Our Tried-and-True Favorites for Every Home Grower
Welcome to the official Backyard Food Freedom Tools Page—your curated hub of trusted gear, gardening gadgets, and helpful supplies featured throughout our ebooks and blog posts. Whether you’re growing in raised beds, small containers, or a full backyard plot, these are the tools we personally recommend to simplify your setup, increase your harvest, and save you time.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend tools we’ve used or researched extensively.
General Gardening Essentials
- Raised Bed Kits – Easy-to-assemble cedar or metal bed kits for clean, durable planting spaces.
- Hori Hori Knife – A multipurpose digging knife that replaces your trowel, weeder, and ruler.
- Bypass Pruners – Ideal for snipping herbs, flowers, or thinning vegetables.
- Kneeling Pad or Garden Seat – Protect your knees and stay comfortable during long planting sessions.
- Watering Wand or Soaker Hose – Provides gentle watering right at the root zone with minimal waste.
Container & Small-Space Gardening
- Fabric Grow Bags – Excellent for root vegetables, herbs, and tomatoes. Breathable and reusable.
- Self-Watering Planters – Maintain moisture with minimal effort—perfect for busy or forgetful gardeners.
- Vertical Planters & Stacking Pots – Maximize space on balconies or patios.
- Rolling Plant Caddies – Move large pots to chase the sun or rearrange your garden with ease.
- Compact Potting Bench – Keeps soil, tools, and planters organized in tight spaces.
Soil, Compost & Fertility Tools
- Soil Test Kit – Know your pH, nutrient levels, and soil health in minutes.
- Compost Thermometer – Monitor compost heat for better breakdown.
- Compost Bin or Tumblers – We recommend dual-chamber tumblers for easy, odor-free composting.
- Worm Composting Bin – Great for apartments or winter composting.
- Organic Fertilizers – We suggest worm castings, kelp meal, and balanced organic blends.
Plant Supports & Protection
- Tomato Cages & Trellises – Prevent sprawling and improve airflow for tomatoes and peppers. You can certainly get some decent ones through my link on Amazon, but these are often cheaper and better quality if you pick them up at a garden store or hardware store.
- Cucumber Netting or A-Frames – Helps train vining crops upward and keeps fruit off the soil.
- Row Covers & Shade Cloth – Shield plants from pests, frost, or intense summer sun.
- Bird Netting – Useful in berry patches and to protect seedlings in spring.
- Floating Row Covers – Lightweight protection from insects without using sprays.
Light, Heat & Indoor Growing
- Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights – Mimic sunlight indoors for herbs, greens, or seedlings. Don’t go cheap on these. I have in the past and they simply don’t last and don’t work great. Look for something on Amazon with lots of good reviews and a 4.5 rating or higher. Good option 1 and good option 2.
- Seedling Heat Mat – Improves germination for heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers.
- Hydroponic Starter Kit – Kratky and deep water culture setups for soil-free growing.
- Indoor Garden Towers – Grow leafy greens, herbs, and strawberries indoors with built-in lighting.
- Clip-On Fans – Circulate air to prevent mold and strengthen indoor seedlings.
Harvest & Storage
- Harvest Baskets – Sturdy, breathable baskets for gathering fruits and veggies.
- Produce Storage Bags – Keep greens and herbs crisp longer in the fridge.
- Dehydrator – Preserve herbs, tomatoes, and berries for winter use. I prefer the dehydrators like this one with no plastic.
- Fermentation Kits – Turn your homegrown cabbage, cucumbers, and garlic into healthy ferments.
Kid-Friendly Gardening Tools
- Child-Sized Tool Set – Lightweight and colorful sets make gardening fun and safe for kids.
- Seed Starter Kits – Paintable pots, fast-growing seeds, and labels make it hands-on.
- Garden Journals – Encourage kids to sketch, log, and explore garden growth.