No matter my living situation, having some kind of garden has always been so important to me. Looking back and thinking of all those window sill herb gardens of my childhood and in various rentals as an adult, it seems kind of obvious now that I was yearning for some sort of experience in nature all along.

Related: if you’re looking for exciting and approachable garden DIYs for homes of any size, check out section 2 of our book Housewarming: A Guide To Creating a Home You Adore!

Now that we’ve got space and land, I’m actively planning the biggest garden project I’ve ever tackled: a homesteading raised bed garden that could feed us and maybe even produce enough bounty for us to start our own little small batch product line of food goodies. Think jams and preserves and chili oils and vinegars.

For now, we’ve got a small but mighty as fuck little tomato and pepper garden that has been loading our harvest baskets with delicious nutrition.

Regardless of the size and purpose of the various gardens of my past, present, and future, I’ve cared a lot about my garden accessories and outfits because I’m gay, and also because I’m trying really hard to make each one of life’s pleasures as wonderful as possible.

My gardening boots keep my feet safe and dry as I muck through mud and set up irrigation, my adorable green gardening gloves feel like a little luxury while protecting my hands from thorns and bug bites, my garden shears make for efficient cuts when pruning and harvesting, my chino field jumpsuit keeps my body free of ticks and safe from the sun, and my harvesting basket holds all the fruit of my labor — and makes for great social content.

My other go-tos are a complete gardening set to make sure you can do everything your little heart desires with ease, a wide brimmed wicker hat to keep the sun-to-cornea contact at a minimum, and a multi-pocket tote for storing tools, drinks and any essentials that might be needed for a day in the garden.