I enjoyed this very much and share in the appreciation for all of the above tools. I have a load of large black tree pots that I utilize for various tasks and love that they are free draining. Using cardboard as a kneeling pad is a standard for me too 👍🏼✨
That's such a good one, Scott! While leading a compost workshop recently, we used giant tree pots so we could break people into groups and make miniature compost heaps that we then all emptied into one bigger pile and it was perfection 👌 due to the size and drainage that you mentioned. I now want a tower of tree pots in my garage haha. Love the cardboard tip too - thanks for sharing!
I too have stacks of 5 gallon buckets, infinitely useful!! Im reminded of Eustace Conway, in Elizabeth Gilbert's excellent biographical "The Last American Man." Gilbert asks Conway, who is operating a primitive farm at Turtle Island, what modern convenience he can't live without. His response? The plastic 5-gallon bucket!!!
Oh my goodness, this anecdote aligns on so many levels on top of my affection for buckets, I also ADORE Liz Gilbert. I’ve never read the biography! Now I gotta.
YES! All my faves, too! Though I do NOT have fun walrus pics! I like the rock in bottom of bucket idea, thank, you! To your great list, I will add "Lawn Jaws." Before I discovered them from a CTG regular, I used pliers, but these are royal for getting out pesky long-rooted seedlings while still rather small (like hackberry and cedar elm). After a rain, I can pull them out with a foot-long root! Your question is so great, so now I will think of more! Sounds like a fun idea for CTG, too!
A seedling with a foot-long root?! That's incredible. I just googled "lawn jaws" and am very intrigued, I think I'd prefer this over my hori knife for some rocky areas where it's hard to access the soil. I'd love to hear from CTG guests and audience members about their favorite tools 👏
I'm about to email just a couple of pictures from my yard. And these aren't the LONGEST roots. John Hart has a handy tool for larger tree seedlings that they use at the Wildflower Center. I'll look it up for you if you want that.
I was having one of those mornings, bemoaning the fact that nobody understands my horti-passion , so it was comforting to just slip in to your post:)
Just a couple of quick things, please don't use my shears for such tasks down at the compost heap , ohh no ! I guess that I'd use some small lopers or if there's a considerable amount of thick vegetative matter that would benefit from being cut into small pieces I may well run the hedge trimmer over it. My garden shears are specifically for trimming soft growth on small shrubs and the like.
Not specifically compost related but to a liking for tools that feel right. In the past I've had spade shafts modified in length in to suit my stature and had wooden shafts replaced with steel, the theory being that more weight in the tool means less effort in the shoulders - it works for me. Ohh and I much prefer D handles over T's on such tools.
This year, unlike previous, I'm 'on it' with regards to making liquid feeds outta what is easily available namely - comfrey, nettles, wood ash, grass clippings and urine for feeding my crops and containers. The sample size is limited to date, but I can see signs of improvement compared to previous seasons, or are my glasses green tinted ?
And, yeah on the aesthetics of tarps, my immediate neighbour uses bright blue ones to cover her wood stores, both back and front yards - hideous.
Hehe! Every now and then we deserve to live in our green-colored glasses, y'know? My shears do need to be cleaned well after muckin' around the compost pile 😝 but it's so much quicker than using hand pruners or loppers - I respect your boundaries with your shears!
I have never considered modifying the length or weight of tools, but that makes SO much sense, let them do the work for you. D-handles all the way. Are blue tarps supposed to be for pools or something? Idk, it's kind of an unnatural blue...
I'm glad to hear you're having a great season and thrilled you shared your horti-passion with us :)
You could add another use for the trusty five gallon bucket. Makes a dandy seat when you get tired. Oh, and I could not be without my cobra head hand tool.
Ah, how could I forget?! Many a refreshment has been had on a bucket seat. I've never owned a cobra head hand tool myself, but suspect it can do many of the jobs I use the hori knife for 👏 Thanks for sharing, Sherry!
