Windowsill herb kit – a Christmas gift that requires no batteries
Some Christmas gifts are too high maintenance. All those techie gadgets that require some sort of battery that you always seem to forget, can be a drag. Especially since, on Christmas day, everything is closed, so you are forced to wait an entire day to play with your shiny new toy. Gardening gifts, however, are quite the opposite. Like this windowsill fragrant herb garden, no batteries are required. Hopefully, you have some access to water, though. Herb gardening can be an easy way to relax and mellow out. In addition, these great herbs can be grown right from the home – without a need to ever step outdoors. This is one of the reasons why herb gardens are so perfect for urban living, or apartments. When looking for new gifts this year, this windowsill fragrant herb garden is certainly one way to go. It sells for $9.99, and comes with three herbs – Lavender, Thyme, and Oregano. The kit itself is a 13 inch galvanized steel try that fits perfectly on a windowsill or in any area that is close to a window or natural lighting. The three herbs that come with this kit are great – lavender is known as a mood booster, and is also widely used in French cooking. Thyme is an amazing compliment for lamb, eggs, and other dishes. Oregano – well, we all know that oregano is a perfect pairing for many Italian dishes, and smells great to boot. This herb garden can be your answer to “what should I get (insert name here) this year for the holidays.” It’s an excellent gift idea, not only perfect for the holiday season, but it also makes a great anniversary gift, a birthday gift, a Hanukah gift – the possibilities are limitless. Whatever the occasion, this herb garden is a great way to go. 
Friday ~ December 12, 2008 by libba Posted in Container Gardening, Houseplants, Organic Gardening | Add Your Comments
Even garden gnomes need homes for the holidays.
If you’ve got a friend who is constantly working in their lawn or garden, they may be looking to improve the look – as an ever changing garden has an aurora of style and class to it. This Christmas, you can help someone right along with this mission. If you are looking for a gift that can easily enhance the style of q lawn or garden – give the gift of a garden gnome! A classic garden gnome is relatively inexpensive ($34.99), and can be a great addition to all the plants which are sitting in anyone’s garden. This gnome can serve as guardian, watchman, good luck charm, or just the little ceramic guy hanging out in the garden near the annuals. Whatever the case may be, a garden gnome is the way to go this holiday season. If you have a friend who is a big fan of the French movie Amélie, or really likes those Travelocity commercials with the garden gnome in them, then this classic garden gnome is an ideal gift for them.
Thursday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
Oxygenating watering cans are wonderful Christmas gifts.
There are so many things to get for someone this Christmas – especially for gardeners and lovers of nature alike. This Christmas, purchase the perfect gift for a gardener and a tech junkie – an oxygenating watering can. This watering can increases oxygen saturation levels up to around 150 percent. Just to put it in perspective – normal tap water only has oxygen saturation levels of about 30 to 40 percent. That’s quite an impressive jump from the norm. To use this can is easy – fill it up with water, and plug it into the wall for five minutes. The water will bubble like crazy and then will mellow out – leaving an hour or so to water plants with increased oxygen in the water. This watering can is an excellent idea for the home gardener – especially one who is looking to yield higher numbers of crops produced, and is looking to spice up the look of his/her fruits/vegetables/plants as well! This can holds a gallon of water and costs $79.99, but will result in bigger, riper fruit and a sound piece of mind.
Tuesday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
Every gardener wants a tool bag with tools this Christmas.
This Do you find yourself looking everywhere for a sleek, stylish, garden tool bag for a Christmas gift? They can really work as a great present for any gardener with any level of expertise – from the novice, to the most experienced gardener of the neighborhood. This garden tool set and bag is ideal for any busy gardener this holiday season. This attractive polyster bag is coupled with garden tools (a trowel and a cultivator), which are handcrafted from stainless steel alloy (the tools themselves) and red oak hardwood (the handles). There is plenty of additional space in the bag to where the avid gardener can place anything that may be necessary for a day out on the lawn – be it additional tools, organic pest spray for the plants, or even an ice cold beer or two (any gardener should use garden tools and drink beer and his/her own risk, however). This lightweight bag is only 2.03 pounds, and sells for $39.99. It’s a wonderful gift idea for anyone who spends any amount of time in the lawn or garden. In addition, it also allows tools to be carried around a lot easier, instead of trying to carry seven tools in one hand – you can have them sit neatly in the bag – it has 10 pockets which are ready for whatever situation may arise.
Monday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
Lawn aerator shoes – an interesting Christmas gift.
