In this post, we review gardening and Juneteenth products from black owned brands. These include the following.
- Gardening supplies (e.g., plants, planters, gardening tools)
- Gardening and Juneteenth apparel and accessories
Celebrating Juneteenth through gardening is a great way for American Descendants of Slaves (ADOS) to remember and honor their African roots and ancestors. Gardening (i.e., the cultivation of plants), has played a key role in the survival of ADOS. First, enslaved Africans came to the United States with root vegetable gardening skills. Second, slaves were able to grow their own crops in less fertile areas of the plantation for which they could consume and sell. These “slave gardens” provided sustenance in the context of deficient nutritional resources provided by slave owners. Their skills came in handy as root vegetables (e.g., yams, sweet potatoes, and turnips) can be grown in a broad range of soil conditions, and help improve soil health over time. Across centuries these vegetables have been staples in African American households. Third, gardening and cultivation skills helped runaway slaves survive their journey to freedom. Wild lettuce for instance was developed into a brew and used as a coffee substitute. Tree bark was fashioned into weapons.
In today’s landscape, the role of gardening in creating sustenance amid systemic disparities continues. African American communities are disproportionately affected by “food deserts” where there is sparse access to healthful and affordable food options. Backyard, container, and community gardening have become some ways of addressing this challenge. Furthermore, gardening is great for mental as well as physical health by promoting stress relief, relaxation, and a range of coping skills.
Some of the following are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means at no cost to you, Shop With Leslie will receive a commission, should you use the advertisements in making a purchase.
Gardening Supplies
- 1991 Greenery (advertisement) offers a diverse selection of plants and succulents as well as potting mixes.
- Barn Owl offers a selection of stainless steel garden tools with a storage tote bag. The tools are sold on a number of platforms including Amazon (advertisement).
- Garden Art For The Soul (advertisement) offers a diverse selection of lawn and garden art, made from a durable aluminum and polyethylene hybrid that can be used inside and outdoors.
- Goodee (advertisement) offers a large selection of environmentally friendly and durable gardening tools that include trimmers, pruners, a trowel and more. Planters and gardening aprons are also available.
- Home Oniship (advertisement) offers a variety of planters that include handmade wall planters and planters with culturally themes.
- Hortiki Plants (advertisement) offers a selection of seed kits for indoor and container gardening. These include herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Selection options are featured in the carousel below.
- If Knot For Your Grace (advertisement) has a crochet hanging planter in several colors.
- Made By Rheal (advertisement) offers a selection of concrete planters.
- Mind the Cork (advertisement) offers a selection of cork planters that are sourced sustainably.
- Natural Annie Essentials (advertisement) offers a recycled wine bottle as a hanging planter that includes a Philodendron.
- Tal & Bert (advertisement) offer an extensive selection of concrete planters embellished with raw crystals.
- The Hood Garden (advertisement) offers a diverse selection of pepper seeds (e.g., Anaheim, Carolina, Chocolate, Purple).
- Aina & Co Supply offers an eco friendly Neem cake fertilizer for which products can be purchased separately or in a bundle.
- Grounded offers a selection of plants that work well the indoors as well as planters.
- Crazy Plant Bae has an extensive and diverse collection of house plants, as well as planters for both indoors and outdoors.
- Calabar Imports offers a selection house plants and succulents, as well as planters and Moroccan lanterns.
- Effortless Composition offers a selection of planters for indoor or outdoor gardening.
- I Grow Shit has a selection of garden seeds, natural and organic fertilizers and insecticides.
- Leaf Me Plant Boutique offers a variety of house plants.
- My Crazy Plant Life offers a selection of rare and tropical plants. Plants for growing indoors and outdoors are available.
- Natty Garden offers a selection of indoor plants (e.g., cactus plants and trees), outdoor plants (e.g., hanging baskets and herbs), and gardening supplies (e.g., gloves, planters). Soil, compost, and fertilizer are also available.
- Plants and Anime offers specialized and custom planters. The owner also runs the blog “Black Men With Gardens.”
- The Ratchet Hipster offers a diverse selection of house plants, some of which are sold with planters.
- Torpedopot offers a selection of self watering planters.
- The Zen Succulent offers a selection of planters for container gardening.
Other and non black owned options for gardening supplies include our affiliates.
Some products are available on Amazon and at Lowe’s (advertisements).
- Urban Leaf (advertisement) focuses on indoor herb gardening with kits to grow herbs from seed. Vegetable seeds and planting guides for outdoor gardening are also available.
Gardening and Juneteenth Apparel & Accessories
- Shop With Leslie Blog on Etsy has a selection of “Black Girls Plant” tees, long sleeved gardening shirts in several colors, and childhood gardening posters. Also, Juneteenth tshirts are available in three colors.
- Shop With Leslie on Redbubble has gardening themed magnets andstickers.
- Chocolate Ancestors (advertisement) offers a large selection of Juneteenth apparel and accessories that include tee- and baseball shirts, crop tops, hats, and more.
- A Tree Of Us (advertisement) offers a selection of tee shirts that celebrate gardening.
- Afrocentric Tribe (advertisement) offers a variety of Juneteenth tanks and tee shirts.
- Black Art Matters (advertisement) offers a selection of Juneteenth themed apparel and accessories.
- Black Girl Powerhouse (advertisement) offers a selection of Juneteenth flags.
- The Hood Garden (advertisement) offers a selection of apparel and accessories (tee-shirts, sweatshirts, and bags) that celebrate gardening.
- Three Little Bird Tees (advertisement) has a selection of Juneteenth tee shirts.
- Power In Black has a selection of Juneteenth tshirts and tank tops. Several styles and colors are available.
- Ron Finley Project offers gardening apparel and accessories that include tops, totes, and stickers.
In reviewing these products I hope you find one or more that work for you.
Happy shopping!
ALSO, Shop With Leslie has Etsy and Redbubble stores with merchandise celebrating culture and enterprise. Proceeds go towards supporting this blog. Check out our Etsy merchandise at ShopWithLeslieBlog (free shipping). Find my Redbubble merchandise here, ShopWithLeslieRedbubble. A mixture of products is provided below.
Sources
- Encyclopedia.com. “Slave gardens.” Updated 22 April, 2020. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/slave-gardens
- Ford, Christian. “Gardening for slaves.” 13 January, 2012. https://www.hogsalt.com/wp-hogsalt/gardening-for-slaves/
- Gillihan, Seth J. Ph.D. “10 mental health benefits of gardening.” 19 June, 2019. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/201906/10-mental-health-benefits-gardening
- Holsopple, Kara. “How plants were used to gain freedom on the underground railroad.” 15 September, 2017. https://www.alleghenyfront.org/how-enslaved-people-use-plants-to-gain-freedom/
- United Farm and Ranch Management. “Can your land benefit from cover crops like turnips and radishes?” https://ufarm.com/2013/12/24/can-your-land-benefit-from-cover-crops-like-turnips-and-radishes/
- Yeoman, Barry. “The hidden resilience of ‘food desert’ neighborhoods.” 18 September, 2018. https://civileats.com/2018/09/14/the-hidden-resilience-of-food-desert-neighborhoods/