Hiller Reduces Gardening Labor

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #2, Page #28

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Using “junk” he had laying around, Robert Weaver built his version of a single-row toolbar to create raised beds for his 2-acre garden. He bolts on cultivator disks and shanks and sets the depth and width of hilled rows.
    “I have been growing produce for more than 30 years and this past season I tried a new way of doing it that has helped growing and working the crops. Now at 73, I let the tractor do the bulk of my work,” Weaver explains.
    He pulls the toolbar with a 20 hp. compact tractor to build rows 30 in. apart, which fits with the tire width.
    Instead of purchasing a $500 hiller, he built his own for less than $100. He made the toolbar out of 2 by 2 steel bar and clamps out of U-bolts and muffler clamps.
    After cultivating his garden, he hills rows about 8 in. tall and scores a row down the center with a small V-shovel to manually plant seeds with an Earthway planter.
    During the season he can cultivate between the rows and fertilize with his tractor until the plant canopy shades out the weeds. Weaver also spends about an hour each evening with a hoe scraping weeds from the sides of the beds.
    Hilling works well for the shale soil in his Williamsport, Md., garden, he says. Plenty of precipitation helps also. In 2018 the area received 64 in. of rain. Everything did very well until several days of more than 100 F temperatures “cooked” his potato plants.
    Weaver added that he adjusts the height of the hills to the plants so that roots are at ground level. Beans only need about 2-in. hills, for example. With 8-in. hills, he can harvest potatoes at ground level.
    After just one season, Weaver says he was pleased with the results and plans to adjust a few things this year and make a video of his process. He is especially pleased with how large his onion sets grew using a double row method and fertilizer.
    “For people with larger gardens, it’s a simple thing to do,” he says. “I’ve grown gardens all my life and always plant more than I need so I can share with others.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Weaver, 15404 Clear Spring Rd., Williamsport, Md. 21795 (kettlecrane@gmail.com).

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Hiller Reduces Gardening Labor TILLAGE EUIPMENT Accessories Using “junk” he had laying around Robert Weaver built his version of a single-row toolbar to create raised beds for his 2-acre garden He bolts on cultivator disks and shanks and sets the depth and width of hilled rows “I have been growing produce for more than 30 years and this past season I tried a new way of doing it that has helped growing and working the crops Now at 73 I let the tractor do the bulk of my work ” Weaver explains He pulls the toolbar with a 20 hp compact tractor to build rows 30 in apart which fits with the tire width Instead of purchasing a $500 hiller he built his own for less than $100 He made the toolbar out of 2 by 2 steel bar and clamps out of U-bolts and muffler clamps After cultivating his garden he hills rows about 8 in tall and scores a row down the center with a small V-shovel to manually plant seeds with an Earthway planter During the season he can cultivate between the rows and fertilize with his tractor until the plant canopy shades out the weeds Weaver also spends about an hour each evening with a hoe scraping weeds from the sides of the beds Hilling works well for the shale soil in his Williamsport Md garden he says Plenty of precipitation helps also In 2018 the area received 64 in of rain Everything did very well until several days of more than 100 F temperatures “cooked” his potato plants Weaver added that he adjusts the height of the hills to the plants so that roots are at ground level Beans only need about 2-in hills for example With 8-in hills he can harvest potatoes at ground level After just one season Weaver says he was pleased with the results and plans to adjust a few things this year and make a video of his process He is especially pleased with how large his onion sets grew using a double row method and fertilizer “For people with larger gardens it’s a simple thing to do ” he says “I’ve grown gardens all my life and always plant more than I need so I can share with others ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Robert Weaver 15404 Clear Spring Rd Williamsport Md 21795 kettlecrane@gmail com

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