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Today I am sharing some of my favorite garden finds. These are things that I think you will find handy as you plan your garden for this spring.

As we are starting the new year, many people are already planning their gardens and ordering seeds. I just placed a few seed orders from my favorite seed companies yesterday.

I hope to actually save seeds this year, but I will share more on that once I get to! Last year I had a new little one in the middle of growing season, so I did not get to save seeds like I had wanted to.

Garden Therapy

I absolutely love being able to putter around in the garden. There is something about getting dirt under my nails tending plants that is relaxing and therapeutic.

Science is actually finding that there are many benefits to getting dirty in the garden. Boosting your mood and immune system, reducing stress, and it is also considered exercise. [Source]

I have share about the many spiritual lessons that I have learned in the garden both here on the blog and the podcast.

“I love my garden, and I love working in it. To potter with green growing things, watching each day to see the dear, new sprouts come up, is like taking a hand in creation, I think. Just now my garden is like faith – the substance of things hoped for.”
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne’s House of Dreams

Starting your garden can help your mental health, as well as your physical health.

My Favorite Garden Finds

While these tools are handy, and fun in most cases, you can make do with minimal equipment.

Reading Up

Gardening takes a bit of knowledge. I grew up helping my granddaddy and mom in the garden, so much of what I know was passed down from them.

I know that not everyone is able to learn in this way though. Here are some gardening books that I have found helpful and informative, even if a lot of it I already knew. Having the information all in one place is helpful.

One of the wonderful things about life is you rarely ever learn everything there is to know on a subject, and even within the gardening community there are many different schools of thought on several aspects.

There are also some awesome homesteading and garden accounts on Instagram and TikToc that have great educational clips.

You can also see if your local library has these books on gardening, between physical books and the ebooks a lot of libraries have these days, you can probable find these.

Garden Book Finds

Seeds

Most of the seed companies that I love are small companies that provide heirloom seeds. I am seed saving more and more, but these are great places to start. You’re helping out small businesses and getting great products with these companies.

Eden Brothers
Free Heirloom Seeds You can request 4 free packs of seeds per address per year, or donate $10 for each 15 packages of seeds you request.
Strictly Medicinal Seeds This is where I have found most of my medicinal herbs, though they are becoming easier to find on the other sources.
Park Seeds
Baker Creek/Rare Heirloom Seeds
Fruition Seeds
Alliance of Native Seed Keepers Use code TIMELESS to save 10% on your order

Seeds are something that you need if you plan to garden and are starting plants from seed. Starting plants from seed saves money (think under $4 for a package of seeds vs $4 for one single plant).

You can check your local library or gardening clubs for free seeds as well.

Starting plants from seed is daunting for some, but is fairly easy.

Garden Journals

I am a big proponent of planning ahead, and a garden journal is a great way to plan your garden before you begin planting.

The Gardener’s Logbook is a nice one with ”Plant Log” pages that allow you to track each plant you choose, from its beginnings in your garden through the growing season and beyond. Additionally you can note successes for next year, as well as what didn’t work and why, so you won’t repeat mistakes.

This 3 ring binder https://amzn.to/3HrQ9OD is also a good choice. The binder & 16 Dividers & 32 Labels (16 prefilled and 16 blanks) & 25 US letter size plastic sleeves & 25 4-pocket sleeves for seeds & Extra page with useful information & 1 Gardening moon calendar, download & use the 11 different templates to use as you like.

Also a good choice, this Garden Planner and Log Book has some great features including sections for garden layout, soil test results, weather log, monthly calendars, sow/transplants, plant log, harvest log, shopping list, to-do list, and other relevant information.

Garden Tool Finds

Fun and pretty garden tools make getting in the garden that much more fun! Besides being fun and/or pretty, these garden tool finds are highly functional.

This is a nice, simple yet, pretty set in flowery pink or blue as is this one in flowery purple. This green set or this purple set have a lot more to it, but honestly there are some rather specialized pieces.

A set of pruning shears is a great handy item for your gardening and yard care needs.

Likewise, the hoe is a handy tool, and this one has a loop blade and a rake to help you break up ground and remove weeds. This hoe has a nice blade to help break up ground, and can be used for edging as well.

This tool set has your basic tools with the addition of an extendable handle to help those with mobility issue.

A hand dibber is a tool that you can use to plant seeds, seedlings, or bulbs.

Soil Blocking & Seed Starting

Soil blocking is a very efficient, and planet kind, way to start seeds. No need for individual plastic cups.

Basically, you make blocks of soil mixture with a press to plant your seeds in, placing them in a large tray with multiple plants.

The 2″ blocks give even tomatoes and peppers enough room to get quite large. I am using this method this year and hope to share more about how to do soil blocking.

If you would like to go with the more traditional potting method of seed starting, I have used these planters with good success.

Seed starting soil is something else to consider. You can buy premade mixes, or make your own. I have used a premade seed starting mix and added worm castings for fertilizer.

You want to be sure to mark your plants as well (believe me, it’s much easier to mark them when you start them!). I have found this garden marker to last a lot longer than even regular permanent markers.

