Leather gardening gloves are great, but I always lose them, and they shrink with washing. These organic 100% hemp gardening gloves, available at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply for $8.95 a pair, are lightweight and have gripper dots so that tools don't slip out of your hands. And at that price, I don't care if I lose them.

My favorite gardening site, Clean Air Gardening, sells ergonomic hand gardening tools, like this Wrist-Easy ergonomic trowel, which is "designed to keep your arm straight while you dig." The ergonomic hand hoe and hand rake are of similar design. Described as being helpful to gardeners with arthritis, all three tools are made of high strength carbon steel, and each sells for $18.95.