Little Hands Big Harvest
What we're Actually Growing With.This page is a simple, honest list of where we get our seeds, our plants, and our supplies. No affiliate links, no commissions — just what Kenna and I are genuinely using in our garden this year (2026). Take what's helpful, leave what isn't, and go find your own local version of as much of this as you can.
Grab Your Copy!
Little Hands, Big Harvest is a weekend-ready organic garden guide written for Midwest families in Zone 6a. From building your raised bed to your first harvest, every step is designed to do together — with little hands leading the way
Raised Beds
A good raised bed is the foundation of everything — here are a few great options at different price points.
Seeds
Check your local seed library first — many public libraries offer free seed packets, and it is a wonderful outing with a little one.
Live Plants & Transplants
Your local nursery is always our first stop — the plants are healthier and the staff know your zone.
- Your neighborhood nursery or garden center (our 1st choice). this is where we get our strawberry transplants, potato plants, and lemon tree
- Local farmers markets in spring — often the best transplant selection around
Soil & Compost
Buy locally if you can — a garden center near you will carry organic raised bed mix suited to your region.
- Your local garden center or nursery (our first choice)
- Local hardware stores (Home Depot, Ace, True Value) for in-store pickup
Tools
Your local nursery is always our first stop — the plants are healthier and the staff know your zone.
- Your neighborhood nursery or garden center (our first choice)
- Local farmers markets in spring — often the best transplant selection around
Pest Control
Everything here is organic, safe around children and pets, and available without a specialty order.
For the garden bed:
• Neem oil (what we use) — the most versatile organic pest control product available; controls aphids, spider mites, whitefly, and more; available at any garden center or amazon.com; search "cold-pressed neem oil concentrate"• Food-grade diatomaceous earth — for slugs, beetles, and crawling pests; sprinkle around the base of plants• Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap — mix with water for a homemade insecticidal soap sprayFor the yard:• Wondercide Flea, Tick & Mosquito Yard Spray (what we use) — plant-based, safe around kids and pets, covers up to 5,000 sq ft; buy direct at wondercide.com• Colton's Naturals Bee & Wasp Repellent Spray (32 oz) (what we use) — 100% natural peppermint and cinnamon essential oils; safe around children and pets; we spray our grass to deter bees before Kenna plays outside; available on amazon.com
Critter Control
Your local nursery is always our first stop — the plants are healthier and the staff know your zone.
- Your neighborhood nursery or garden center (our first choice)
- Local farmers markets in spring — often the best transplant selection around
A Note On Where We Shop
I want to be honest with you. An earlier version of this page was full of affiliate links to Amazon and Walmart. I removed them — not because those stores are evil, but because they didn't feel right for a book about slowing down and growing something real.Here is where we actually shop, in order of preference:1. Our local seed library — free, community-supported, and a wonderful outing2. Our neighborhood nursery — the staff know our zone, the plants are healthy, and we support a local family business3. Small, mission-driven seed companies — Thresh Seed Co, Eden Brothers, Johnny's4. Epic Gardening — for the raised beds5. Our local hardware store — for soil, tools, and pest control supplies6. Amazon — for specific items we can't find locally (neem oil, drip irrigation, metal plant markers)Amazon and Walmart are not off the table — you can absolutely use them, and the book works just as well either way. It just means that when we have a choice, we're trying to make a different one.— Kim
Happy Gardening! -The Zajacs
Thank you
This page contains no affiliate links.
All recommendations reflect what our family genuinely uses.
Little Hands, Big Harvest — Zone 6a Edition © Kim Zajac. All rights reserved.
Find us at little-hands-big-harvest.com