Small Business Saturday is a perfect reminder to look beyond big-box stores and support the independent businesses that form the backbone of local economies. For gardeners and green thumbs, this is a chance to explore unique products, innovative ideas, and sustainable practices offered by passionate small business owners.
Whether buying gifts for gardeners or treating yourself, by shopping with small businesses, you’re contributing to the livelihoods of individuals who pour their hearts into helping others cultivate their passion for gardening. It’s a win for gardeners, communities, and the planet.
Gardening Know How is a champion of small businesses, sharing their products with the gardening community. To celebrate Small Business Saturday, we've picked out our favorite trailblazing brands. Browse their products in the new Gardening Know How Shop – your one-stop gardening destination.
Bee Cups
Jen Rose is an ecological artist, scientist, and entrepreneur whose innovative work bridges art, science, and environmental sustainability. With a background in ceramics and ecological studies, Jen has created Bee Cups – handcrafted water stations designed to support pollinators by providing safe, accessible drinking sources.
These unique cups reflect her deep understanding of bees’ behaviors and needs, incorporating textures and patterns that cater specifically to their vision and anatomy, such as textured surfaces for their hook-like feet. They also feature an ultraviolet glaze that is attractive to bees and butterflies.
Jen's commitment to sustainability extends beyond the product itself. Each Bee Cup is made using earth-friendly practices, from hand-mixing clay colors in her studio to repurposing broken or defective cups into “Pollen,” a decorative and pollinator-friendly material for gardens. The cups are 100% food-safe, free from plastics, and resistant to fading or chemical leaching.
A culmination of her artistic expertise and scientific research, Bee Cups demonstrate Jen’s dedication to supporting pollinators while fostering ecological awareness. Each cup holds a teaspoon of water, thoughtfully designed to avoid mosquito breeding while providing enough for bees to drink and rest.
Jen’s passion for creating sustainable and functional art makes her products a standout choice for environmentally conscious gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts. Bee Cups are not only a tool for conservation but also a testament to the harmonious blend of art and science in supporting nature.
This set of five Bee Cups comes in pastel colors of pink, orange, green, yellow, and blue. The center of each cup is slightly darker than the outside.
A set of Bee Cups in a lovely sky blue shade, contrasted with yellow centers. Each bee cup is handmade and features a UV glaze to attract bees.
This set of five white Bee Cups features bright centers of red, yellow, green, blue, and orange for a secret pop of color in the garden.
Coco & Seed
Coco & Seed, founded by Tishana Richards, is a sustainable gardening business born from her journey of discovery and personal growth. Originally a freelance professional in the television and film industry, Tishana pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore gardening and hydroponics.
Inspired by an aquaponic exhibit at a film festival, she began experimenting with soil and hydroponic gardening in small vessels like Mason jars, aiming to make gardening accessible, sustainable, and visually appealing.
Coco & Seed specializes in eco-friendly indoor garden kits that simplify gardening for beginners and enthusiasts alike. The kits include non-GMO seeds, bamboo labels, and options for soil or soilless mediums, like clay pebbles and coconut coir, to promote passive hydroponics.
Every aspect of the product design reflects Tishana’s commitment to sustainability, avoiding plastics in favor of biodegradable and reusable materials. The business emphasizes the peace and mindfulness that gardening can bring, offering consumers a chance to connect with nature in their homes. Tishana encourages customers to experiment, save seeds, and continue growing their own food.
Coco & Seed has received widespread acclaim, featured on The Today Show, in Oprah Magazine’s Favorite Things, and in publications including Architectural Digest. Its ethos of "beautifully simple" gardening has resonated with those seeking sustainability, creativity, and joy in their gardening journey.
Creating your own thriving terrarium ecosystem with this DIY kit containing a live succulent and everything you need for optimum growth.
This kit contains everything needed to grow aromatic herbs in a nutrient-rich growing medium. Choose from basil, mint, cilantro, thyme, or sage.
