Re: GARDENING TOOLS
Tools of my heart includes:
the Dutch perennial weeder. Its a small heart -shaped piece of metal
attached to a t shaped handle. It's sharp enough to slice down through
perennials when you divide. The short handle allows you to muck around
on your knees when you divide the perennials. Smith & Hawken carries
this tool.
For larger perennials such as the division of peonies you can use a
Mutt. Its a long stout handle with one half an ax. It's also useful
for removal of encroaching roots into your perennial beds. AM Leonard as
well as Costco carries.
Then there's my spading fork. You'll find this is the tool you use
daily in your garden. Both the standard size as well as the smaller one
used in tight spots around your perennials. It's worth the money to
purchase the very best available.
Gloves: If women wear men's gloves then there's the extra finger space
that collects dirt. Heavyweight leather gloves helps us not to go
through a pair a day. A long time ago Smith and Hawken carried a
heavy duty woman's glove that nearly lasted a season for me. The trade
name, Women's Work glove is good but not as strong as the glove they no
longer carry.
Building new garden beds creates its own tool needs. Find a
lightweight tool that forest fire fighters call the Pulawski. It a
short handled tool with an arc of metal attached that includes a pick
on one end and a broader hacking tool on the other end. This is the
tool you grub brush and rocks from new planting bed.
Finally you'll need an arsenal of files and sharpening tools to maintain
sharpness.
Best, Vicki
Dear Christopher:
Are you talking about the hand weeder that Smith and Hawken carried?
Its a triangular shaped piece of metal with a metal shaft five inches
long attached to a wooden handle. The bottom of the triangle is
sharpened. It's also quite easy to keep it sharpened. You're right
that's one of the all time great hand tools.
Once Eliot Coleman suggested on his TV show that the metal shaft
should be curved to accomodate aging wrists.
Best, Vicki
Christopher P. Lindsey wrote:
>
>
> When I worked at the Morton Arboretum we used a hand tool called a
> schwepel (not sure if I'm spelling it right), and it was fantastic.
> It basically consisted of a handle about 10" long with a triangular
> head attached to one end perpendicular to the handle in both
> directions.
> The side of the triangle closest to the person wielding it was
> sharpened,
> and it was designed to scoop under weeds and pull them out with
> minimal effort.
>
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