This year I discovered my hip bag is useful for gardening. Unlike pockets, the items in it aren’t poking at me or getting buttons pushed when in a hip bag. In fact, I can easily slide the hip bag to a different location on my waist if it will be in the way in front. Like when I’m digging or bending, I move it to the side back. When I need to get into it, it takes a split second to slide it back.
Unlike a tool belt, or apron, it is not hanging awkwardly across my lap. Or creating an extra layer of fabric that makes staying cool in the summer even more of a challenge. It can be adjusted to sit at different levels of my hips or waist without impeding my movements or greatly affecting how I can access it. It is possible it will add even more variations to my tan lines, but I have so many shades now, it can hardly matter.
My hip bag is made of a nylon or slippery polyester like material, which makes it semi waterproof and easy to wipe dirt from. I bought it on a street corner in Taipei, so unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly where to get one like it. But it is similar to these fanny packs
Here is a list of what I had in my hip bag today:
- mobile phone (because older children can call and tell me when they have arrived at destinations or are on their way home)
- digital (and waterproof) camera (because you never know what you are going to see)
I was brushing right up against the dragonfly before I saw him! So glad he didn’t fly out in my face! - handkerchief
- small plastic grocery bag (for trash that the wind seems to always blow in)
- wooden craft sticks and
- brown Sharpie marker (to label seedlings and where I planted seeds)
a few well placed wooden craft sticks keep me from accidentally weeding out a seedling that I planted on purpose - a few packets of seeds
- reading glasses (for reading seed packets and looking at small bugs)
Some days, I put my iPod in the hip bag to listen to music or audiobooks. I have found that it helps to have the middle section of the cord to the ear buds threaded inside my shirt, or it constantly gets caught on arms and shovels. Being a fashion conscious gardener… well, some days anyway…. I may need a couple more of these in different colors. I will put these on my gift list for when people ask me for ideas.
