Friday, March 27, 2009

Top 10 Reasons to Wear Garden Gloves (and a giveaway!)


Last spring, I was a gardener who almost never wore gloves. This year, I reached for them before I ever set foot in the garden. Yeah, I'm a believer! Here's why you should wear them, too:


10. The spring weather can turn cold in an instant.

9. Wearing gloves makes you look like you know what you're doing, even if you don't.

8. Cats think the world is their litter box.

7. There are far better ways to spend your time than cleaning dirt from under your fingernails.

6. Toads hibernate in the strangest places.

5. Miscanthus cuts are no fun at all.

4. Blisters.

3. Mud treatments are highly overrated.

2.
There's a fungus amongus in that there dirt!


And the Number One reason to wear garden gloves:

Ethel Gloves makes such cool ones!


You already know I really like Ethel gloves - I extolled their virtues last year in another blog post. I still feel the same about them and have been using them this spring while doing clean-up.

What I like best about them is the fit. They fit so well that I had no problems picking up all those darn acorns that rolled into each corner of the garden and embedded themselves in the dirt over the winter. If I never see another acorn as long as I live, I think I can die happy.

Those nice folks over at Ethel Gloves told me I could give away a pair of their ultra-cool gloves to one of my readers. Someone is going to get lucky! What you need to do is leave a comment here, stating which style of Ethel Gloves you'd like to win. You can't just say, "Nice post." At midnight on Friday evening, April 3rd, I'll randomly pick one of the qualifying comments and the author will receive a free pair of Ethel gloves of their choice.

If you're in a hurry to get your gloves and you're one of those who never wins anything anyway, then have I got a deal for you! Just use the code LITTLEACRE when you order from their website and you'll get 10% off your purchase (good through Friday, April 24, 2009). Might as well order enough to share with all your friends and neighbors, because the shipping is free, too. See, I told you they were nice!

So before you leave a comment, head on over to Ethel Gloves and have a look at their designs and while you're there, be sure and read more about what makes them so special. The web site is as beautiful as their gloves, and just as easy to use. So get going already!


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The product or merchandise being reviewed in this blog post was the sole compensation for testing and reviewing the product. All opinions expressed here are mine, with no suggestions whatsoever by the manufacturer or distributor. If I like it, I'll say so. If I don't, I'll say that, too.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your favorite gloves sound good. Please enter me for the free gloves. I like wearing gloves so I don't have to worry about "ick" in the garden, feel free to squish bugs, and love taking them off when I have to go in and use the computer or phone! Enjoy! Rachel @ Grow Joyful on Blotanical

Kylee Baumle said...

Hi Rachel! Thanks for the comment! You need to tell me which style you'd like to win! :-)

Gail said...

Poison Ivy is the number one reason I try to remember gloves! Inevitably I grap it...only if I forget to wear them! So sign me up for the cutie pies...do they come in a fun girly color? Something that looks good with dirt on it! gail

Zoe said...

Love the look of the Ethel Gloves (Rendezvous in particular)! I always start out wearing gloves at the beginning of the growing season and by the end I'm usually gloveless! I think every pair I own have a hole in one of the fingers. These look far superior then any I have purchased, especially with the extra material on the fingertips! Zoe.

Unknown said...

Yes, there are plenty of not so nice things in the garden soil we would all like to avoid. My garden beds thankfully are not a litter box, but I have the dog to worry about. I spent a lot of time training her as a puppy not to use the lawn as a potty (so that I don't have to watch where I step) with much success! But that inevitably means that the garden beds are now the potty. She actually has it so ingrained in her head that she should only 'go' on mulched areas that once when she was accidentally locked in the shed for a few hours, she ripped open a bag of mulch and did her business inside it! Those Gala gloves sure do look nice ;-)

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I do wear gloves much more than I used to. I like thier 'expressions' design. I need a color I can find whereever I take them off. Ha... Ilove the count down as to why to wear gloves. The cat in the picture looks like Tom the alley cat, the toughest cat you ever saw...

