MEN Fair 2012 - Hoeing The Long Row

Hoeing the Long Row
Presented by Andy Pressman of The National Center for Appropriate Technology

Like the other workshop I attended on the NCAT stage, this workshop began with an introduction to NCAT and ATTRA. The presenter recommended their publication Startup Guide to Market Farming, which, even though it does cost a few dollars, I may end up downloading at some point. The USDA Risk Management Agency website was also recommended as a good source of information, especially on the topics of risk management and creating business plans.

I rather enjoyed this workshop. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that, even though it ran a big long, I stuck around until the very end, even though it cost me a seat at my next scheduled workshop. I decided the material being presented was likely more valuable to me than what I would have gotten out of the next presentation anyway.

Several types of garden tools, and their uses, were demonstrated, including various types of hoes, spades, forks, wheeled implements, and even a walk behind tractor. The presentation covered what to look for in high quality tools, and how to choose an appropriate handle length. Also covered was how to tell from the bevel of a hoe how it is meant to be used, and how to properly sharpen the blade, and the impact on efficiency that keeping a sharp blade can have.

I am interested in several of the tools demonstrated. I think that we will very likely invest in both a swan neck and oscillating stirrup hoe. I probably also need to pick up another general purpose hoe, since I learned that the one we have, and the ones you find at most home improvement stores, is actually intended for mixing concrete rather than for agriculture uses. I would also like to look into maybe purchasing a broadfork, as the tool was suggested in this workshop as well as by Cheryl Long in an earlier workshop. I learned that a Kentucky company, Gulland Forge makes a broadfork, although Cheryl Long highly recommends the Vashon Broadfork, which is made by a company called Meadow Creature in Washington. I am also interested in eventually looking into a wheel hoe and possibly even a seeder, such as the one made by Earthway.