Archive for the ‘Garden tools’ Category

The Plant Nanny & Petal Drops Make Watering Fun and Easy

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Petal Drops

Every year when we plan our steamy-season summer vacation, we make a list of things that must be cared for in our absence. Take the dog to the kennel, contact the post office to stop our mail delivery, set a timer so the living room lights automatically go on and off, and ask the neighbor next door to water our plants. Yet every year when we return, our foxglove doesn’t look so foxy, our potted geraniums hang their red heads sadly, and our sweet basil looks more dried out and crusty than sweet. Drat!

Well, we recently discovered an easy way to insure that our plants are watered while we’re on vacation. No offense to our neighborhood kids, but we think that the Plant Nanny is a more sure-fire way to make sure our gardens are reliably watered in our absence!

Earn TRIPLE aHa! Rewards during the month of August when you buy Plant Nanny Singles & Petal Drops Rainwater Catchers.

Enjoy Peace of Mind with Plant Nanny Singles

All you need in order to use the Plant Nanny is a used plastic soda or water bottle. (So this is a cool way to recycle plastic, too.) The Plant Nanny consists of a special ceramic stake and a drip-free bottle adapter. All you have to do is place the ceramic stake in the soil, and overturn the filled plastic bottle, with the adapter attached, into the ceramic stake. As your soil dries out and becomes filled with air, the bottle releases just the right amount of water. Since the stake is in the soil, this is a super efficient way to water, wherein the water is delivered directly to the roots, allowing your plants to develop healthy, hardy roots.

Plant Nannies come in two different sizes to fit pretty much any need. Plant Nanny Singles are great for if you’re just going on an extended weekend trip, or if your container garden consists of smaller pots. The single size uses a plastic bottle up to one liter in size. For a longer vacation, or if you have a window box or larger pots, you should try the Plant Nanny Add-A-Bottles. These adapters can accommodate up to a 2 liter sized plastic bottle, so even if you’re gone for a week, your windowsill herb garden will still stay healthy and hydrated.

If you love the idea of recycling an old plastic bottle rather than letting it sit in a landfill, then you will love this second product that we just recently added to our gardens as well. We’ve recently begun using Petal Drops in our gardens, and we think they’re just adorable!

Price: $3.99
Buy Plant Nanny Singles Now!

Repurpose Rainwater in Style with Petal Drops

Petal Drops are just as simplistic and easy to use as the Plant Nanny. They are not only a useful way to recycle plastic water and soda bottles, but also a handy way to re-purpose rain water. All you need to do is attach Petal Drops, which are cute little flower-shaped funnels, to the tops of emptty plastic bottles, then place them outdoors. The Petal Drops utilize the same concept as a rain barrel, but are much more space efficient. You can use Petal Drops even if you just have a small cement porch or iron balcony.

Recently, after a glorious, heavy July thunderstorm, we found that all five of the Petal Drops bottles we had placed throughout our backyard were filled with water. So what did we do? We took the bottles and overturned them into our Plant Nannies. We are thrilled- watering our plants has definitely never been so easy, or so earth friendly!

Price: $6.00
Buy Petal Drops Rainwater Catchers Now!

Garden Starter Kits Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Basil Container Garden

For first time gardeners, getting started can be quite intimidating. Many people would love to experience America’s #1 most popular outdoor hobby, but simply don’t know where to begin. A trip to the local Big Box gardening store is less than helpful. There are so many mass-produced products from which to choose, how could one possibly sort through them all?

Well, we at aHa! Modern Living have a terrific solution for the aspiring or novice gardener. We have assembled a wonderful little collection of Garden Starter Kits to take the guesswork out of beginning a home garden. With three different kits from which to choose, we’ve designed one to fit any green thumb’s needs.

Don’t forget that Mother’s Day will be here before you know it! Mom is sure to love a gift that will allow her to spend time outside in the lovely, warm May weather. Check out all of the Garden Starter Kits for the one that will best suit Mom:

The Urban Seed Starting Kit – $46.43

If you want to take the guesswork out of gardening for your mom, then the Urban Seed Starting Kit is the perfect Mother’s Day gift. We’ve designed it to accommodate the first-time gardener who’s just starting to get her handy dirty, but also for the more experienced gardener who just loves convenience and efficiency.