A proper aerated lawn can result in a greener, healthier lawn. This is because more air pockets in the lawn results in a better use of nutrients. Therefore, if a properly aerated lawn equals a happier lawn, why not get creative and look for different and unique ways to aerate a lawn as a Christmas gift? If you have that friend who is always working in the yard and prides themselves of having the best lawn on the block (much like Walter from the 1989 film The ‘Burbs), surprise them this holiday season and give them the gift of these lawn aerating sandals. At just $14.99, they are quite a deal. The trick to the sandals is that they can strap over shoes, and have long spikes on them that penetrate deep into the ground. Hence, by using the weight of one’s body, air pockets are created. By slipping the aerator sandals on over a pair of shoes while mowing – two birds can be killed with one stone. It’s a unique gift idea that will resonate loud and proud through the holiday season.
Saturday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools, Gardening Lifestyle | Add Your Comments
This juicer makes Christmas tasty.
There are many interesting presents to get someone for the holiday season. Sometimes, kitchen appliances and things of the like can be perfect – especially for someone who may have just moved into a new house or apartment or has made their first purchase. In regards to this, kitchen products make great Christmas gifts! A standard juicer or a wheat grass juicer is an excellent gift idea for any health nut. If you know someone who likes to go get a weekly shot of wheat grass with a smoothie at the local smoothie joint, a juicer such as this one is an excellent idea for a gift. Think about it, the price is right – only $49.99! If an additional shot of wheat grass is the choice for whomever you are purchasing this juicer for – it’s easy to grow hydroponically. No soil required – just clip some grass off and go for it. This juicer also works well for leafy vegetables – or really anything that can be juiced. Some people like to paint to relax – others like to juice.
Thursday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
Electronic soil tester – high tech Christmas gift.
Gardeners across the globe can at times get obsessive about their soil and the conditions in which they are grown. This is no big surprise – after all, so much can really depend on the nature of the soil and where and how the plants are grown. However, this equals a great Christmas gift idea. Think about it, there are a wide variety of products available that can fuse technology with gardening and soil conditions into a great gift idea! If you know someone who is really into what they are doing, make their life easier with an electronic soil tester. This will allow them to measure the pH level of the soil in which crops are growing. This is important, because different plants and vegetables sometimes require different pH levels to properly make use of the total amount of nutrients available when growing. By monitoring the pH level properly, the result can be a higher yield of plants and crop growth, and larger, tastier product in the end. With this particular soil tester, you can also check the moisture level, and there is a light meter which can tell if the plants are receiving the necessary amount of sunlight as well. This electronic soil tester is basically a win-win situation. At $37.99, it’s a solid buy that will make an excellent holiday gift idea.
Tuesday ~ December 12, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools, Outdoors, Serious Gardener | Add Your Comments
The Christmas gift that gives tomatoes
If you know someone who loves tomatoes, this year, you should give them some for Christmas. No, we’re not talking about wrapping up a bunch of tomatoes in a box with a bow, we’re talking about the gift that gives tomatoes. The tomato is that wonderful hybrid that has vegetable and fruit like qualities. It’s versatile and tastes great. It’s absolutely ornamental in a wide variety of things, such as salads, salsas, pasta sauce…the list is virtually never ending. That being said, another great thing about tomatoes is that they are easy to grow, and nothing beats the taste of fresh grown vegetables and fruits from one’s one home. Even for the urban gardener, a tomato hanging basket kit can be an ideal gift idea this holiday season. Gardening gifts can always be highly popular, especially around Christmas time, because they serve as a reminder that gardening is fun, and that the season is right around the corner. This tomato planter gift in particular retails for $12.99 and is perfect for a porch or a balcony. All that is necessary is light and water. The kit comes with a basket, moss, soil, chain, and seeds – everything one could ever need is included. As long as proper care is maintained and the soil receives ample sunshine and water, there will be many tomatoes grown in no time. It’s an ideal gift for gardeners, or just those who have a little bit of interest in gardening. It can be the “creative spark” that ignites one’s passion for gardening. This Christmas season when looking for a new and creative gift idea, consider a hanging tomato basket – it’s the way to go.
Sunday ~ November 11, 2008 by libba Posted in Container Gardening, Organic Gardening | Add Your Comments
An antique looking rain gauge Christmas gift
One excellent gift for Christmas this year is something that looks like it belongs in an old world garden. This brass, mechanical rain gauge has an antique look to it, and looks great in any lawn or garden. If you are searching for garden gifts this holiday season, then the Jeffersonian steampunk rain gauge is an excellent idea for your favorite gardener! This rain gauge also comes with a rain collection vial complete with floating ball, and all the necessary screws, hooks, and mounting pole. This gauge is made from solid brass so it looks great and is durable – all the while letting the gardener know exactly how much or little rainfall his/her garden may be getting! It sells for $189.99, and will last for years and years to come, as it also comes with a lifetime manufacturer guarantee. You can’t beat that!
Thursday ~ November 11, 2008 by libba Posted in Garden Sculpture | Add Your Comments
A trake makes the perfect garden gift for Christmas.
