Improve Your Gardening Know-How with Organic Bonsai Trees, Seeds, and More

The choices we make around food are essential to our health and wellbeing, and that of our planet. Take your next green living step by improving your gardening know-how with these sustainable, organic products and services from certified Green Business Network members. Below you’ll find everything from organic seeds for 46 different varieties of tomatoes, an organic weed killer, and an award-winning gardening magazine. 

Become a Master Organic Gardener 

Start small and targeted by perfecting your green thumb with bonsai trees. At Bonsaify, Chief Bonsai Artist Eric Schrader and co-founder Dory Schrader want to share the joy and beauty of bonsai with the world. All trees at the small business are grown organically with water-saving methods; all ceramic is locally sourced; and 1% of all profits are donated to One Tree Planted. You can purchase starter packs (beginning at $24.99) to grow and shape your own bonsai or purchase one of the many potted trees (starting at $84.00) to care for. Bonsaify also offers plenty of learning opportunities to best take care of your trees, including eCourses, in-person classes and workshops, and care guides. 

Based in rural Tennessee, Hidden Springs Nursery wants you to dream bigger for your garden and try planting and caring for trees. The family-owned business promises “quality, disease-resistant plants ... grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or poisonous sprays.” You can find everything from cherry blossom trees ($15) to citrus trees ($11) and beyond. Planting and care instructions are sent with each tree, and if you’re nearby, you can take a tour of the Hidden Springs Nursery. 

So, you’re ready to try your hand at planting all sorts of other things. Turtle Tree Seed, then, is where to begin. They offer “385+ varieties of open-pollinated, Demeter certified Biodynamic ®, and organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds,” which means you can plant anything and everything. Find the basics like cabbage or parsley and also enjoy browsing the 46 different tomato varieties or several perennial herbs and flowers. The Tips & Articles page is the perfect place to learn more. 

Improve Your Gardening Know-How 

We all know weeds are some of the worst parts of gardening. Flame Engineering is here to make that chore a little easier—and definitely better for you and your garden. The torch kits are organic and chemical-free, allowing you to “flame weed” those pesky nuisances away. By destroying the cell structure of the weed, the torch essentially ends growth all the way to the root but be careful of any “desirable” plants nearby. 

A backyard cleanup and install by Love & Carrots. Photo: Love & Carrots

If you’re in the larger Washington D.C. area and need some extra help getting a garden started, Love & Carrots wants to help. This small business helps anyone from individuals, schools, and organizations to design, install, and maintain gardens. It starts with a custom plan, accounting for environmental characteristics, and then the Love & Carrots team will install your brand-new garden. If you want to take it a step further, sign up for Garden Care & Coaching services. With the former, an Urban Farmer comes to the garden biweekly to care for the garden from planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvesting, and more. If you want to learn more about gardening yourself, coaching brings an Urban Farmer to the garden, and they will teach you as the garden grows every two weeks from March to November. 

Do you want to learn about gardening from gardeners? Washington Gardener Magazine has you covered. This award-winning magazine covers a broad range of topics from “preventing rabbit damage” to “year of the azalea” and so much more. You can get the latest issue for $20, check out the blog, or tune in to GardenDC: The Podcast About Mid-Atlantic Gardening. 

Despite the sweet smell of flowers and fruit, gardens are not always the most pleasing to the nose. Turf Magik is a new, all-natural product that can help remove odors from artificial turf, outdoor grass surfaces, fertilizer, composting, and more. The product removes toxins and harmful bacteria in the air, and is non-toxic, lab-tested, and manufactured in the U.S. Get a 2-pound bag for $34 and all you need to do is sprinkle and water. 

Debby Ward is the founder of Prior Unity Gardens, a professional organic gardening coach, and wants to help you start or improve your organic garden. You can become a master organic gardener with Ward’s courses, training, coaching, or speaking services. 

All products and services in this article are from certified Green Business Network members, making your journey to buy sustainably easy.