The Craziest Garden Tool You'll Never Need, But May Want

Williams-Sonoma has just introduced their new "Agrarian" line and it's incredible.  It says a lot about the popularity of the farm-to-table movement that a high-end kitchen supply company would launch a line of gardening and food preservation tools.  I'm excited that there's enough interest in the movement that it seemed economically advantageous to create a collection of chic garden tools. It might not be my cup of tea, but I think it's great that the market is large enough to support it.  Or at least Williams-Sonoma thinks so.

The line also has a selection of what they call "DIY and Homemade Kits" for people who are new to the make-it-yourself phenomenon.  In my opinion, the most amazing collections of products are to be found in the Beekeeping, Chicken Coop, and Vintage sections.

I'm sure my dearly departed grandparents are having a good chuckle up in the great garden in the sky as they peruse the newest Williams-Sonoma catalogue.  The idea that someone would pay upwards of $900 for a chicken coop on wheels would astound them.  And I'm pretty sure my Grandma Lutz would tell me I was just plain stupid for even considering the purchase of a $100 jam pot.

My favorite of the collection (so far) is the Sophie Conran Hand Sieve.  I'm a home gardener and I come from a long line of farmers, but I had to read the sales pitch to figure out that this tool was made for sowing small seeds.  I'm not sure why anyone would need this, but when I realized that all the tools in the Sophie Conran collection could be monogrammed, I was hooked.  Imagine the possibilities-- a monogrammed garden tool would be an excellent trophy, gift, or prize.  I bet garden clubs around the country will be buying them for past club officers as a thank you for their year of service.  And don't get me started on the also monogrammable copper hand fork, handcrafted by Austrian coppersmiths (retailing for $58.95).  It is a thing of beauty.  And in spite of what my grandparents (and my parents) might say about it, I do secretly want one.

While you're on the site, be sure to check out the Kombucha Growler Bottles and Vintage Beiergarten Table.  And if you get sucked into the vortex, be aware that they have free shipping until May 3, 2012.

Happy Shopping!