Okay the contest is officially closed as of 9AM (Pacific Time) Oct. 1st. Thanks so much for playing!
The winners will be chosen this afternoon (Oct 1st) and posted here tonight.
Thanks everyone!
YES! FREE! Okay…Here is the deal. I have acquired a brand new soil scoop and a brand new tip bag that I just don’t need. (See photos and descriptions below.) They were gifts and unfortunately I already have both. Yes, I could just re-gift them at Christmas, but I thought it would be much more fun to give them away to my readers.
First, let me tell you about the tools:
The soil scoop is the new style with an easy-grip silicone handle. It looks just like this photo (except that it is green). What is a soil scoop? It is a handy digging tool with serrated edges for cutting through compacted soil or roots and it has a pointed tip for furrowing. I also use mine for scooping out potting soil, etc. The handle design makes it comfortable to hold. I checked on line and it usually retails for between $17-24 each. (Photo credit)
The tip bag is made for hauling grass clippings, leaves, weeding debris, etc. in the garden. It is also very handy for hauling laundry! It is called a “tip bag” because you tip it on its side to fill it up.The one I have to give away is the smaller version. It holds 10 gallons and is made of water-resistant polyester with a shoulder strap. When not in use, it collapses down flat for easy storage. The tip bag retails for about $19 on line. (Photo credit)
How will this work?
There will be two winners: one for each tool. I will pay shipping, because I am nice that way.
1) All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. In the comment, please tell me where you garden: city and state. If you just want to name your nearest major city (like “Los Angeles, CA”), you can or you can be more specific. It is up to you. I want to get a feel for where my readers garden. You can throw in your USDA or Sunset growing zone too, if you know it.
2) Be sure to include your email on the comment form. The email will NOT be posted! But I will need it to notify the winner. And I promise not to sell it, spam it or send you anything other than a “YOU WON” email.
3) Please only leave ONE comment.
4) You have until 9 AM (California time) Wednesday, October 1st to post a comment. My two boys are going to pick the two winners by pulling two numbers out of a hat…well, out of a bucket really. That number will coincide with the number of the comment on this post. (First comment is #1, etc.) They are excited to participate.
5) I will email the winner and post it here by 6 PM on Wednesday evening. I will ship on Friday.
6) So what’s the catch? No catch…honest. I just thought this would be fun!
7) Does being a friend of a friend of mine help? Absolutely NOT. The winner will be random — drawn from the bucket.
Sound good? Good Luck!
Ready…Set…Go!
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I miss my tip bag. I had one before we moved back east, and I haven’t repurchased one yet. So, maybe this is kismet of the garden variety.
But then, the garden scoop looks like a very cool tool.
Regardless, I live in Alexandria, VA, zone 7a.
Sorry I missed this year’s symposium. I garden north of Binghamton, NY. USDA Hardiness Zone 4/5, AHS Heat zone 3, Sunset Zone 42. Came here via Twitter–I’m @ColdClimateGard.
Oooh, we have neither of those, so winning either would be fun! Our fav gardening tool is the Circle Hoe; we have several of those. Dh also likes the stirrup hoe, and the dibble (is that what the onion planting tool is called??).
We, in Bloomington, IN, are in approx zones 5B or 6A according to link to usna.usda.gov
This reader is from Southern Maryland, about an hour outside of D.C. That makes us in Zone 7. The link here is to my personal blog, where I have been talking a good deal about my new chickens lately!
Robin
I am gardening in Los Angeles, CA…and honestly not doing a very good job of it. Hopefully, the prospect of new gardening tools will get me motivated to start exercising my green thumb!
Hello — I’m living in Los Angeles — the California weather seems to be all over the place…hot one day — cool the next… i’d like to plant some herbs … mint & Basil — i’m not really sure where they will fare best: indoors or out??? thnaks. C.
Dallas, TX.
I garden in beautiful Charleston, SC. I recently tore up my tired lawn and bushes to create a cottage garden in my front yard and could put both those handy tools to good use!
I live in the Washington DC area, Zone 7A and warming, and would love either tool. Thanks for the opportunity! Susan
we live in the foothills above the san fernando valley.we have a nice cottage garden, but never enough tools! we love your blog. the train garden looks so fun, we take the train whenever we can…wardrobewitch.
I live in the San Diego area (Mira Mesa area) and am feeling brave enough to start a garden for the first time! Your blog inspires me!
Hi! I love the website. I live in El Segundo Calif. The tools sound great. Michelle
I’m in Humboldt County, CA – zone 8-9 depending on where you are situated. I love the way you make gardening fun for your kids, that’s neat to read about.
What a terrific idea! Your blog is very nice–I’m glad I found it.
Oh, and I live in Lubbock, Texas, zone 7a.
Helen – Los Angeles, California
I found you via Twitter today. :0)
I live in Folsom, California (25 miles east of Sacramento). I am in USDA zone 8, Sunset Zone 9.
Katie
Hi Theresa!
Sorry that you could not make the trip up to Grass Valley with Gregg and Helen this year. We missed having dinner with you and the kids!
On a positive note, we did enjoy the McMullen’s when they were here, and look forward to having all of you up NEXT year!
Take care of yourself, and tell Barbara HI for us.
Thanks,
Gerry and Denise Anderson
Hi Theresa, what a great website! Well, after visiting your beautiful garden, my daughter was inspired to have a garden at our house. I’ve never been good with plants, so I will be referring to this website a lot. Great idea!
The scoop is so cool. It is really what I need to transplant a huge begonia, that belonged to my husbands Grandfather. My garden is in Eastern Nebr. and the season is a changin’. Time for fall—Hooray!!!!
Just found out about your site from Lynn. We garden in Mooresville, NC. I am enjoying your beautiful pictures and great information! Thanks!
Greetings, Theresa, from Boulder Colorado. Garden Zone 5, I think, but because of the lack of water here, the high altitude, the winds, the alternating clay and sand that we euphamistically call ‘soil’,and the wildly fluctuating temperatures from morning (38) through daytime (85) to the evening (54), it’s really Zone “Whatever” and my only criteria for planting is: if it grows with little watering, it’s in; if it expires, it’s out.”
PS: My garden is flourishing and productive, with all the plants that ‘made the cut.’
Peggy
What a great contest idea! I like it that it’s simple.
I garden in Frederick, MD — Zone 6b.
(By the way, I’m a fellow GWA member that wasn’t able to make it to the annual symposium. Thanks for tweeting about it! That’s how I found your blog.)
Hope you draw my name from the bucket! I could use a tip bag. Love the site!
Beth from El Segundo, CA
how nice of you to offer these prizes! I’m living& gardening in Portland,OR, but moving about 20miles outside of the city next month! ( that means I’ll have more dirt to dig and plant! Yay!)
I’ve just discovered your site… and in time to enter your contest, it seems! I’m going to enjoy looking around a bit more.
Theresa,
I have one of those tip buckets and it is most handy…especially the collapsible feature. I have added you to my sidebar.
Okay guys…The comments to be in the running for the tools stops here. Any comments posted after this one, won’t be able to win. (Sorry).
Thanks for all the great comments. It looks like you guys are from all over! Great!
I will do the drawing from the bucket this afternoon (when my boys come home from school) and will post the winners tonight. The winners will be emailed as well.
Thanks for playing along!
Good Luck.