I enjoyed this very much and share in the appreciation for all of the above tools. I have a load of large black tree pots that I utilize for various tasks and love that they are free draining. Using cardboard as a kneeling pad is a standard for me too 👍🏼✨
That's such a good one, Scott! While leading a compost workshop recently, we used giant tree pots so we could break people into groups and make miniature compost heaps that we then all emptied into one bigger pile and it was perfection 👌 due to the size and drainage that you mentioned. I now want a tower of tree pots in my garage haha. Love the cardboard tip too - thanks for sharing!
I too have stacks of 5 gallon buckets, infinitely useful!! Im reminded of Eustace Conway, in Elizabeth Gilbert's excellent biographical "The Last American Man." Gilbert asks Conway, who is operating a primitive farm at Turtle Island, what modern convenience he can't live without. His response? The plastic 5-gallon bucket!!!
Oh my goodness, this anecdote aligns on so many levels on top of my affection for buckets, I also ADORE Liz Gilbert. I’ve never read the biography! Now I gotta.
YES! All my faves, too! Though I do NOT have fun walrus pics! I like the rock in bottom of bucket idea, thank, you! To your great list, I will add "Lawn Jaws." Before I discovered them from a CTG regular, I used pliers, but these are royal for getting out pesky long-rooted seedlings while still rather small (like hackberry and cedar elm). After a rain, I can pull them out with a foot-long root! Your question is so great, so now I will think of more! Sounds like a fun idea for CTG, too!
A seedling with a foot-long root?! That's incredible. I just googled "lawn jaws" and am very intrigued, I think I'd prefer this over my hori knife for some rocky areas where it's hard to access the soil. I'd love to hear from CTG guests and audience members about their favorite tools 👏
I'm about to email just a couple of pictures from my yard. And these aren't the LONGEST roots. John Hart has a handy tool for larger tree seedlings that they use at the Wildflower Center. I'll look it up for you if you want that.
I was having one of those mornings, bemoaning the fact that nobody understands my horti-passion , so it was comforting to just slip in to your post:)
Just a couple of quick things, please don't use my shears for such tasks down at the compost heap , ohh no ! I guess that I'd use some small lopers or if there's a considerable amount of thick vegetative matter that would benefit from being cut into small pieces I may well run the hedge trimmer over it. My garden shears are specifically for trimming soft growth on small shrubs and the like.
Not specifically compost related but to a liking for tools that feel right. In the past I've had spade shafts modified in length in to suit my stature and had wooden shafts replaced with steel, the theory being that more weight in the tool means less effort in the shoulders - it works for me. Ohh and I much prefer D handles over T's on such tools.
This year, unlike previous, I'm 'on it' with regards to making liquid feeds outta what is easily available namely - comfrey, nettles, wood ash, grass clippings and urine for feeding my crops and containers. The sample size is limited to date, but I can see signs of improvement compared to previous seasons, or are my glasses green tinted ?
And, yeah on the aesthetics of tarps, my immediate neighbour uses bright blue ones to cover her wood stores, both back and front yards - hideous.
Enjoy ✌️
Hehe! Every now and then we deserve to live in our green-colored glasses, y'know? My shears do need to be cleaned well after muckin' around the compost pile 😝 but it's so much quicker than using hand pruners or loppers - I respect your boundaries with your shears!
I have never considered modifying the length or weight of tools, but that makes SO much sense, let them do the work for you. D-handles all the way. Are blue tarps supposed to be for pools or something? Idk, it's kind of an unnatural blue...
I'm glad to hear you're having a great season and thrilled you shared your horti-passion with us :)
You could add another use for the trusty five gallon bucket. Makes a dandy seat when you get tired. Oh, and I could not be without my cobra head hand tool.
Ah, how could I forget?! Many a refreshment has been had on a bucket seat. I've never owned a cobra head hand tool myself, but suspect it can do many of the jobs I use the hori knife for 👏 Thanks for sharing, Sherry!
Ah, yes! The limited volume provides a built-in break - much needed for those of us who get going and lose track of time 😅 Thanks for reading, Debra!