I can’t think of any other way of starting this article other than – I LOVE PLANTS!!!!!!!! I think they’re absolutely fascinating, gorgeous and wonderful. If you also love plants or just think they’re interesting, I highly recommend reading The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger.
On top of loving plants in general, I also love gardening. I find it so calming and exciting at the same time – when you thought your plant was done for, and then a little new growth spurts out and you realize it’s not all over. The joy of seeing amaryllis blooms in deep winter. I could go on and on, but I will spare you my waxing poetic on plants.
When I started Cut Off the Spigot a year ago, gardening supplies was my second category I covered. Since then, my research skills have grown exponentially and I have a TON more options than the first go-round! Now you can find alternatives for seeds, live plants, tools, supplies, and (I think) almost any aspect of gardening.
If you’re interested in learning how to grow your own food, check out The People’s Community RISE Garden Series. It’s a helpful step-by-step guide for the entire growing season from seed to produce.
A quick update! I will be taking a break from publishing May 22nd and 29th to take some time off to help my mom recover from knee surgery. On June 5th, I’ll be back with De-Google Part 3: Email, Calendar, and VPN options.
Buy Nothing or similar free exchange groups: Use the Buy Nothing app or local Facebook groups. Freecycle.org is a similar localized free exchange system. There are also often local groups, so search “free exchange near [your town or city]”.
Seed Libraries: Community-based seed sharing. You can get seeds for free!
How to Find Them: Worldwide Seed Library Map from Community Seed Network, Worldwide Seed Library Map from the Seed Library Network, or search “seed library near [your town/city]”. Your local library also may support seed libraries.
Tool Libraries: Often run by local libraries or other organizations, tool libraries enable people to share and borrow tools for free.
How to Find Them: Check to see if your local library has a tool-sharing program. Or use the Tool Library Finder map for the US, Tool Library Alliance map for US, Europe, & Australia, or search “tool library near [your town/city]”
Free Compost from Your City: If your town or city has a composting program, they may offer free compost or soil to residents.
How to Find Them: NYC has a composting giveback program, Philadelphia has a similar program where you can get up to 30lbs for free, more free composting giveback options across the country here.
Low-Cost Gardening Ideas: You don’t necessarily need to buy fancy seed trays when you can use toilet paper rolls or other recycled items. There are tons of free or low-cost hacks for gardening equipment.
How to Find Them: Depending on what you want to do, search “free/low-cost [your project] ideas Reddit” and there will likely be a ton of helpful posts and ideas on the subject.
Hardware stores often have plants themselves and/or a ton of gardening supplies. Check out my Home Improvement Alternatives article for good options, but I’ve summarized some of them below.
Shop Local if You Can: If you have a local gardening, landscape, hardware, or similar option that offers plants and/or gardening supplies, definitely shop there first! Even if you don’t have a gardening store nearby, local hardware stores often offer gardening supplies even if they don’t have plants themselves. One of my local hardware stores had a fantastic supply of gardening items and I had no idea until I walked in!
Hardware Options:
Ace Hardware: Ace Hardware is a retail co-op, where the store owners also own the brand. I still miss my old Ace Hardware in Adams Morgan, DC that had the most amazing plant selection.
DoItBest, TrueValue: DoItBest is a similar co-op to Ace Hardware and bought out TrueValue in 2024.
Harbor Freight: They have gardening tools online, and in-person I think they offer soil & other items, though I don’t live near a Harbor Freight so I can’t speak to the in-store experience.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore: ReStore is a thrift-store run by Habitat for Humanity for furniture, building & home improvement supplies, and other home items. Inventory will vary by location as it’s based on donations, but they may have some gardening equipment or larger items like trellises that would work for you.
Support my work with a paid membership and get exclusive access to my new podcast, The Learning Curve! Join for as little as $5/month! 😮
I’ve looked into a few companies here, but for even more options I’d check out the Vegetable Gardening’s subreddit list of seed companies across the world.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds: Non-GMO seeds with a wide variety of options.
The Details: 100% employee-owned! Johnny’s does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a DEI policy listed on their website.
What They Have: Seeds for vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs including Container Friendly versions for those who have limited space like me. They also offer some tools & supplies as well.
Shipping: Across the US, Canada & internationally though some items may incur an additional charge.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: Non-GMO seeds – they even sued Monsanto!
The Details: Worker-run cooperative, they do not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Seeds for vegetables, fruits, flowers & herbs.
Shipping: Across the US, though shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico may have limitations.
Store Locations: They don’t have their own stores, but they have a comprehensive list of retail partners by state where you can find their seeds.
