Huge Digging Fork?

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posted 12 years ago

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Not long ago I came across a link that showed a digging, spade or gardener's fork that was probably in the area of 18" across, perhaps wider, and
perhaps as many as 6 to 10 tines. Used in "no till" situations for those who want a large garden (as large as an acre). Looked like a beast.
Anyone know what I am talking about? Link me up if possible. Thanks.
Jim

josh brill

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posted 12 years ago

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Its a broad fork. They work pretty well. Using them on an acre that had not been opened up before wouldn't be very likely unless you are really buff and had lots of volunteers to switch out. We use one to in our double dug beds to loose up compaction and prepping for a new seeding. We also use it in our hugels that have enough soil for it to work in. They are pretty heavy and unless you have a really sandy loose soil usually some secondary soil work need to be done if your going to be direct seeding into it. If you have really compacted soil like we do in some spots it takes a lot of work to get the tines in so doing a large area takes a good amount of time.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5484-johnnys-520-broadfork.aspx

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Jim D'Alessandro

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posted 12 years ago

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Thanks, Josh! That is EXACTLY what I was talking about. Thanks again!
Jim

Walter McQuie

Posts: 53

Location: Northern New Mexico

posted 12 years ago

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I have the one with 16" tines from Meadow Creature. Works great but it takes me several hours to do a hundred square feet. In other words I basically agree with Josh's assessment. I would say that the one from MC is very well built, weighs 25+ lbs and I wouldn't trust any other one I've seen online to last as long.

I'm in the foothills of the San Pedro Mountains in northern New Mexico--at 7600' with about 15" of precipitation, zone 4b historically--growing vegetables for the local farmer's market, working at season-extension, looking to use more permaculture techniques and join with other people around here to start and grow for farmers markets.

Jordan Lowery

pollinator

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Location: zone 7

posted 12 years ago

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we have two homemade broadforks. one is 24 inches the other is 30. we have broadforked well over an acre. i find it to be some of the best exercise in the garden. the other thing i like is its a tool that works itself out of a job. meaning eventually it makes the soil so good there is no need to use it.

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