Innovative Tools Inspired By Growers
When Johnny’s Selected Seeds introduces a new tool, chances are it was inspired or developed by a customer. Johnny’s offers hundreds of tools and supplies for gardens, large and small. The list includes 48 for bed preparation, 42 for transplanting, and 53 items just introduced in the past year.
“Many of our new product ideas come from talking with growers,” explains Brad Waugh, tool designer. “We like to visit with growers and ask what they hate to do the most on their farm or in the garden and how can we help with a task they dislike.”
Developing a tool can be challenging. “It’s often hard to see the value in offering a particular tool, so it is hard to make the leap to investing in it,” he says.
If a FARM SHOW reader has an idea for a tool, Waugh suggests developing a prototype to demonstrate its use. He emphasizes that it doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to demonstrate that it works. If a prototype exists, record a video of the tool in operation.
What he doesn’t suggest is investing in a patent for an idea. The initial cost can run into thousands of dollars, and then it has to be defended if someone violates the patent.
“We will sign a standard non-disclosure agreement if the developer of the tool wants to protect it,” says Waugh. “These days I feel patents are becoming less and less valuable.”
What is valuable is the use of 3D printers. He has one in his office for making parts to assess tolerances and to see if things actually fit. He says they have helped bring products to market more quickly than in the past.
“3D printing has bridged the gap between multi-million dollar product development and the amateur or hobbyist working in their shed,” says Waugh.
Much of the work that he does is to improve existing products, such as an upgrade to Johnny’s existing 6-row seeder.
“We are rolling out a bunch of new features to improve how it works, such as incorporating a seed collection funnel and redesigning wheels for better drive and to prevent a buildup of mud balls inside the seeder,” says Waugh. “Some changes make it easier to build using new manufacturing technologies.”
While improving existing products is important, so is finding and developing new ones. In the past year, these have included weeding tools, 18-quart harvest buckets and bags, and container/display systems for fresh-cut flowers.
More new tools and supplies are coming for 2021, suggests Waugh.
“One new tool we will be introducing this coming year is a babyleaf harvester from Terrateck,” says Waugh. “It runs off a power drill and can harvest a 100-ft. bed in 15 min. It is a huge game changer for growers.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, 955 Benton Ave., Winslow, Maine 04901 (ph 877 564-6697; service@johnnyseeds.com; www.johnnyseeds.com).
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Innovative Tools Inspired By Growers CROPS Miscellaneous When Johnny’s Selected Seeds introduces a new tool chances are it was inspired or developed by a customer Johnny’s offers hundreds of tools and supplies for gardens large and small The list includes 48 for bed preparation 42 for transplanting and 53 items just introduced in the past year “Many of our new product ideas come from talking with growers ” explains Brad Waugh tool designer “We like to visit with growers and ask what they hate to do the most on their farm or in the garden and how can we help with a task they dislike ” Developing a tool can be challenging “It’s often hard to see the value in offering a particular tool so it is hard to make the leap to investing in it ” he says If a FARM SHOW reader has an idea for a tool Waugh suggests developing a prototype to demonstrate its use He emphasizes that it doesn’t have to be pretty it just has to demonstrate that it works If a prototype exists record a video of the tool in operation What he doesn’t suggest is investing in a patent for an idea The initial cost can run into thousands of dollars and then it has to be defended if someone violates the patent “We will sign a standard non-disclosure agreement if the developer of the tool wants to protect it ” says Waugh “These days I feel patents are becoming less and less valuable ” What is valuable is the use of 3D printers He has one in his office for making parts to assess tolerances and to see if things actually fit He says they have helped bring products to market more quickly than in the past “3D printing has bridged the gap between multi-million dollar product development and the amateur or hobbyist working in their shed ” says Waugh Much of the work that he does is to improve existing products such as an upgrade to Johnny’s existing 6-row seeder “We are rolling out a bunch of new features to improve how it works such as incorporating a seed collection funnel and redesigning wheels for better drive and to prevent a buildup of mud balls inside the seeder ” says Waugh “Some changes make it easier to build using new manufacturing technologies ” While improving existing products is important so is finding and developing new ones In the past year these have included weeding tools 18-quart harvest buckets and bags and container/display systems for fresh-cut flowers More new tools and supplies are coming for 2021 suggests Waugh “One new tool we will be introducing this coming year is a babyleaf harvester from Terrateck ” says Waugh “It runs off a power drill and can harvest a 100-ft bed in 15 min It is a huge game changer for growers ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Johnny’s Selected Seeds 955 Benton Ave Winslow Maine 04901 ph 877 564-6697; service@johnnyseeds com; www johnnyseeds com
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