Garden Bag Lady

Well, we’ve made it through the time change and a LOT of rainy days. For those of us who garden, it is finally time to get outside and get our hands dirty. This is what we’ve been waiting for! It’s time to plant seeds and watch them grow.

We dig out (pun intended) our overalls, rubber boots and gloves and head out to the garden beds.

I always picture myself sitting calmly in perfect weather, weeding and planting. Somehow, that never happens.

Instead, I get to my garden area, realize I forgot my gloves and head back into the garage. I arrive back at the garden only to realize that the seeds I wanted to plant are in the house. Then, I’m thirsty and need some water. The sun is in my eyes and I want sunglasses. I see something I want to take a picture of but I left my phone inside. Before I know it, I have spent more time running back and forth than I have planting or weeding.

And then my life changed. My son, who prides himself on buying me the most random gifts (he once bought me a pink hacksaw) bought me a gardening tote.

It was made of tough and rugged material and had pockets inside and out. For a while I just stared at it and wondered if I’d ever really use it. I mean it’s not like I am a professional gardener. I just toss seeds around and hope they grow. Would it just end up in a closet where gifts go to die?

It turns out that I use it a LOT! In fact, I now can’t believe I ever gardened without it.

I have a large backyard and, not being very organized, I was constantly racing around in search of the tools I needed to grow the things I wanted to grow. My burlap bag has become as necessary as a shovel.

No more running into the house for a tissue when my nose starts to run. No more hunting down reading glasses to read seed packets. Everything is now packed into my bag. During growing season, I keep it right by the back door. I can grab it and head outside knowing that I have all I need to hit the garden beds.

Having a gardening tote has organized my very messy brain and it has brought me so much peace. Rather than worrying about what I need, I know that it’s all already in the bag and that allows me to just grab it and go. No more running back and forth.

Garden totes come in a huge variety of materials and colors. No matter what your personality is, you can easily find a bag to match your style.

To help you get started, here’s what I keep in my tote:

Garden gloves – They even sell these at the dollar store. Do yourself a favor and buy bright new ones every year.
A hand shovel and clippers – A small hand shovel is my most-used tool for gardening. I love to sit on the grass and dig that way. My son bought me left-handed clippers (again with the weird gifts).
Seed Packets – I like to tuck these into the side pockets of the bag so the artwork on the packaging shows.
Neem Oil – Last year my lupines were loaded with aphids. Neem oil to the rescue.
Old welcome mat – I thought of this accidentally. I replaced a faded mat with a new one and then realized the old one would make a perfect garden tarp to sit on. It’s sturdier and prettier.
Water bottle and Kleenex – Why does my nose run every time I sit down to work? It used to be so annoying, now I’m prepared.
Sunglasses and reading glasses – I bought cheap pairs of both of these so I can keep them at the ready. I can not read the seed instructions without glasses and I don’t like sun in my eyes.
Plant markers and a pen – I have a very bad habit of forgetting what I’ve planted. I always end up with mystery plants. Are they valuable or are they weeds? I never knew.
Twine and scissors – My plants always seem to grow out of control. This way I’m ready to tie them onto fencing to support them.
A protein bar – I mean, come on, gardening is hard work!
My Phone – Right before I head out, I tuck my phone in one of the pockets and I’m good to go.

This has made gardening so much easier. I’m the type of person who is easily dissuaded from chores. In the past, I would look outside and know that I should head out and do some weeding. But then I would think of all the equipment I needed to find and gather, and I would talk myself out of doing it.

Now, my excuses are gone. And I’ve found that even ten minutes in the garden can make a big difference. When I’m done, I place my bag back by the door and I’m ready for the next sunny day (during off-season it hangs on a hook in the garage).

My bag is stained now and there always seems to be a layer of dirt in the bottom, but that just means it is well-loved and much- used.

In at least one area of my life, I am organized!

Fun Activity: Look up Bible verses that talk about “preparation”, you will be amazed at how many there are.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” Ecclesiastes 11:6

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6