Grow hydroponic lettuce indoors with this easy-to-use kit that's perfect for beginners. The seed mix includes a variety of delicious lettuce varieties.
Womanswork
A small business based in Dutchess County, New York, Womanswork is dedicated to empowering women through thoughtfully designed products that serve both practicality and purpose.
Known for its tagline, “Strong Women Building A Gentle World,” the company specializes in gardening gloves and tools tailored specifically for women’s hands, recognizing that women’s needs extend far beyond gardening. These products cater to the evolving roles of women, including first responders, construction workers, urban farmers, and more.
Founded in 2000 by Dorian Rogers Winslow, Womanswork has a rich history rooted in Dorian’s personal passion for gardening and her admiration for the resilience of women. Inspired by her grandmother’s gardens and fueled by entrepreneurial vision, Dorian transformed Womanswork from a small leather glove company into a brand known for its innovative designs and connection to its community.
Unlike many competitors that simply resize men’s gloves for women, Womanswork creates patterns specifically for women’s hands, offering a perfect fit for every task.
The company’s ethos extends beyond products. They celebrate the achievements of strong women through inspiring stories featured on their website and product hang-tags. They’ve also committed to environmental stewardship as members of 1% For The Planet, donating a portion of their sales to organizations combatting climate change and pollution.
Womanswork is more than a brand; it’s a community celebrating women’s strength, resilience, and commitment to sustainability.
This bundle features stylish matching gloves and a hat, along with a perfect pair of pink gardening scissors. The hat is adjustable to fit any head size.
Set includes cotton stretch gloves, Gardener’s Hand Soap, Lavender Mint Hand Cream, and Arnica Muscle Rub, in an Heirloom Garden print bag.
This Woodland print bundle includes gloves with extra-long cuffs to protect arms and a matching apron with large pockets and extra-long strings.
Plant By Number
Plant By Number is revolutionizing garden planning with its innovative Garden Maps, designed to make gardening accessible and efficient for everyone, from beginners to seasoned horticulturists. Inspired by founder Alex’s own challenges with re-landscaping during the pandemic, the company developed a system to eliminate the complexities of garden design.
The centerpiece of Plant By Number’s offerings is its customizable Garden Maps, printed on eco-friendly, weed-blocking landscape fabric or biodegradable Bio-Paper mulch. These maps are tailored to the customer’s specific climate, garden space, and planting preferences.
By simply rolling out the map, gardeners can follow precise planting instructions, saving time and reducing labor. Options include ordering the map with live plants or receiving a detailed list to source independently.
Sustainability is a core principle of the business. The maps are crafted from 100% recycled paper and printed with carbon-negative algae ink, ensuring they are completely plastic-free and environmentally friendly. The system promotes smarter planting decisions, reduces waste, and increases yields.
Beyond the maps, Plant By Number offers expert advice and ongoing support tailored to seasonal needs and planting zones, fostering success for gardeners at every step. Their innovative approach combines environmental consciousness with practicality, redefining the garden planning process.
Add a splash of vibrant color and texture with this floral ensemble. Kit comes with a planting map, instructions, and plant shopping list.
This pre-planned map is designed to infuse your outdoor space with vibrant shades of green and yellow. Supplied with a plant shopping list.
Add life and texture with this professional garden bed design, supplied with weed-suppressing map, instructions, and plant shopping list.
Browse Hand-Picked Gift Guides
- Be inspired by the 12 most-wanted gifts on the wish lists of the Gardening Know How team.
- Delight indoor gardeners houseplant gift ideas that will inspire their hobby.
- Find even more ideas in the Gardening Know How Shop's Garden Gifts browse by experience.
This article features products available from third-party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.
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Womanswork - Strong Women, Strong GlovesHave you heard of Womanswork? They're a woman-owned business that's been empowering women (and making gardening gloves) for over 35 years.
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