Georgia Magazine - December 2012 - (Page 30)

Gardening gifts: Simple to sophisticated Eight products to help you make the most of your time in the garden F By John Gifford or many of us, gardening is a simple pastime. That’s one of the reasons we love it—especially those of us with hectic, nine-to-five desk jobs. Getting in touch with the very earth that sustains us and growing something with our own hands is not only relaxing, it’s also one of our inherent callings as humans. Evidently, so too is designing products to help us better enjoy these experiences. Today’s technology has given us, for example, computer programs that tell us which plants grow best in our area, and how to maintain them. These programs take much of the guesswork out of gardening, helping even beginners develop a green thumb. Other innovations, like insectrepellent clothing or specialty cutting tools, may seem simple by comparison. But they’re no less important. These items make our time outdoors more enjoyable, and they’re helping more of us have lawns and gardens we can be proud of. Here’s a look at some of today’s most useful gifts for the gardener on your shopping list. bandana, is invisible, odorless and durable, lasting up to 70 washes. Some gardeners feel it’s safer and less messy than slathering on liquid repellent, which is readily absorbed by the skin. ($15, exofficio.com) Lawn-revitalizing aerator shoes These lawn-revitalizing aerator shoes from Northern Tool are simple but clever. With two dozen metal spikes beneath your feet, all you have to do is march across your lawn to help break up hard-packed soil and give your root system the air and nutrients it needs to thrive. Wear them while you cut the grass, and your neighbors will admire your multitasking ability—and your healthy lawn. ($10, northern tool.com) Lawn-aerating shoes BugsAway® Paisley Bandana Bandanas have no shortage of uses, but this one from Ex Officio stands out for its ability to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and other biting insects. According to the manufacturer, Permethrin, the active bug-repelling ingredient in the 30 Solar-Powered Mole and Gopher Repellent These days, it pays to be environmentally conscious, even when trying to rid your yard of those pesky moles and gophers. Forget the brutish poisons and traps. Instead, use the sun’s energy to drive the little buggers away and BugsAway bandana More online at www.georgiamagazine.org Solar-powered mole repellent GEORGIA MAGAZINE http://www.exofficio.com http://www.northerntool.com http://www.northerntool.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - December 2012

Georgia Magazine - December 2012
Table of Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Currents
Explorations in Antiquity Center
Georgia’s barbershop revival
Around Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
My Georgia
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - December 2012