All-Steel Broadfork Guaranteed For Life

2010 - Volume #34, Issue #4, Page #18

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Sometimes old-fashioned tools work the best, but a new little technology can make them even better.
  Bob Powell thinks he's done that with his company's first product - an all steel broadfork. He got the idea from neighbors who liked using broadforks, but complained about the wooden handles.
  "They would often break off unless you were doing very light work," Powell says. "I created this all-steel tool solely because people were frustrated."
  He made the handles out of steel pipe and uses precision high-strength steel for the welded 4-tine fork.
  "The tines have a gently curved shape. I put a lot of effort into finding the best shape of tines to go in to the ground easily and still be strong enough," Powell says. "I'm confident enough to offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee."
  The broadfork can be used for two purposes: breaking up new ground and aerating the soil. To break new ground, push the tines into the ground, stand on the broadfork, move the handles back and forth, step off the broadfork and pull the handles to the ground. Step back a few inches and repeat.
  To aerate, just push the broadfork in the ground (usually a tilled bed) and pull back on the handles to create an air space deep in the ground. Aeration improves the soil's water retention and allows roots to grow deeper.
  "It has an advantage over tilling as it aerates without mixing up the soil layers, which is beneficial for organic growing," Powell says. "Soil microbes live at different depths, and it's often a good idea to loosen and aerate without mixing up the layers."
  Broadforks come with 14-in. long tines (22 lbs.) and 16-in. (25 lbs.) and cost $250 (including tax and shipping). For FARM SHOW readers who prefer to weld on their own handle, Powell sells just the tine portion for $80 including shipping.
  Forks can be purchased through the Powell's website.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Meadow Creature LLC, P.O. Box 2112, Vashon, Wash. 98070 (ph 360 329-2250; www.meadowcreature.com).

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All-Steel Broadfork Guaranteed For Life FARM HOME Miscellaneous 34-4-18 Sometimes old-fashioned tools work the best, but a new little technology can make them even better. Bob Powell thinks he's done that with his company's first product - an all steel broadfork. He got the idea from neighbors who liked using broadforks, but complained about the wooden handles. "They would often break off unless you were doing very light work," Powell says. "I created this all-steel tool solely because people were frustrated." He made the handles out of steel pipe and uses precision high-strength steel for the welded 4-tine fork. "The tines have a gently curved shape. I put a lot of effort into finding the best shape of tines to go in to the ground easily and still be strong enough," Powell says. "I'm confident enough to offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee." The broadfork can be used for two purposes: breaking up new ground and aerating the soil. To break new ground, push the tines into the ground, stand on the broadfork, move the handles back and forth, step off the broadfork and pull the handles to the ground. Step back a few inches and repeat. To aerate, just push the broadfork in the ground (usually a tilled bed) and pull back on the handles to create an air space deep in the ground. Aeration improves the soil's water retention and allows roots to grow deeper. "It has an advantage over tilling as it aerates without mixing up the soil layers, which is beneficial for organic growing," Powell says. "Soil microbes live at different depths, and it's often a good idea to loosen and aerate without mixing up the layers." Broadforks come with 14-in. long tines (22 lbs.) and 16-in. (25 lbs.) and cost $250 (including tax and shipping). For FARM SHOW readers who prefer to weld on their own handle, Powell sells just the tine portion for $80 including shipping. Forks can be purchased through the Powell's website. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Meadow Creature LLC, P.O. Box 2112, Vashon, Wash. 98070 (ph 360 329-2250; www.meadowcreature.com).

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