THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME HERE SINCE the oldest hoe went missing, and the long-handled shovel with just the right weight to it split (as in the handle cracked in half, not that it up and walked away). There are no more good tools, not like my old tools, and so I grieve (and curse at how heavy and unbalanced the modern equivalents really are). Thanks, Andre Jordan, for understanding my pain.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
When my hayfork finally gives up the ghost, i will be a sad, sad gardener. I got it as a hand-me down from the neighbor 20 years ago, and have used it almost daily (in the snow-free months) since. None of the new ones have the right number of tines, or the D-handle, or the right curve….I’ve tried store after store, even in Amish country. I keep repairing the bent tines and hoping for the best. I feel your pain!
Yes, how sad it is! I am sure you know to look in tag sales and antique shops. Have you ever shopped at the Bottle Man in Millbrook? He may be able to help you out or certainly keep you in mind when he comes accross new finds.
I still mourn the loss of my very old dibber
I’m currently mourning the loss of my hori-hori. It’s been gone for over a month. Possibly buried by the new tree we planted. I keep searching, hoping someday it will come back to me.
Look for yard sales – especially those where, unfortunately, an older gardener has to move or has died. We inherited an entire garage full of great 1940’s + yard tools when the previous owners didn’t empty the garage of a house we purchased.
Welcome, PJ. That’s where I got my original hand-me-downs. Harder and harder to come by now, but I keep looking. Hope to see you soon again.
Andre, spot on!!! I’m still grieving a favorite pruning knife missing from several years ago.
Andre has such a fun sense of humor. Thanks for posting.
I mourn the loss of my husband’s grandma’s trowel. It was all one piece of metal, actual real metal, and I accidentally buried it somewhere. I did that once before, and it emerged later. I hope it reappears……………..
I cannot find my swoe. Where or where can it be? Left behind at one of the two places I voluntarily weed with others? Did someone take it home by mistake and now they love it as I did, and will never look for its rightful owner? Oh I do miss my swoe!
I’ve lost my Japanese hand hoe! It’s been like an extra right hand to me for years and I can’t believe it’s gone! Funny how connected one gets to something like this – like losing an old friend.
The Japanese shears my sister gave me – I keep hoping they’ll turn up at the bottom of the compost pile. Also recently, so perhaps retrievably, an old pair of scissors and a useful three-in-one folding cutting tool a friend gave me. I need to paint everything bright red!
Margaret and all, have you looked into Leevalley.com?
They have some interesting products, lots of hoes in different shapes
@Terryk: Yes, Like Lee Valley Tools and have many of their things. They have no long-handled shovels, however. :( I don’t know why everyone is so hot on short-handld. Hard on the back! (Here’s the proof.)
Margaret, that may depict you, but certainly not me… my legs are just not that long!