Each Urban Seed Starting Kit includes:

  • One 8 quart bag of Black Gold Seedling Mix- a mix of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, perlite and Dolomite lime, and yucca extract, which creates the perfect medium for starting seeds.
  • One 12 pack of 3-inch Cow Pots- made of biodegradable, re-purposed cow manure, these pots are perfect for starting seeds because you can stick them right in the ground.
  • Three bags of Annie Haven’s Cow Manure Tea- each bag makes 5 gallons of all natural soil conditioning tea.
  • One pair of Eco Bamboo Garden Gloves- super soft and stretchy gloves made of bamboo.
  • One 16-ounce Garden Spray Bottle- serves a wide variety of uses, from mixing up fertilizer concentrates, to blasting off insects, to watering seedlings.
  • One Grow Your Own Food Made Easy Handbook- packed with tips and information on how to grow more veggies in less space.

The Stylish Girl Gift Set – $54.50

The Stylish Girl Gift Set is perfect for gardening within a small space, such as an apartment or retirement home. All of the items are compact, easy to store, and designed to bring a little bit of colorful life into a city dwelling.

The Stylish Girl Gift Set includes:

  • One Chrysanthemum Eggling- just crack open the white ceramic shell and water the peat and seed mixture to easily grow your own little chrysanthemum garden.
  • One Daub & Bauble Hand Wash & Lotion Set- both the hand wash and lotion are luxuriously formulated with moisturizing ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Read more about why to use Daub and Bauble’s natural ingredients.
  • One Elephant Watering Can- Adorable! Need we say more?
  • One Matchstick Wildflower Garden- all you need to do is tear off a little matchstick, which is already packed with seeds, and pop it in a pot. Storing and planting seeds couldn’t be simpler.

Modern Container Garden Kit – $65.99

If mom loves to garden, but doesn’t have a backyard in which to do it, no problem! The Modern Container Garden Kit has everything she needs to turn a small space, such as a window ledge, front step, or back patio into a lovely container garden:

The Modern Container Garden Kit includes:

  • One 8 quart bag of Black Gold’s Organic Potting Soil- the ideal mix of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, worm castings, which is perfect for indoor and outdoor potted plants.
  • One Aqua Genie Watering Can- this this sleek watering can’s mini size helps prevent over watering and makes it easy to store.
  • One Write + Erase Plant Stakes (Herb or Botanical)- these pretty tags can be used again and again. All you have to do is wipe off the name and re-write!
  • One All-Purpose Fertilizer Concentrate- contains all the nutrients needed to grow healthy vegetables, herbs, flowers, trees, and container gardens.
  • One Roost Wood Dibber Hand Tool- No, it’s not a stake for vampire hunting. A wood dibber allows you to plant bulbs and seeds at the correct depth. It makes planting a snap.
  • One 4-pack Pot Pads (green, brown, blue or red)- an essential little addition for any successful container garden. Pot pads lift the pot in order to provide water drainage and air circulation, and also prevent ugly pot stains on your patio or deck.
  • One set of Herb & Floral Clippers- these non-rust clippers make trimming and pruning a breeze.

Affordable, Last Minute Gift Ideas

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

So it’s mid-December, and you haven’t even begun your Christmas shopping yet. Fear not! With our great selection of unique gifts here at aHa! Modern Living, we’ve got you covered.

Discover cool and affordable presents for everyone on your list:

We’ve all had to pinch pennies a little bit over the past year, so we certainly understand if you don’t want to empty your pockets for a few great Christmas gifts. This is why we have an awesome selection of presents for under 10 bucks.

Daub & Bauble Travel LotionsFor your friend who, like many, is going to be traveling this holiday season, take a peek at the Daub and Bauble Travel Lotions. They are totally portable and packable, and meet the current airline regulations for carry-ons. They even still come in the same gorgeous bottle designs and delicious scents as the full-sized original.
Frog Salt & Pepper ShakersNow for your boss’ fabulous holiday party. We’ll bet she has never received a gift quite like the Frog Salt and Pepper Shakers. Aren’t they a fun conversation piece? As an added bonus, they’re made from water buffalo horn. So they’re not only beautiful, but they’re eco-friendly too. We’re sure you’ll be bringing the most creative gift of the night with these. Right now they’re on sale for just $16.80, so you can get your hands on this fun and funky present for less than 20 bucks!
Gardener's Multi-toolYour neighbor the gardener could definitely use some new tools for her favorite hobby. Check out the Gardener’s Multi-Tool. This handy like gadget has it all! And at under 15 bucks, it’s a gift purchase that you can feel good about making as well.
Silver Twig EarringsOkay, now we’ve made it to the last person on your list: your earth loving friend. She will totally dig some gorgeous nature-inspired jewelry, like these absolutely beautiful Twig Earrings. They’re on sale for under $30, which is a steal considering that they’re made from fine sterling silver. Not only that, but they’ll totally reflect your friend’s organic style, and match just about any outfit that she wears.