Victoria Williams said...

I love wearing gloves in the garden. I really like the maroon color of the
Expression.

Anonymous said...

You are too funny and I loved this post. I too wear gloves and have several pairs--all of which are worn out.

jeannine said...

I think I would choose Rendezvous if I won your giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!

Victoria Summerley said...

Goodness, what stylish gloves! I like Signature. I should also add that I cut the tip off my little finger (no, really) a few weeks ago pruning without gloves, so that's a very good reason to wear them, I reckon. It's healing well, though. Do Ethel ship to the UK?

Martha said...

You are so right about wearing gloves.
I'll confess that it has taken me years to get used to them and now, like you, I reach for them on my way out the door.

Great list of reasons.

I choose Rendezvous!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

These are so much more stylish than my standard purple surgical gloves.
Rendezvous is my favorite!

Chris said...

Those are good reasons to wear garden gloves! I would love to win a pair. I'd be pretty fashionable with some Gala gloves completing my "gardening look".

Nancy said...

I wear gloves too, especially when weeding. I learned the hard way that there are some plants I have an allergic reaction to when I'm pulling them up. I think it's the sap.

I like the expressions, but honestly? I like all of them..

KT said...

Celebrate Spring!!!!! I enjoy your website; your gardening expertise inspires my desire to do more gardening! I love the Jubilee Gloves!!!!

Kathy said...

I like Jubilee. They're all beautiful.

Kylee Baumle said...

Gail & Anna ~ Be sure to post which style you'd like to win! :-)

SuburbanGardener said...

They sure do look pro-fessional.. I'd like to win the Signature. Thanks for the give away. You're awesome.
Happy Gardening!!

beachgrl said...

Hi Kylee, I like the gala style gloves. I am out working in the garden all spring and summer and fall. My hands are always in the dirt and pulling out weeds.

Rose said...

I've visited Ethel's site and have been salivating over these gloves for awhile. I always buy the cheap ones, but these would definitely help avoid those accidental stickers when pruning roses. I like the Jubilee best.

I'm a firm believer in gardening gloves, Kylee; like you, my cats think my garden is the perfect litter box:) Thanks for hosting this!

Donna at Suburban Sanctum said...

I'd love a pair of the Jubilee gloves. (I prefer the red of the Expression, but the white palms scare me--even if they are washable! :))

I've just been thinking I need to invest in a good pair of gloves. I usually have half a dozen $2 pairs lying around, because I like being able to feel things through the thin fabric. However, they don't keep the dirt (or thorns!) out, and they develop holes in no time. If I don't win, I will definitely have to order myself a pair.

(PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME! :) )

Chiot's Run said...

I Love Love Love Ethel gloves. I got a pair from Mr Chiots for Christmas and I'll be buying more when these wear out for sure. I have the Signature but I love the Gala gloves.

Anonymous said...

My #1 reason for wearing gloves: SPLINTERS! I always end up with a nasty splinter somewhere from playing in the mulch if I don't wear gloves. Even if I don't win, I may buy a pair of these - I'd love a pair that won't let dirt fall in the cuff!

(style - I'd pick Gala bc black is harder to make look dirty. It doesn't describe fit very well on their site though - no measurements. So medium, I guess?)

Anonymous said...

oh - I must add - the website has free standard shipping!! My local Lowe's sells them, so I was going to purchase there, bc I figured shipping would be more than the 10%, but not any more! Nice :) Wanted to share that in case anyone else was thinking the same thing.

Now I think I'll try them on for size at the store, then come and order myself a pair, and one for my mom for Easter, her bday, or Mother's Day, all of which are coming up soon! (Or perhaps I will win a pair :) )

Kylee Baumle said...

Lisa ~ That's Max! (Guarding his garden - LOL!)

