There’s something magical about curling up with a stack of beautiful garden books, especially this time of year, when the days are getting longer, the seed catalogs are calling, and the garden is just beginning to wake up.

Whether you’re planting your first raised bed, propagating houseplants, or planning your dream perennial border, these books are full of wisdom, inspiration, and tried-and-true techniques to help you grow more mindfully. These are the pages I’ve been turning lately, dog-earing tips, scribbling in margins, and feeling so ready to get my hands in the soil.

And to celebrate National Gardening Day (that’s today!), I’m giving away a curated bundle of four of my favorite garden reads to one lucky Sweet Greens reader! (More on that at the bottom of the post 👇)

🌼 1. Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton

A poetic, plant-filled love letter to slow, seasonal gardening. This one is pure inspiration, filled with musings on garden life, wild beauty, and why the smallest details (like the hum of bees or a sprig of mint) matter most. It’s the book you’ll keep by your bedside or gift to every plant-loving friend.

+ Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton

🌿 2. Your Natural Garden by Kelly D. Norris

If you’re dreaming of a low-maintenance, pollinator-loving, wild-ish garden that feels like it belongs right where it is, this book is for you. Kelly encourages gardeners to go with the flow of their natural landscape and use native plants to create spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically rich.

+ Your Natural Garden by Kelly D. Norris

💧 3. The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson

Perfect for gardeners in hot or dry climates (or anyone trying to be more water-wise), this book is full of real-life garden designs, plant suggestions, and strategies to create thriving gardens with less water. Smart, practical, and timely.

+ The Water-Smart Garden by Noelle Johnson

🌸 4. The Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening by the American Horticultural Society

This is your go-to reference for plants that come back year after year. It’s loaded with trusted info on choosing, planting, and maintaining perennials, plus it’s backed by one of the most respected names in horticulture.

+ The Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening

🪴 5. The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation by Lindsay Sisti

For all my fellow houseplant lovers, this book is a must. It makes propagation feel approachable, fun, and (dare I say) addictive. From water rooting to dividing to leaf cuttings, Lindsay gives step-by-step visuals that make you want to start snipping immediately.

+ The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation by Lindsay Sisti

🥕 6. The Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening by the American Horticultural Society

If you’re growing your own food, or thinking about it, this book is a fabulous companion. It covers everything from crop rotation to pest prevention, all through an organic lens that puts soil health and sustainability first.

+ The Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening

🪴 7. Square Foot Gardening: The World’s Most Popular Growing Method

A classic for a reason. Whether you have a big backyard or a few raised beds, this book teaches you how to maximize space and yield without feeling overwhelmed. Great for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.

+ Square Foot Gardening

🌿 8. The 10-Minute Gardener by CaliKim

Short on time? This one’s for you. It breaks down how to build and maintain a beautiful, healthy garden with quick, manageable tasks. Perfect if you want a green space but don’t have hours to spend outside every day.

+ The 10-Minute Gardener by CaliKim

🌼 Sweet Greens Garden Book Giveaway!

To celebrate spring planting season, I’m giving away a bundle of 4 of my favorite garden reads to one lucky reader!

The winner will receive:
📘 Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton
📗 Your Natural Garden by Kelly D. Norris
📕 Kitchen Garden Living
📙 The Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening

To enter:

1. Follow me @SweetGreens on Instagram or Facebook
2. Like the giveaway post (coming soon!)
3. Tag a fellow plant lover in the comments
4. Bonus entry: Leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite thing to grow 🌱

Giveaway closes April 30th and the winner will be announced the following day. Open to U.S. residents only.

Whether you’re reading in the garden, planning your next plot, or just dreaming of warmer days, these books are filled with the kind of wisdom that grows season after season.

Wishing you soft soil, sunny days, and a garden that brings you joy.

xo,
Sweet Greens

Automate, Delegate, and Simplify

First rule of home maintenance: stop trying to do everything yourself. You are not a one-person repair crew. Here’s how to get ahead of the madness.