When shopping for Christmas presents, it can get sort of extensive when looking for a friend who enjoys gardening. There are a plethora of tools available for the gardener, and choosing a holiday gift can be somewhat an ordeal if you are trying to find an item that is a little outside of the box. For example, just purchasing a trowel or a rake can seem like an average, run of the mill gardening present. If you know someone who is indecisive about something like going out to eat, it’s a fair bet that they are just as indecisive when it comes to figuring out what garden tools to carry around the yard/garden with them. While it is true that gardeners may be plagued by the questions of carrying a trowel vs. carrying a trake in the garden, there is a solution. Do your part to give a good gift and help a friend in need – give them the Trake. At just $16.99, this bad boy is ideal for gardening. It’s a handy 2 in 1 tool (yes, a trowel and a rake…hence the name) that can fit easily in a gardening apron or in someone’s hand. It’s easy to use, and reduces the number of tools the typical gardener may have to carry around. So if you know an indecisive, tool junkie, or just someone who is looking for something different in the garden, the trake is where it’s at!
Wednesday ~ November 11, 2008 by chris Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
Christmas gift idea – 4 Ergonomic gardening tools
ergonomic gardening tools Garden tools make great gifts, and the best time of the year to receive gifts is Christmas! These ergonomic gardening tools are sleek and stylish, making them a great choice for Christmas this year. Anyone who spends a lot of time in the garden will tell you that over time, it can put some wear and tear on the hands. Part of the reason for this is the constant use of gardening tools. Let’s be honest, not all of them are really that ergonomically sound. Well, here’s a garden gift idea that may shed some light on that topic: an ergonomic gardening set. The set includes a bulb trowel, a weeder, a cultivator, and a regular trowel. These can be purchased as a set for $54.99, or individually for $17.99. Whatever the case, these tools are specially designed to help easy some of the tensions and stress caused on the hands while gardening. 
Tuesday ~ November 11, 2008 by libba Posted in Ergonomic Gardening, Garden Tools, Gardening Gifts for Women | Add Your Comments
Classy Hummingbird Feeder
Hummingbirds are on their way! Check out this Hayes Avant Yarde Mini Window Hummingbird Feeder. It’s decorative and a lot cooler than your average hummingbird feeder. It looks great even if there are not birds on it. Welcome your hummingbirds with style! $7.49 is what it costs… 
Sunday ~ March 03, 2008 by kswanson56 Posted in Garden Sculpture, Gardening Gifts for Women, Gardening Lifestyle | 1 Comment
Brill Razorcut 38 reel mower. You push, it mows!
Looks like Brill has updated the design of their German made reel mowers with the introduction of the Razorcut 38 push mower. I, for one, am glad that they changed the name from Luxus 38 to Razorcut 38. I don’t know how many times I heard people call the old one the “Lexus.” The Brill Razorcut has an updated handle design that is stiffer, and nicer looking. They also added a “spoiler” along the back side that does a little bit better job of preventing grass from getting on your shoes when you are pushing the mower. You can add a grasscatcher to it, if you want. But if you do, be sure to compost the grass clippings! Don’t throw them into the landfill. 5 blades. Weighs just 17 pounds. Has a 15 1/2″ wide cut. Goes from .75 inches to just under 2 inches for the maximum cut. The Brill Razorcut 38 reel mower is available from Clean Air Gardening.
Wednesday ~ January 01, 2008 by Ulrich Posted in Garden Tools | Add Your Comments
The Garden Insect DVD
“Son, what’s this one? Should I kill it?” “No Dad. That’s a Patagonian whooping caterpillar…they kill mosquitoes and find truffles. People pay good money for these” “Oh …How ‘bout this one? “That’s the dog, Dad. Not an insect,” “Are you sure? He looks kinda shifty…” “Yeah…See, the collar? That’s our phone number there…it’s a dead giveaway” “That’s our old number…that’s why I thought….” “Trust me” I think he’s just getting revenge on me. If you don’t have a entomologist for a son, or just don’t trust the little monster this DVD could help. It’s 50 minutes long and was made by filmmaker who also is a organic gardener. It teaches you which bugs are which and which ones are helpful and which ones will eat your socks. The Garden Insect DVD is available from Clean Air Gardening for $24.99
My kid knows everything about bugs. It’s my fault really; when he was just a toddler I used to tell him that whales were insects and giraffes lived in the ocean and all sorts of nonsense. I never expected him to believe this stuff but when he started school and found out I’d been messing with his head he set out to find his own answers rather than asking me. Well, it’s paid off because now when I come across some insect in the back yard I just drag him away from the video games and get him to identify it
Sunday ~ January 01, 2008 by Steve W Posted in Garden Tools, Natural Pesticides and Fertilizers, Organic Gardening, Outdoors | Add Your Comments
Squirrel-Flipping Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder
What we have here is what looks like an ordinary innocent bird feeder. But hidden within the thing is a rechargeable NICAD powered motor and a pressure switch set to trigger when anything heavier than a bird lights on it; a cat, a squirrel…whatever. The perch then spins to send the intruder flying. In addition, it’s a darn fine bird feeder. It sports a polycarbonate tube, a powder coated cap, and holds 5 lbs of squirrel tempting seed. The Squirrel Flipping Bird Feeder is available at Clean Air Gardening for $92.99. 
