all made in England, but shipped here from California so they will quickly come, and they are made of the highest quality.
One of the best trowels for digging in tough soil (and who in Oklahoma doesn’t have tough soil?) is this stainless steel garden trowel
Right now, some crop row covers would make nice stocking stuffers. I bought two for my lettuce and spinach, but I’m too scared to go look and see if I’m too late. We’ve had a couple of hard freezes. Another great stocking stuffer is Botanical Interests’ gardener scrubbing soap which I reviewed last summer. It is gently cleansing and smells nice. If you have a newbie gardener, try tucking a few seeds in their stocking like zinnas, Grandpa Ott’s morning glory, cosmos and tithonia. Or, if they want to be a veggie gardener, try Bloomsdale long standing spinach, black-seeded Simpson lettuce and French breakfast radishes. These are all easy to grow, and as for the veggies, end of February is when you plant them here.
I took off my fake nails the other day because it occurred to me maybe putting chemicals on my nails every two weeks kinda defeats the purpose of growing vegetables and other plants organically. I can’t prove this, but it feels right. Still, you know how I like gloves. I enjoy my Ethels, Woman’s Work, and Bear Wallow Protectors. All are fine gloves and suited to different tasks, but they also all have gauntlets, which protect the arm and prevent soil from getting into the glove. For me, this is an essential element. Flexible, fabric Ethels are cool in the summer, and you know hot it is in the south come summertime. Woman’s Work are very tough, and I’m liking their pretty new paisley number. Bear Wallow kept me thorn free through the demise and removal of Rosa ‘New Dawn’.
Speaking of roses, if you’re a gardener who loves them, there are certain rose essentials. I’ve already mentioned the Bear Wallow gloves above, but let me lead you down the primrose path of rose gardener goodness.
First, you need some good pruners. Roses respond to good pruning and deadheading practices. I like my classic Felco F-2 pruners
I also want to try Fiskars 9124 professional pruning shears
Can you ever have enough pruners? No. Am I a greedy Gertrude? Possibly.
Let’s talk shovels. In Oklahoma and much of Texas, the soil lacks a little something called humus (not the garbanzo bean hummus), but the wonderful stuff which makes soil livable for plants, earthworms and other creepy crawlies. So, until your garden soil looks like chocolate cake, you won’t be able to do much with a spade, which is a kind of square shovel the British have taken to new heights. You are going to laugh, but my favorite shovel was from Wal-Mart. Okay, stop laughing. Several years ago, they teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens and had this line of gardening tools, seeds and other garden accoutrements. I bought two short D-handled shovels, and I’ve finally worn them out. I’m on the lookout for a decent shovel which is lightweight and also shorter and has the D-handle. My husband hates this type of shovel because he is 5’11,” but I am 5’4″ and 3/4. I’m still looking, and I’ll let you know when I find one. Earlier, I said my favorite hoe was the WOLF-Garten draw hoe
If you’re feeling virtuous, and Susan, I know you are, why not buy some honeybees or the ultimate, a gardener’s gift basket, which includes seeds, chickens and rabbits from Heifer International? Or, extend a giving hand across the miles for someone by making a no interest loan to them through Kiva.org. You can even buy gift cards so that your loved one can choose to whom they want to loan money. These are presents you’ll never forget. One year, we bought a goat through Heifer and gave it to HH’s parents. In fact, all of their grown children bought from Heifer that year, and a water buffalo, chickens, a goat and a cow were all purchased.
I hope this lengthy list gave you a few ideas outside the box for gardeners. We don’t all want creepy gnomes. In fact, gnomes give me the willies, and now I know why after reading How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will)
That digging fork is on my “I think I need this” list. I have a Bulldog spade, purchased at a store in Austin that imports them from England. It’s my most treasured tool.
Cindy, I think you’ll like it if you spring for the digging fork.
The only thing i can say is “i envy all your tools”. We need a lot of those, but can’t.
Great suggestions, Dee! I just wish some of my family were also into gardening–it would certainly make my Christmas shopping easier:)
Rose, I feel exactly the same, and I keep trying to preach the gardening gospel.
Dee, you are awesome.
