What are the must-have tools and gear used by Natasha Nicholes for her travels and gardening?

Hi there! I’m Natasha Nicholes from Houseful of Nicholes. Love this question.

Based on what I share on my blog and Instagram, here are the big categories of tools and gear I use and talk about most:

• Gardening

  • Hand tools like the CobraHead weeder/cultivator (you’ll see me repping them at garden events)
  • Basic hand pruners and bypass shears
  • Quality garden gloves
  • Raised beds and containers for growing food in the city
  • Watering cans and hoses with gentle nozzles
  • Compost bins or simple composting setup for soil health

• Community garden / We Sow We Grow

  • Tools for multiple people to share: extra trowels, rakes, shovels
  • Labeling supplies (stakes, markers) so everyone knows what’s growing
  • Simple storage bins or sheds to keep things organized

• Travel (especially road trips with my crew)

  • Reliable car organization: bins or bags for each kid, snack basket, trash bags
  • Navigation and trip-planning apps for long drives (like our Route 66 trips and Pennsylvania road trips)
  • Reusable water bottles and simple cooler for food
  • Activity bags for kids: books, notebooks, small games
  • Phone and device chargers, plus car adapter

This is based on what I’ve shared publicly; my exact packing list can change by trip or season.

Is there one area you want me to go deeper on—road trip packing, car travel with kids, or specific gardening tools for beginners?