Seed Savers Exchange: Non-GMO, non-hybrid and open-pollinated seeds with a focus on heirloom seeds and varieties.
The Details: Non-profit organization dedicated to sharing and preserving heirloom seed varieties. They don’t have a profile on OpenSecrets or a formal DEI policy but note on their Careers page – “Seed Savers Exchange is an equal-opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply.”
What They Have: Seeds for vegetables, fruits, flowers & herbs, and other items like tools, books & gifts.
Shipping: Across the US, Canada, and internationally.
Fedco: Seeds, fruit trees, shrubs, and more with Indigenous varieties and a focus on shorter growing seasons similar to Maine where they are based.
The Details: Worker & Consumer owned cooperative since 1978 with a 3.5 to 1 top to bottom pay ratio! For comparison, Starbucks has a 6,666 to 1 top to bottom pay ratio. Fedco does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy, though they give back to underrepresented groups including offering royalties to Indigenous people for their varieties and have Black Benefit Sharing varieties that donate 10% of their proceeds to Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust.
What They Have: Vegetable, flower, herb, & potato seeds, fruit trees, regular trees, & shrubs available as small trees or seeds depending on variety.
Shipping: Across the US with some restrictions based on what you’re ordering.
Store Locations: One location in Clinton, Maine.
TrueLove Seeds: Offers open-pollinated and culturally important seeds from diaspora groups around the world.
The Details: Owned by Owen Taylor and Chris Bolden-Newsome and based out of Philadelphia.
What They Have: Vegetable, flower, and herb seeds with collections for various diasporas from around the world, like African, East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Ark of Taste collections.
Shipping: Across the US, Canada, & England
Renee’s Garden: Heirloom & organic seeds.
The Details: Founded by Renee Shepherd, and as far as I can tell held privately. Renee’s Garden does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Vegetable, flower, and herb seeds and bulbs, with Lawn Alternatives options and gardening supplies.
Shipping: US & Canada
Bluestone Perennials: I have bought amaryllis bulbs a few times over the years from here, and my mom and aunts use them too.
The Details: Family-owned and operated, Bluestone does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Flower bulbs, perennial plants, flowering shrubs, other items
Shipping: Continental US & Alaska
White Flower Farm: I have also bought amaryllis bulbs from here 🙂
The Details: Family-owned and based out of Connecticut. White Flower Farm does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Flower bulbs, flower & vegetable plants, gardening supplies including containers like pots for indoor & outdoor.
Shipping: Continental US only
Store Locations: One location in Morris, Connecticut
Jung Seed Company: Wide variety of seeds and starter plants & trees for flowers, vegetables, fruit, nuts or landscaping.
The Details: Family-owned and operated, Jung Seed does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
Also owns: McClure & Zimmerman, other brands
What They Have: Seeds for flowers, vegetables & herbs; starter plants for fruit trees & shrubs – including PawPaw, perennial plants, roses, trees, shrubs & vines
Shipping: Across the US
Store Locations: In Wisconsin only
The Sill: I love The Sill for having a wide variety of container trees, though they’re more known for their houseplants (that sometimes feel overpriced). I have ordered fig & lemon trees from here, and they’re still going! I got 5 lemons from my mini-tree alone last year!
The Details: Founded by Eliza Blank, held privately and funded by venture capital. The Sill does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: House plants including large sizes, outdoor & patio plants, orchids, and fruit trees & bushes for both containers and planting in-ground.
Shipping: Continental US only.
Garden Goods Direct & Patuxent Nursery: Wide online selection of live plants, trees & shrubs.
The Details: Garden Goods Direct/Woodies Garden Goods is owned by Patuxent Nursery, which is held privately. Neither company has a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Garden Goods Direct has tons of actual plants to order including perennials, annuals, houseplants, tress, & shrubs, as well as gardening supplies like fertilizers, pest & disease control, tools, & decor. It looks like Patuxent Nursery has the same stuff available online, but you can order through their site.
Shipping: Across the US, no major restrictions noted on their shipping page
Store Locations: Patuxent Nursery has one location in Bowie, MD.
Support my work with a paid membership and get exclusive access to my new podcast, The Learning Curve! Join for as little as $5/month! 😮
Grow Organic: Organic and sustainability-focused gardening supplies and plants.
The Details: Family-owned and operated. Grow Organic does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Fruit & nut trees, flower, fruit & garlic plants, seeds, pest management, growing supplies, and more.
Shipping: Across the US, no major restrictions noted on their shipping page
Store Locations: One location in Grass Valley, CA.
Wilco Farm Store: Similar to Tractor Supply, where they have a mix of lawn & garden, pet & livestock, and other farming supplies.