Jewelry not her thing? No problem- we have a whole section of eco-friendly products to choose from. You are sure to find something that makes an easy, affordable, and fun Christmas gift!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the Garden Lover

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Looking for affordable stocking stuffer ideas for garden lover friends, family members or coworkers? aHa! Modern Living has hand selected the top selling garden products for under $20 and fit perfectly in many stocking sizes.  If you like everything you see, buy them all and save 10% and FREE Shipping.

Matchstick GardensMatchstick Gardens $2.50

It’s your own portable garden that fits in your pocket.  Available in herb and botanical varieties.

Our Matchstick Gardens also made Marie Iannotti’s, garden writer for About.com, Top 10 Gifts for Gardeners list.

Floral ClippersFloral Clippers $5.00

Regular hand pruners can make trimming those small, delicate flowers quite challenging.  Your garden lover won’t have to worry about bending the stems those precious flowers with these compact, easily maneuverable flower clips. Great for snipping fresh herbs for savory recipes.

Pot PadsPot Pads $6.00

Pot Pads will help your container gardener move heavy containers (up to 3,000 pounds) over uneven surfaces, keep deck or patios surfaces from staining, and provide much needed air flow to the plant’s roots. Available in red and green.

Read Kerry Michael’s review of our Pot Pads on her About.com Container Gardening blog.

Weeder Garden GlovesGarden Weeder Gloves $7.50

The unique foam coating will protect your gardener’s fingertips from the elements, while the extended cuffs will guard their wrists from scratchy, itchy weeds. Available in blue, pink, purple


Soil ScoopSoil Scoop $18.00 NOW $14.40

The Soil Scoop is the jack-of-all-trades.  This tool can perform a variety of gardening tasks: digging, weeding, chopping, cutting, potting or planting. Available in blue, purple, yellow, green, red.

Watch this tool in action on Fern Richardson’s blog, Life on the Balcony.

“I LOVE my Soil Scoop.” Kerry Michaels, garden writer for About.com

Write + Erase Plant TagsWrite + Erase Plant Tags $16.00

Help the garden lover in your life keep track of their seedlings with these stylish, modern plant tags. Made from U/V resistant soft rubber, these tags will stay legible and are re-usable season after season. Available in herb and botanical designs.

Ken Ho WeederKen Ho Weeder $16.50

This tool is great for scraping away those annoying shallow weeds in your gardener’s flower or veggie beds.  The Ken Ho Weeder will be hard to lose in the garden with its bold red handle.

Still not what you’re looking for? Check out more garden related gifts in our for Modern Garden category.

Gifts for the Gardener Who Already has it All

Monday, December 7th, 2009
Photo source: Happy Mundane

photo by Happy Mundane

Every year, the Christmas season starts a little earlier. This year, stores were filled with plastic evergreen trees and stacked boxes of greeting cards even before the Halloween costume aisle was cleared out.

The holidaze begins months in advance. Yet every year, regardless of how early you start your Christmas shopping, there is someone who remains on your list. This is the someone for whom you need to find a gift that is unusual; not just another trinket from a big-box store. aHa! Modern Living is here for the rescue with a selection of gifts for that tricky person on your list who already seems to have it all.

Gifts for the Un-green Thumb

We all have that friend who claims to kill every plant she lays hands on. Here is the perfect solution for the aspiring gardener or apprentice who is still learning the trade. The Matchstick Garden totally makes planting as easy as pie. All you have to do is tear off a little matchstick, which is already brimming with seeds, stick it in the ground, and give it a little sprinkle of water. That’s it! They come in both wildflower and herb varieties, and at the price of only $2.50 per packet, you can afford to give both!

matchstick

Matchstick Garden

One of the most common reasons that houseplants are killed is over watering. The pretty and sleek Aqua Genie Watering Can aims to prevent over watering. It’s made of lightweight plastic so that it’s easy to lift and won’t rust. This is a super error-proof and user-friendly watering can.

aquagenie-general

Aqua Genie Watering Can

 
 
Gifts for the Novice Gardener
 
Your friend who is just starting to dabble in tilling and cultivating will love to receive some new tools to help her along the way. Chances are, she’s using some old rusted hand-me-downs. She’ll really be inspired to plant a fabulous garden when she receives the Garden Tool Hand Set. This is everything she needs to dig, transplant, and weed.

Celebrate Cyber Monday with Great Deals for the Holidays!

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Need to get some holiday shopping done but you’re stuck behind your desk all day?  Or maybe you’re too busy running errands for the family to scout out the best deals around town.  Then take a quick peek at our Cyber Monday Specials during your next 15 minute break, or wait until you get home to browse our specials from the comfort of your own sofa.  We are offering 20% off and FREE Shipping on our 9 most popular items (see below). Hurry! Sale ends today, 11/30/09, at midnight PST.