• Put maintenance on autopilot. A calendar reminder for checking smoke detectors, cleaning out the gutters, or changing the air filter takes the mental load off. If it’s scheduled, it won’t sneak up on you.
• Hire help when it makes sense. Could you unclog that drain? Probably. Will it take you an hour and test your patience? Absolutely. Some things are worth outsourcing. Call a pro and save yourself the headache.
• Embrace smart tech. A self-cleaning litter box? Yes, please. A robot vacuum that handles the dust bunnies? Game changer. Smart thermostats, leak detectors, and even app-controlled sprinklers can cut down your workload and your bills.

The Right Tools for the Job

Ever tried to fix a loose screw with a butter knife? Or trim a tree branch with the world’s dullest shears? The wrong tools make everything harder.

If yard work is your personal nightmare, the problem might not be you—it might be your tools. A Worx cordless lawn mower is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and ditches the gas fumes. No cords. No frustration. Just a clean-cut lawn with way less effort.

The same logic applies indoors. A solid wrench set, a reliable drill, and an extendable duster for those high-up spots? Worth every penny. Invest once, and you’ll save yourself from future headaches (and maybe even a backache).

Maintenance That Works for the Planet (and You)

Here’s a secret: the greener your home, the easier it is to maintain. Sustainable choices aren’t just good for the environment—they mean fewer repairs, less waste, and lower bills.

• Swap high-maintenance plants for native ones. They thrive on their own; no extra watering or pampering needed.
• Upgrade to LED bulbs. They last forever (okay, years), use less electricity, and you won’t have to change them constantly.
• Install water-saving fixtures. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators reduce strain on your plumbing and lower your water bill.
• Pick durable materials. Replacing cheap flooring every few years? Exhausting. Opt for quality that lasts, so you’re not constantly fixing what should have been done right the first time.

The 15-Minute Daily Fix

Instead of waiting for a disaster, try this: set a timer for 15 minutes. Fix one thing. Wipe down the fridge. Tighten that cabinet handle. Sweep the entryway. Small wins add up. When you chip away at maintenance every day, it never becomes a mountain.

Final Thoughts: Work Smarter, Not Harder

You’ll never escape home maintenance completely. But you can stop it from stealing all your free time. A little planning, the right tools, and a few eco-friendly upgrades make all the difference. Because let’s be real—you’ve got better things to do than spend your weekend battling a clogged drain.

Go enjoy your home. It’s meant to be lived in, not endlessly maintained.

Laundry is a necessary part of life, but it’s also a huge contributor to water waste, plastic pollution, and chemical runoff. From single-use plastic detergent bottles to energy-draining washing habits, our laundry routine has a bigger environmental footprint than we realize. The good news? Making your laundry routine a sustainable laundry routine doesn’t have to be difficult!

With a few simple eco-friendly swaps and mindful habits, you can reduce waste, save water, and keep your clothes fresh—all while being kind to the planet. 🌎✨

Here are the best sustainable laundry hacks featuring eco-friendly detergents, plastic-free laundry essentials, and water-saving tips!

♻️ Step 1: Swap to an Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Most conventional laundry detergents come in plastic jugs, are loaded with harsh chemicals, and contain artificial fragrances that can irritate skin and pollute waterways. Switching to a non-toxic, biodegradable detergent is one of the easiest ways to green your laundry routine.

🌱 Blueland Laundry Tablets – A Zero-Waste Favorite!

My family uses Blueland for our laundry, and it’s been a game-changer! Their plastic-free laundry tablets come in compostable packaging and dissolve completely in water—no waste, no mess.

🌿 Why It’s a Sustainable Choice:
✔️ Plastic-free, dissolvable tablets (no bulky plastic jugs!)
✔️ Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free & gentle on skin
✔️ Non-toxic & biodegradable formula
✔️ Cute metal times to store your supplies in!

🧺 How to Use It: Simply drop a Blueland laundry tablet into your washing machine before adding clothes—no measuring, no spills! We also use their Oxi Laundry Booster!