Heifer International (HI) is an organization that claims to work against world hunger by donating animals to families in developing countries. Its catalog deceptively portrays beautiful children holding cute animals in seemingly humane circumstances. The marketing brochure for HI does not show the animals being transported, their living and slaughter conditions, or the erosion, pollution and water use caused by the introduction of these animals and their offspring.
By definition, animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways. The animals shipped to developing countries are often subject to; water and food shortages, cruel procedures without painkillers, lack of veterinary care resulting in extended suffering as a result of illness or injury.
A large percentage of the families receiving animals from HI are struggling to provide for themselves and cannot ensure adequate living conditions, nutrition, and medical care for animals they have been given. HI provides some initial veterinary training to individuals and the initial vaccines. But, long term care for these animals and their offspring is up to the individuals.
To make matters worse, animal agriculture causes much more harm to the environment than plant-based agriculture. The fragile land in many of the regions HI is sending the animals cannot support animal agriculture. Although they say they encourage cut and carry feeding of the animals to avoid erosion, the reality is often quite different.
The consumption of animal products has been shown in reputable studies to contribute significantly to life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and a variety of cancers. Regions that have adopted a diet with more animal products see an increase in these diseases. The remote communities supposedly served by HI have no way of dealing with the health consequences of joining the high-cholesterol world.
While it may seem humane and sustainable to provide just one or two dairy cows here or there, the long term consequences are an increased desire for animal products in local cultures leading to an increase in production. These communities may be able to absorb the additional water use of one or two cows, what happens when there are hundreds or thousands of dairy cows, each consuming 27 to 50 gallons of fresh water and producing tons of excrement? The heavy cost to animals, the environment and local economies is not figured into HI’s business practices.
J.C., I approved your comment and didn’t trash it because although you obviously don’t eat meat, you were respectful. I stand by my assertion that Heifer International does good for people by helping them help themselves. I do eat animals which are humanely treated before being slaughtered for meat. I also keep chickens and eat their eggs. Therefore, this is a subject on which you and I would not agree. However, I think it’s great to hear your side of things. Thanks for reading the post and stopping by.~~Dee
How did you know I wanted honeybees?
A terrific Santa’s list, Dee. 🙂
Susan, I’m a good guesser.
Wow, now I know what to get you for Christmas……thanks for the shout out!! And Merry Christmas Dee.
Ha, Jim you are too funny. If you’re able to score a second pair of those pruners, keep ’em for yourself. I won’t tell Santa.
Great gift ideas Dee! Wish my hubby read your blog, lol. 😉 Actually I’m getting a great gardening gift this year, two natural compost bins from Gardener’s Supply Co. They are going to make me lots of yummy black gold to feed my gardens for years to come. 🙂
Racquel, I say do a print screen of the blog, and give it to him as your gift list. See, I”m always thinking. Or, email him the link. Happy Advent.
Good stuff, dear Dee! May Santa bless your stocking (and mine too)! Can we talk about nails … I have none … my hands are my tools 🙂
Joey, I already have too many blessings to count, and one of them is being your friend.
Just wrap up the lot of them and send them on over to me. If I already have something on this list (and goody goody I DO!!the Felcos!), I hereby promise to hand the duplicate items out amongst my garden buddies. Honest. I promise.
Haha, my friend. You need to tell Flyboy to buy them for you.
I was wondering what to put on my Christmas list, and those rose gauntlets are just the thing. Thanks!
Glad I could help enable you MMD.
Great ideas. Good tools are perfect for any gardener. I always need more pruners. I tend to leave mine somewhere and have to search for them often.
As for removing the fingernails–good for you. A little research will scare you about what’s in there and the harm they can cause.
They are among the best things for your gardening friends.
Dear Dee, The problem with your list is I want those gifts for myself, although I know its better to give than receive. I really need new pruners. Oh, and I would love the chickens (now I feel guilty saying that when Heifer are doing such great work to relieve poverty. Now I feel I must redeem myself by buying something from the Heifer International catalog.) Thanks for a great list. P. x
Well, me too Pam, but I do own some of them. I kind of want those secateurs (pruners). I’m a pruner hog.
Dee, this is a great list. I couldn’t agree with you more about good tools… they do make the “work” of gardening much easier.
Thanks Carol. I learned the same thing about cooking tools. If you have decent pots and pans, it makes cooking a whole lot easier.~~Dee