Lovely colors, and the wasp catchers are great. But can we acknowledge that tomato cages are useless unless you're growing small determinate tomatoes?

How are tomato cages useless? I grew 21 plants next year, none of which were determinate, and my maters would have fallen and broken and been horrible if they didn't each have a cage around them. I have used cages for years with total success.

Great - love the work gloves and the trowel. Not sure why we'd trap wasps unless we're also trapping bees and other creatures which are beneifical to the environment just because they bother us.

@username26, these items were chosen because they either contain recycled content, or are constructed of durable, weather resistant materials (a big issue when it comes to anything outdoors). We're definitely not advocating that people buy things they don't need, but if someone is looking to buy a specific item this is one way of showing that there are more responsible options out there.

@Username 26 - thank you for pointing this out. I have frequently been critical of AT for promoting certain products. AT is my favorite interior design site, bar none, and I think they are genuinely working to promote sustainable products. The problem is, I don't think they have a scientific advisor. So instead of using a Biolgist or Ecologist to tell them what products are eco-friendly, they're most likely using the advertisement for the product and their own personal knowledge.

*Please correct me if I'm wrong on this point, Lauren. And my apologies in advance if I am.

The Texas Agricultural Experiment station defines invasive juniper as such:

"Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are native woody shrubs that have expanded beyond their normal historical ranges in the western and southwestern United States since the late 1800s."

So it's a native plant that has "expanded beyond its range". It may be valid, but it sounds like they're trying to manage waterways and the juniper is getting in their way. It's a stretch at best. Of course that's not my field of expertise (I have a Master's in environmental studies).

Although I agree about reusing items around the home, I do think that if people *invest* in the right products (gloves, trowel) just once, they will be inspired to grow their own food and understand land use. This, in the long term, might be beneficial.

I completely agree, though, reusing what we have in the house is vital. I do know that AT has inspired me to begin a container grown garden (in a polluted city) and I've had such useful hints here from the staff and commenters that we now have 8 vegetable plants and have started a native wildlife garden as well.

"Biologist". Sorry for the typo.

@username26 and @Emmi,

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. As I'm sure you know, it can really be difficult to advise on green products as they have to meet so many requirements and what is "green" can vary from person to person or even location to location (as might be the case with the Junipers). Often times, there is frustration because something "green" is either too expensive or it doesn't look good or it's not widely available. It can be difficult to find those perfect products and while reusing something that already exists is a great solution, it's not always an option depending on the person or situation. Ultimately, I think living more sustainably is about making the best decision/purchase with a given situation and we love when readers weigh in on their own experiences, ideas and advice because it helps everyone better understand all the various factors that might need to be considered (without getting too overwhelmed hopefully!).

@Lauren thank you for addressing my concerns. I really do love AT and I think you guys have a great eye for what is beautiful. You all are taking on a pretty big task trying to find products that are also environmentally responsible.

The frustration you express is exactly the problem inherent in these kind of products: the label is subjective. It's interesting to note that the FTC defines product labels a certain way; if a label is on a product, the product maker not only has to prove that the claim is true, but they also must prove that **how the claim might be percieved by the consumer** is also true. That is a huge minefield.

The trouble then of labelling something "eco-friendly" is that it promises everything and does not always deliver. It's an absolute statement: "there is nothing about this product that will harm the air, water, soil, plants or animals". Maybe that's not how you define it, but that's what needs to be proven when using such an absolute label. And that determination.....should *always* come from a scientist.

If a product says, "this product is 46 percent post-consumer recycled and uses soy ink", well, it still needs to be reviewd by a third party but at least it's specific, and allows the consumer to make an informed decision.

Thanks again and please continue to post on gardening products - I'm planning to buy those gloves to keep from getting more splinters! :)