Have we piqued your interest?  Then start shopping our Cyber Monday Specials.  In order to receive FREE Shipping, choose either UPS Ground or FedEx Home Delivery during the checkout process and enter the discount code CYBER20 on the Summary Page.  We offer a 30-day Money Back Guarantee on all orders and free return shipping.  So don’t fret, shop with confidence at aHa! Modern Living this holiday season.

Cyber Monday Sale

Happy Shopping!


West County Garden Gloves Burgon & Ball Pruners Garden Hand Tool Set Etched Botanical Glass Votives Shake-a-leg Salt & Pepper Shakers Fragrance Diffusers Modern Bird Ball Feeder Roost Mortar and Pestle Modern Nesting Bird Box

 

How to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin & the Tools to Help

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
photos by Happy Mundane

photos by Happy Mundane (from left: play it cool with blues or warm it up with oranges and yellows)

What would the month of October be without the beautiful and iconic pumpkin? Whether you plan to harvest your own home-grown pumpkins, or visit your local patch, here are some tips to insure successful pumpkin plucking.

When to Pick

Pumpkins need to be picked before the first hard frost of the year. Depending on the growing conditions, baby pumpkins can vary in size. Baby gray and white pumpkins are ready to pick when there has been no change in size for about a week. When ripe, the fruit stem will start to turn brown. Baby orange pumpkins are ready to pick when the skin gets a slight yellowish sheen.

Full-sized orange pumpkins will turn deep in color when they are ready to be picked. Their skin should be hard enough that it does not crack when you poke it with your fingernail. Don’t pick a pumpkin too early, because it will stop turning orange once it has been cut from the vine.

How to Pick

Pumpkin vines are quite prickly, so make sure to protect your hands with gardening gloves. We recommend the West County Work Gloves (below), which are lightly padded in order to completely shield your palms from prickers. Look, they have adjustable wrist straps, too, so you’re sure to get a good fit.

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Garden Hand Tools: When to Spend and When Not to Spend

Monday, October 12th, 2009
From left: hand trowel, asparagus knife, Felco pruners #2 and 5-gallon bucket with caddy

From left: hand trowel, asparagus knife, Felco pruners #2 and 5-gallon bucket with caddy

Guest Post by Susan Cohan of Susan Cohan Gardens

I’m picky about tools and especially of the garden variety.  Some, like a trowel inherited from grandpa have emotional resonance, some are used once found to be fairly useless and then forgotten and still others become gardening partners for a lifetime.  How do you figure out which tools are essential and worth the big bucks and which aren’t? How do you figure out how not to waste your money?

First, think about which garden tasks you perform most often.  Most garden tasks requiring tools can be divided into four basic categories:  cutting, digging, gathering and spreading.  Each of those tasks, depending on what you are actually doing has a myriad of tools designed to make the job easier, lighter, faster or more comfortable.  Tool makers would have you believe you need a garage or shed full of tools to have a great gardening experience.  Not so, but it is a personal decision.  If you’re a gadget monster—go for it.  I have relatively few tools—my essentials are below as are my reasons to spend money or not…

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Harvesting and Storage Tips for Fall Vegetables

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

source: ifodesigns.com

Here at aHa! Modern Living, we just love the fall season. We have tucked away our bathing suits and beach towels, and instead have begun to stock our shelves with extra fleece blankets and soft wool sweaters. The refreshing outdoor air is laced with crisp breezes and the scent of drying leaves. Our favorite coffee shops feature rich pumpkin spice flavored goodies and fresh apple treats. Autumn is truly a delight to all the senses.

Just as we relish the arrival of fall, many of the vegetables in your garden love it as well. Cool nights slow plant growth, so vegetables take longer to mature in the fall than in the summer.  Warm days and cool nights also add natural sugar to corn, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Ahh, how sweet they are! And with aHa! Modern Living’s versatile gardening tools in hand, such as the awesome Gardener’s Multi-Tool (below), harvesting all your delicious fall veggies will be a snap!

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Hori Hori Garden Knife: Why this Tool is So Awesome

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

What is a Hori-Hori Garden Knife?

If you tried to pack the Hori-Hori Garden Knife in your carry-on, chances are good it would be confiscated at the airport.  This gardening knife certainly looks scary, which comes in handy if you are gardening in urban areas.  However, street people are not the only ones who fear the Hori-Hori—so do garden weeds, pesky roots, large rocks and any other annoying garden obstacle.  In addition to ridding your garden of weeds, the Hori-Hori works to plant bulbs and small plants, butcher unwanted roots from a new garden plot, dig rows for planting seeds, loosen stubborn clay soil and anything else you can think of.  If you can add just one garden tool to your toolbox, choose the Hori-Hori Garden Knife.

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