So, I figured, hey, let me get a decent watering can. Simple, right? And I thought, why not try and find one made right here in the USA? You know, support local, get something that might actually last. Man, was that an adventure I didn’t sign up for.
I started off, full of hope, hitting up the usual online spots. Typed in “watering can made in USA.” What a joke. Page after page, it was all “designed in the USA” which is just a sneaky way of saying “made somewhere else cheap.” Or it was just straight-up imported, no bones about it. It felt like I was digging for gold, not a simple garden tool.
The Big Search Party
Seriously, I spent hours. Days, even. Clicking through websites, squinting at tiny product descriptions, trying to find that magic phrase. You’d think it would be front and center if it was actually made here, but nope. It’s like they hide it on purpose.
I even went old school. Started calling local hardware stores, garden centers. Most of the folks on the phone sounded like I’d asked for a unicorn. “Uh, let me check…” followed by a long pause, and then, “Nah, looks like all ours come from overseas.” One guy actually laughed. Laughed!
Why the obsession, you might be wondering? Well, a couple of things. First, I’m just plain tired of buying junk that falls apart. Remember when you bought something and it lasted for years, maybe even decades? I want that back. Second, yeah, I like the idea of my money going to folks working here, making things here. Call me sentimental.
I found a few glimmers of hope, mind you. Some smaller companies, artisan-type places. But then you’d look at the price, and whew, you’d think that watering can was gonna water the plants and do your taxes. I get it, small scale, quality materials, it costs more. But sometimes it felt a bit much for just, you know, holding water.
What Did I Learn From This Wild Goose Chase?
It really opened my eyes to how much stuff isn’t made here anymore. Even simple, everyday things. It’s like we’ve outsourced everything, and then we wonder why it’s so hard to find things with a bit of quality, a bit of local pride baked in.
I actually started a list at one point:
- Check company website’s “About Us” page – sometimes they sneak in manufacturing location there.
- Look for explicit “Made in USA” labels or certifications – though even those can be tricky.
- Read reviews obsessively – sometimes other buyers mention the origin.
- Don’t trust “Assembled in USA” if you want fully domestic. That’s another loophole.
It became less about the watering can and more about the principle of the thing. It felt like a damn quest. I was telling my wife about it, and she just shook her head, probably thought I was losing it over a gardening tool.
Eventually, after a lot of digging, I did find one. A sturdy, no-nonsense metal can. Took some serious effort to confirm its origins, had to email the company and everything. It wasn’t cheap, not by a long shot compared to the plastic stuff flooding the market. But when it arrived, I gotta say, it felt good. Solid. Like it might actually outlive me.
So, yeah. My little journey for a watering can. It was more work than it should have been, that’s for sure. Makes you think, doesn’t it? What else are we missing out on, or working way too hard to find, just because it’s easier to ship it in from halfway across the world? Food for thought next time you’re just trying to buy something simple.