Victoria ~ I'm not sure! I'll check.

Jennah ~ They have an awesome sizing guide on the website here. Also, I did mention free shipping. ;-) But no harm in repeating it! I saw Ethel Gloves at Lowe's this week, too. They were $17.95 there, plus tax, so ordering through the website is definitely cheaper. Also, my two local Lowe's both only had one style. But if you have a Lowe's near you, that's a good idea, to try them on there, if you're uncertain about using their sizing guide.

Barbee' said...

Someone needs to send Mrs. Obama a pair of gloves! I bet she had blisters after that ground breaking for the new White House garden.

Maureen said...

I enjoy your blog and read it daily. Thanks for the giveaway. I really like the Jubilee gloves - they are pretty and practical!

Meems said...

Hi Kylee,
Ethel gloves are my all time favorites. I have two pairs but would always take another if I "won" them. I actually have a post about them in the que -- one of those unfinished ones. :-)
They are not only a good fit for me but with all the gardening I do they are long lasting. I have the brown and the red... I've been giving them away to all my gardening family and friends too.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Connie said...

I just did a post on a nice 5 pack of garden gloves I picked up at Costco. But a girl can always use another pair, right? Those Jubilee gloves are awesome looking.

Carolyn G said...

I absolutely love the Rxpression gloves. I never had a pair of Ethel gloves but they look fantastic.

Katie said...

I am an on and off glove kind of gal. I guess you could call gloves my mood ring.

I like the Jubilees.

Louise Hartwig said...

My 74 year old hands need all the help they can get.I love gardening, but do have times of wanting to also be a lady. I have not had these gloves,but win or lose I will have a pair of Ethels.They make a fashion statement and all gardeners like to look good, especially when among other gardeners.I like the signature ones and my hand is small. They sound so functional. Would love to be a winner. Louise

Anonymous said...

Ethel Gloves sound wonderful, I'd love to try them out! I always wear gloves when I garden, otherwise my manicurist would yell at me!

ikkinlala said...

May Canadians enter? I like the Signature Ethel gloves.

Nutty Gnome said...

Having just gone through yet another pair of neoprene gloves this weekend, I am desperately in need of a pair that will last more than a couple of months before I go through the finger tips!

I've been and had a look at the Ethel site - and had a good drool at them all! I've not seen any like that in the UK.

They're all gorgeous, so I wouldn't mind which ones I won - but a bright chrpy colour would be good. I've only got little hands, so I'd need a small pair - hint, hint!

Betsy said...

Hi Kylee,
Hope these names are going into a hat... You got a good response! I like the Rendezvous style, beige, like me. Reason to be the chosen few (hands)? My poor hands. Miscanthus was March, they're looking forward to roses in April.

Kerri said...

I'd love to try these gloves! Love your reasons to wear them :)
Our kitties are enjoying digging in the compost that we spread around during the winter. I get pretty upset when they start breaking off the crocuses I've waited so long to see!
Jubilee is my favorite. Thanks for the opportunity.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kylee--I do wear gloves when I'm working outside but I always use the el-cheapo kind. I will be working outside almost non stop from now until May 24th, wedding day for daughter Julie:) I'll need to keep my finger nails nice and clean so I do need the ETHEL gloves. Your "old" neighbor--Lois

Bren Haas said...

SNAP GIRLFRIEND!!! LOVE these glove designs lately. My glove of choice this week have been so drap. Can't wait to get something stylin'!

((HUGS)) Fabulous Ohio Garden.

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

I LOVE your top ten! SO funny!!!!! I'd really like a pair of those Ethel gloves.

Cindy

laurie said...

I have a garden supply shop and love reading all these glove comments! I find myself suspicious of too cute gloves sometimes..but these sound pretty good. That being said I am a pretty big fan of womanswork garden gloves. I haven't worn through mine yet, always a good thing..but I am always interested in what else is floating around (especially if it is in a free givaway! )

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