Honestly, who wouldn’t like to watch squirrels being thrown through the air by a motorized bird feeder? I want to meet the people who thought this up; seriously, they’re my kind of folk.
Tuesday ~ January 01, 2008 by Steve W Posted in Outdoors | Add Your Comments
Copper Rooster Weather Vane
If you are in need of a saner weather vane, the folks at Clean Air Gardening have something a tad more practical. It’s the classic rooster style, made out of copper and doesn’t require a crane to put it in place and $20,000 dollars to get it into a presentable condition. The Copper Rooster Weather Vane is available for $270.99 from Clean Air Gardening.
In Whitehorse, in the Yucatan, there exists the largest weather vane in the world. It’s a decommissioned DC-3 cargo plane from WWII. In 1981 a group of people who probably need additional job responsibilities restored the nine ton warbird and then hoisted it up on a pole so the pilots landing at the Whitehorse airport could tell the wind direction. Seriously. Supposedly it only takes a 5 knot wind to make it turn.
Friday ~ January 01, 2008 by Steve W Posted in Garden Sculpture, Outdoors | Add Your Comments
The Trade Wind Poly-Wood Double Rocker
A lot of people are in this situation and there are options; Personally, I’m going to be getting her a double rocker. Now, it may look just like the ones you find at those down home restaurant and gift shops that seemed to have replaced the chain of blue roofed pecan places we had as kids. But here’s the difference; these are made out of polywood. Polywood is an engineered material made from recycled milk jugs that can be used like wood in furniture building but will resist any type of adverse weather situation you can think of…well anything you could encounter and still be worried about your outdoor furniture. The Trade Wind Poly-Wood Double Rocker is available for $479.99 from Clean Air Gardening. 
When I was looking for a house, my wife had one request; she wanted a front porch. It wasn’t until after I got her the house, with the porch, that I realized that what she really wanted a porch swing like she had growing up. The problem was the porch cover that we would have to attach the swing to had been covered with vinyl siding. There wasn’t going to be a porch swing without a lot of work.
Thursday ~ January 01, 2008 by Steve W Posted in Garden Furniture | Add Your Comments
Aloe Vera
One thing that I can say for certain is that I’ve always liked the plants. They are so easy to care for that even I can’t kill one and will grow anywhere that’s relatively frost free. Aloe Vera plants are available cactusstore.com in a variety of sizes
When I was in high school I had a friend who worked late nights in a donut shop (which explains why my doctor was always after me to lose 10 or 100 pounds or so). They kept Aloe Vera gel in the cooler to use on burns from the fryer and swore by it. Now, the science is inconclusive and I’m not going to say whether or not it works but people in its native North Africa have been using it for medicinal purposes forever. Of course, people have been saying that Chihuahua dogs will cure asthma for a long time too….
Sunday ~ December 12, 2007 by Steve W Posted in Houseplants | Add Your Comments
Venus Flytrap
Venus Flytraps are found in nitrogen poor environments (such as bogs) of if you prefer to not slog around in bogs looking for carnivorous plants they are available from California Carnivores for $7.95. And you thought all those folks out on the west coast were vegetarians.
What better way to get your kid interested in plants; a plant that eats stuff. I had one of these when I was a kid and it was great fun. Venus Flytraps are a native plant of the Carolinas; and actually trap and eat insects unlucky enough to land on them. The trap portion actually secretes mucilage and when something touches the hairs along the edge they snap shut, shutting tighter the more the unfortunate victim struggles; eventually creating a hermetically sealed “stomach” that digests the prey over 10 days.
Friday ~ December 12, 2007 by Steve W Posted in Houseplants, Kids, Natural Pesticides and Fertilizers | Add Your Comments
Cedar Adirondack Chair
This more modern chair is made from naturally weather resistant red cedar and features more of a curved back and contoured seat than the originals did. Cedar makes a great wood for outdoor furniture and will turn silver over time with exposure to the weather (or optionally I suppose you could use a coat of clear over it to keep its original coloration. The Cedar Adirondack Chair is available from Clean Air Gardening for $169.99.
In 1903 Thomas Lee was on vacation in Westport, New York, and need some outdoor chairs for his summer home. His now famous design originally consisted of 11 pieces of wood, cut from one board. He showed to a carpenter friend, Harry Bunnell, who patented the design and made the chairs for next 20 years.
Wednesday ~ December 12, 2007 by Steve W Posted in Garden Furniture | Add Your Comments