A potting mat can make clean up a snap too.

Seed Storage and Saving

Most seeds come in an envelope, so something as simple as a box (like this pretty white one or this flowered one) or a binder with slot pages could definitely work.

There are also so many seed boxes that contain round vials along with a pocket for envelopes, or rectangular vials that fit really nicely into a case.

I have used ones like this that are similar to photo storage boxes to hold the different varieties of seeds (herbs, tomatoes, peppers, etc).

Garden Aprons, Hats, Gloves, and Accessories

While I love getting my hands dirty, I am not so keen on getting my clothes dirty. I am a huge apron fan, and garden aprons are some of my favorites. Some of these are great for keeping clean, some for tools, some are great for gathering, and some do it all! Check them out here.

A sun hat with a wide, foldable brim is nice, though I tend to like straw hat style hats with a large brim.

Garden gloves are particularly nice if you have brambles, thorny, or wiry plants to pull up. Not sure if these cutting tools worn on your thumb should could as wearables or tools, but they are awesome.

Composting Garden Finds

Composting is a great way to reduce the waste that you send to the trash. Veggie scraps that you aren’t saving for soups, egg shells, fruit scraps, can all make wonderful fertilizer for your garden.

There are a lot of options for making your own compost for your garden. Whether you are on a zero waste journey or trying to save money, composting is a good step for you.

This counter top bin keeps things out of sight until you are ready to take them out. These clip onto your cabinets so they are handy as you work in the kitchen.

The 65 Gallon Dual Chamber Compost Tumbler from MAZE is a good option, and comes with a cart as well. This 5-Tray Worm Compost Bin might be a better fit. Or perhaps something like this Expandable Backyard Outdoor Compost Bin might work out well.

Some people use pallets to make fence like compost areas like this one.

However, this Vermicompost Bin or this Worm Composter that are in-ground might be a good fit for you.

I have shared that there are some spiritual lessons that can be gleaned from composting. You can read about those here.

Raised Garden Beds

Sometimes raised beds work best for an area, or your physical needs.

You can find a lot of raised bed options out there.

Ones like these metal or wooden with a built-in trellis,

Perhaps your patio just needs a raised planter box like this one, or something a bit smaller like this one, or this one with a built-in green house.

Maybe you’d rather have bed with layers like this one with stepped tiers on legs , this one, or this one with stepped tiers instead.

“U” shaped raised garden beds like this one with a nice fence, or this one with a trellis built-in might be more of what you are looking for. This “E” shaped one is fun too.

This raised bed has a built-in compost basket in the middle.

Another option is a higher raised bed like this one.

The Vegepod – Raised Garden Bed – Self Watering Container Garden comes with a protective cover.

I have a bunch of this grow bag style planters in our yard and really like them.

My favorite raised bed design, and garden finds in general, is actually the Garden Tower 2. It is designed to hold 50 plants in a 4 foot square, and to allow you to drop veg scraps into the center to be composted by worms. Perfect for patios or small growing areas. The Garden Tower 2 is a great choice.

Harvest Basket Garden Finds

These baskets make gathering your bounty fun, and many are also dual purpose-allowing you to use your hose to wash produce over your garden bed to not waste any water.

This is a sturdy metal gathering basket for your vegetable harvest. Another idea is this 5 gallon one can collapse to save space when not in use. Yet another option is this stackable one that has folding legs to keep your produce off the ground.

This is a nice, deep basket that can be use for markets, while this one is flat and easily accessible. Meanwhile, this one is flat with some dividers.

I do rather like the tall handle of this one. These all natural wooden ones have a sense of nostalgia about them for me.

Green Houses

Sometimes you live in a climate that doesn’t have a long growing season. Maybe you want an outdoor space to start your seeds because inside space is limited (or you have a little one running around dumping seed trays out). In either case, a green house may be a good idea during the colder months.

There are many kinds of green houses on the market today.

Maybe you just need a small space to start some seed with something like this 2.5×1.6×5.2 FT mini greenhouse.

Or maybe you need a bigger 6 foot by 10 foot walk-in greenhouse instead.

Then there is this mid-sized 4.8×2.5 greenhouse that is practically walk in with three tiers of plant space.

Additionally this one with 4 tiers at almost 5×5 foot.

Or, there is another style altogether in this cloche style green house that sets on your garden bed directly

Misc Garden Finds

Trellises come in handy, but don’t have to be boring.

Potting tables like this one with storage for garden supplies beneath are nice, though if you just need something simpler, this cute one might just fit the bill.

Garden kneelers or little seats that can be used while working the soil or plantings or weeding are nice. This one is a storage tote as well as a place to sit while you work.

A plant tying ‘machine’ is also handy for things that need some guidance in your garden.

Chicken wire plant cages, reflective bird tape, or Chicken Wire Cloche Plant Protectors can keep your produce safe from birds and critters.

Let’s Wrap It Up

Lastly, just remember that you don’t have to have all the gizmos or gadgets. They can make it easier to garden, you can make do with what you have too.

I hope you have found something useful here particularly. I’d like to hear from you ! Let me know in the comments if you have ever used any of these things and what you thought of them!