🛑 Step 2: Ditch Dryer Sheets & Switch to Wool Dryer Balls

Conventional dryer sheets may make your laundry smell fresh, but they contain synthetic fragrances, chemicals, and plastic fibers that aren’t biodegradable. Instead, switch to reusable wool dryer balls to soften clothes naturally while reducing drying time!

🐑 LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls – A Must-Have Swap!

LooHoo makes 100% wool dryer balls that replace disposable dryer sheets while helping clothes dry faster, softer, and with fewer wrinkles!

🌿 Why It’s a Sustainable Choice:
✔️ Naturally softens fabric & reduces static
✔️ Cuts drying time by up to 25% (saving energy!)
✔️ Reusable for hundreds of loads

🛁 How to Use It: Toss 3-6 wool dryer balls into the dryer with your clothes and enjoy fluffier, fresher laundry—without waste!

🌱 Eco-Friendly Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil (like lavender or lemon) to your dryer balls for a natural, non-toxic scent boost!

🧺 Step 3: Use Sustainable Laundry Baskets & Organizers

Plastic laundry baskets are prone to breaking and often end up in landfills. Instead, opt for durable, eco-friendly laundry hampers & organizers that are built to last.

📦 Three by Three Storage Solutions – Organize Sustainably!

Three by Three offers beautiful, functional, and sustainable storage solutions perfect for keeping your laundry space clutter-free while reducing plastic use.

🌿 Why It’s a Sustainable Choice:
✔️ Minimalist, eco-conscious design
✔️ Made from recycled & sustainable materials
✔️ Perfect for organizing laundry & household essentials
✔️ Products come in fun, color combinations

🌱 Eco-Friendly Tip: Keep a separate bin for air-dry clothing to save energy and extend the life of delicate fabrics!

💧 Step 4: Save Water & Energy with Smarter Washing Habits

Did you know washing clothes accounts for 16% of a household’s total water use? 🤯 Reducing water and energy consumption can lower your environmental footprint and save money on utility bills!

🌊 Easy Ways to Cut Water & Energy Use:

💡 Wash in Cold Water – 90% of the energy used in laundry goes toward heating water. Cold washes clean just as well while preserving fabrics!

⏳ Use the Quick Wash Cycle – A shorter cycle uses less water and electricity without sacrificing cleanliness.

🧺 Only Wash Full Loads – Running half-empty loads wastes water. Wait until you have a full load before running the machine!

🚫 Skip the Dryer When Possible – Air-dry clothes on a rack or outdoor line to save energy and extend fabric life!

🚰 Step 5: Shop for Plastic-Free Laundry Essentials

Beyond detergent and storage, switching to zero-waste laundry accessories can reduce plastic waste and help the planet.

🌎 Fill Good Co. – Your One-Stop Shop for Sustainable Laundry!

If you’re looking for plastic-free, refillable laundry essentials, check out Fill Good Co.. They offer a curated selection of sustainable household products, including:

✔️ Refillable laundry detergents & fabric softeners
✔️ Zero-waste stain removers
✔️ Biodegradable laundry brushes & accessories

🌱 Eco-Friendly Tip: Shop at refill stores like Fill Good Co. to cut down on waste and reuse containers instead of buying new ones!

🌿 Make Laundry Day More Sustainable!

Laundry doesn’t have to be wasteful! By making a few simple swaps, you can create an eco-friendly laundry routine that’s better for your clothes, your skin, and the planet.

✅ Switch to non-toxic, plastic-free detergents like Blueland
✅ Ditch dryer sheets & use LooHoo wool dryer balls
✅ Upgrade to sustainable laundry storage from Three by Three
✅ Buy zero-waste laundry essentials at Fill Good Co.
✅ Wash smarter by using cold water, shorter cycles & air-drying clothes

Ready to go green with your laundry routine? Start with these easy swaps and enjoy cleaner clothes, a healthier home, and a happier planet! 🌍💚

💬 What’s your favorite eco-friendly laundry hack? Drop it in the comments!