On My Mind: Gardening Gear and Grand Slam Shirts
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As spring turns to summer in southwestern Vermont, all the gardening tasks I have yet to complete weigh on my conscience like so many undialed calls to my parents. The tomatoes and eggplants are in the ground, and the carrot seeds have been sown but the dahlias are now a month behind schedule. Sometimes I wonder if maybe a new tool or accessory will be the thing that finally gets me to make the time. Mostly, it isn’t, but there are exceptions.
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The arrival ofthese made-in-Vermont work glovesin early May was enough to motivate me to deal with all the stinging nettles and invasive garlic mustard that had nearly taken over the property line with our neighbors to the south. I’ve used them every weekend since but mostly on home-renovation projects, where I’ve appreciated the added dexterity of the fitted fingers — far thinner yet harder wearing than the deerskinKincosI’m used to.
About 35 minutes down the road is our favorite garden center in the region. In addition to selling a wide variety of native and regionally appropriate perennials, shrubs, and trees during the growing season,Mettowee Minthas a curated retail store open year-round (and now online) that sellsFlamingo Estate dish soapalongside some of the nicest looking gardening tools around from niche brands like the Anglo-Japanese Niwaki. I’ve longingly eyed itssolid-steel gold-powder-coated shovelmany times, but the cheap one we bought when we moved in has yet to break and I’m loath to replace it. Niwaki also imports a collection of traditional Japanese gardening clothes (including theseextra-baggy work trousers) andtabi shoesI’m eager to check out in person).
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Weber Workshops The Key
Mettowee Mint also happens to have the only espresso bar in the area that consistently makes high-quality beverages, which is why I ended up buying my own lever machine from a friend at the first opportunity a few years back (a vintageOlympia Cremina 67from the early 1990s, featuring the less desirable plastic drip tray). While I love the machine’s elegance and the fact that I can maintain it myself, I’ve come to resent the messiness of the YouTuber-endorsedNiche Zero grinderI paired it with. A mentor from a previous publication swears by theWeber Workshops Key— a brutalist feat of purpose-built engineering by an ex–Apple designer — but at that price, I’ll have to take his word for it.
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Speaking of media jobs, this one, which I just started in April, is my first since 2019. In the interim, the importance of visuals has increased manyfold, so I’ve been experimenting with different ways to take pictures of myselfwearing the clothesI’ve been testing. It didn’t take long to conclude that a tripod was not only justifiable but completely necessary. I like that Peak Design’sTravel Tripodincludes a stowaway universal phone mount that clips my iPhone into the adjustable ball head as if it were a regular camera. It’s so much more efficient not to have to sync or transfer files across devices before editing.
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Vivobarefoot Tracker Sandal - Men’s
Toward the end of one of my first in-person days in theNew Yorkoffice, I spotted a copy ofChristopher McDougall’sBorn to Runon the desk ofCinematrixproducer Britina Cheng. It reminded me of the last time I was able to run consistently without experiencing joint pain: I was a senior in high school and had just read this newly released book, which inspired me to try minimalist footwear. After a few weeks of training in Vibram FiveFingers, the shin splints that had plagued me for years disappeared, and by the end of the season, I was able to runan entire half-marathon spontaneously. Perhaps this old remedy could be the new solution to the knee pain I have experienced with each of my more recent attempts to resume running.
Seeing as it’s already summer, I went with theVivobarefoot Tracker sandal, which looks like a mary-jane water shoe — perfect for me as someone who believesmen’s toes shouldn’t be visible in public. After a brief delay due to a sizing issue (I recommend going down a full size), I plan to start by running on grass in a couple of weeks after giving my feet a few weeks to adjust at walking speeds.
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The other summer activity I’m looking forward to is riding bikes, which I’ve been avoiding this past month owing to the persistent rain we’ve been experiencing up north. I’m hoping this will be aided by the newThule OutPacehitch rack I’m testing, which, on paper, sounds like the exact rack I wished for when I lived full time in the city. At only 28.5 pounds and with the ability to fold into the size of a carry-on suitcase, it can easily be stashed in a car trunk or even inside a closet when not in use. If it holds up in testing, it will be a godsend to anyone who has ever had a rack stolen off their hitch or received a license-plate-obstruction ticket from a meter maid.
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Finally, I am looking forward to catching the rest of Grand Slam season — especially after the thrilling conclusion to the French Open this past weekend at Roland Garros. Perhaps like many, I started the Sunday-morning men’s Finals matchup between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner feeling a bit sad that Novak Djokovic had yet again missed his chance at a 25th major title. I ended it over five and half hours later on the verge of tears, yelling, “¡Vamos, Carlito!” along with the Parisian crowd on my laptop screen. Before the trophies were even presented, I found and bought one of the last remainingNikeCourt Slam long-sleeved polosin sequoia in my size. It feels good to be a fan.
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