The Details: Farmer and rancher owned cooperative, no DEI policy or profile on OpenSecrets.
What They Have: Lawn & garden items including soils, pots, planters, and potentially some plants in-store.
Shipping: It seems like they ship from their stores, so if you’re on the West Coast it might be more affordable than the Midwest/East Coast.
Store Locations: Across Oregon, Washington, and Northern California
Lee Valley: Good option for tools & more.
The Details: Family-owned business based out of Canada that supports diversity and does not have a profile on OpenSecrets.
What They Have: Gardening tools including ergonomic versions, watering cans, a wide variety of garden supplies & tools though online ordering may be limited
Shipping: They ship to the US & Canada, if you’re ordering from the US I don’t think you have to pay tariffs but I’m not 100% sure.
Store Locations: Canada-only, with locations across the country
Earth Easy: If you ever wanted to garden sustainably, grow your own food, or get a bit more off the grid, Earth Easy has supplies and tons of information to get you started.
The Details: Founded and owned by Greg Seaman. Earth Easy does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Eco-friendly and sustainable gardening supplies like vegetable beds, composting structures & supplies, kind of anything to turn your backyard or outdoor space into a productive gardening space.
Shipping: Generally the continental US, though they do ship some items to Alaska, Hawaii & Canada.
Gardener’s Edge: Wide selection of gardening tools & supplies.
The Details: Owned by A.M. Leonard, a family-owned company since 1885. Neither Gardener’s Edge nor A.M. Leonard have a profile on OpenSecrets or a public diversity policy.
What They Have: Tons of gardening tools and supplies including planters, beds, fertilizers, pest control, trellises, seed starters, and more.
Shipping: Across the US, no major restrictions noted on their shipping page though larger items may have higher shipping fees.
Store Locations: One location in Piqua, OH.
FELCO: Swiss-engineered gardening tools including left-handed options.
The Details: Privately held and based out of Switzerland, FELCO supports diversity through their equal-pay program for men and women.
What They Have: All of your basic gardening tools, but the cool thing about Felco is they have tool options for small hands, large hands, left-handed, and pressure-relief so if your hands aren’t the “norm”, you can likely find something that works for you!
Shipping: Across the US, though Alaska & Hawaii customers may face increased shipping rates.
Store Locations: FELCO doesn’t have their own stores, but you can use their Seller locator tool to find a retail partner near you.
Epic Gardening: Founded by Kevin Espiritu, held privately & funded by private equity firm the Chernin Group, though they do not own the company. Epic Gardening also owns Botanical Interests, a seed company, and does not have a profile on OpenSecrets nor a public diversity policy.
My Thoughts: I’m only putting them as questionable because they have significant investment from a private equity firm, and it feels like there are other more independent options. But, they aren’t outright owned by a private equity firm, so they’re not the worst.
What They Have: Seeds, live plants, & garden supplies like beds, seed starter kits, planters, & irrigation tools. You can shop their live plants by space size, which I find to be handy.
Shipping: Continental US only.
FastGrowingTrees.com, BrighterBlooms.com, PlantingTree.com: Held privately, with investment from Berkshire Partners and private equity firm Cove Hill Partners.
My Thoughts: Similar to Epic Gardening, Fast Growing Trees isn’t owned by private equity but does have significant private equity investment.
What They Have: Live trees & plants
Shipping: Continental US only.
Gardeners Supply Company (Gardeners.com): Gardeners Supply Company used to be an employee-owned company, but unfortunately went bankrupt in 2025 and was bought out by Gardens Alive!, a privately-held gardening conglomerate. It sucks that they’re no longer employee-owned, but since the transition there have been issues with orders and they only have a 1.7 star rating on Trustpilot.
My Thoughts: Until the company gets their customer service and order issues straightened out, might be good to go with some of the other options.
Greenhouse Megastore: Acquired by BFG Supply in 2021. BFG Supply is owned by private equity firm Pamplona Capital Management.
Tractor Supply: Publicly traded with institutional investors as their largest shareholders. They caved to right-wing pressure in 2024 and ended their DEI and LGBTQIA+ programs despite having a decent sized base of queer shoppers. Tractor Supply has also spent $2.17M on lobbying since 2023 on issues related to taxes, trade, tariffs, federal land use, and more.
Check out CutOffTheSpigot.com for resources, merch, and more.
Follow me on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky or UpScrolled for recap videos, and subscribe for the latest & greatest every Friday. Thanks for reading <3
Cut Off the Spigot is entirely community-supported. Help me reach my sustainable funding goal of 1,000 paid subscribers by May 31st!
Get exclusive access to my new podcast, The Learning Curve, merch discounts, Live Q&A’s and more!
