BROADFORK ROUNDUP.
VIDEO HERE.
We have not only owned three different broadforks over the years, but we have also owned three different types of broadfork. It is for that reason, and through our experiences with them, that I wanted to do a little round-up for those who may be in the market for a new broadfork and may need some help deciding between different weights and styles. So for simplification-sake, I have done a little breakdown on things to consider when buying a broadfork, and a few available examples of each.
Determine Your Goals -The broadfork can be used in a variety of different ways. It can be used for, but hardly limited to, plowing, digging carrots and potatoes, breaking up hardpan, or soil aeration,(also referred to as deep tillage). Deciding which of these you are most interested in will help you determine the broadfork right for you.
FOR PLOWING: When we first started farming we were determined to plow the land by hand because we didn't own a tractor and because we didn't really want one (oh, youth...). And if you are planning to plow sod, or hardpan, I recommend thinking a lot about durability. We ruined our Johnny's broadfork quick by naively trying to plow with it. Needless to say, it wasn't made for that kind of work. So we found the most robust broadfork we could––the Meadow Creature, as it would turn out––and got back to work. This proved to be the right tool for the job. It's weight (22 lbs for the 14"; 25 lbs for the 16") helps to sink it into the sod and then lends extra leverage when flipping it. If your goal is to plow sod, break up compacted ground, plant trees or remove rocks, we recommend a broadfork with steel handles and deep tines.
FOR AERATION AND DEEP TILLING: The aerating broadfork is a much different animal from the plowing broadfork. For starters, the aerating broadfork is going to see a lot more work so it should be lighter in weight as to not wear out the user. If you are planning to aerate your soil before planting, a heavy broadfork will easily exhaust you. Where the plowing broadfork should be wide as to cover as much ground as possible in each pull, the aerating Broadfork should be accurately sized to your needs––20" - 30", say, for a 30" bed system. Both Growers & Co.and Johnny's make ideal broadforks for this use. There may be others (please leave any recommendations in comments!).
BOTH PLOWING AND AERATING: Perhaps you're looking for something more all-around––something to do all of the above. For this we like something with hollow, steel handles and medium length tines like the Way Cool Tools broadfork. At 14lbs, it is light enough for long tasks like deep tillage, and it's heavy-duty design makes it durable enough for plowing. Johnny's also makes a couple mid-weight broadforks we have not used. I like the mid-weight option for someone who does both heavy duty and light weight work, but it may be overkill if the only purpose is generally deep tillage. I hope that helps! Feel free to add opinions in the comments.- Jesse.
*HERE is the link to our original broadfork review.
MAKING BEDS.
I've had this idea for a while, but something about Jean-Martin Fortier's excellent book The Market Gardener ––which I mentioned last week in a post––gave me the inspiration needed to try it.The idea is this: I wanted to make permanent raised beds, much like JM, but I wanted to place the fertility underneath those beds––Hugel bed style. Also, I wanted to do it by hand. I'll explain.How it works is that there will be seven beds in total, and following JM's lead, these beds will ultimately be 30" wide, 18" apart. First I pull back the mulch, loosen the beds with our broadfork, and shovel the dirt to one side––leaving an 18" trench, about 8-10" deep.I then take that mulch, pull it back into the trench and pack it full. Like full full. So full that if you walk on it, it's still above the soil surface. If I had small square bales, I might just make the trench large enough to put use those end on end.Then I use our grubbing hoe to pull the dirt back over the mulch. To finish the bed, I go back on each side and pull the dirt up from the pathway, creating a trench and putting that dirt onto the bed as well. This raises the height and depth of the bed. The trench will remain as the pathway.My last order of business is to lightly mulch the bed as to create shade for worms, then I put old high tunnel plastic overtop to create warmth. My hope is to get weed seeds to germinate before our last freezes of the year, then pull the plastic off and let them die naturally. Come spring, I'll work the beds with a rake and plant.Of course, ideally I would have done this in the fall, because the beds will be best after several months. So I'm going to have to start by using crops without large taproots. No tomatoes or carrots in these beds probably this year––maybe by fall. Next year, I'll rotate the crops, and pull the dirt back up. But I don't think I'll add fertility. I don't think I'll need to.I should add that this has been extremely hard work––maybe even unsustainably so––so please get help if you try this. One person can do one 100' bed in one long, hard day. I wouldn't recommend more. Ultimately, it's an experiment, but I have faith it will work. And if it doesn't, you'll hear about it.- Jesse.
PLANTING A FARM.
Lately, Hannah and I have been eager to update everyone who has donated to us as to what we've been able to do with your generous contributions thus far. Although we haven't yet bought the Donkey named Clementine (emphasis on the yet––we have the money set aside! Thanks KJ!), we have been able to purchase all of the seeds we will need for the year; we've bought asparagus crowns and strawberry plants; our soil-block maker arrived two weeks ago with seed trays and we're going to be fencing in the garden we've been working on real soon. You might have seen that a greenhouse is going up, but what you haven't seen is the broadfork and collinear hoe we ordered. This is what you've done for us, and we are forever in debt for, and truly thankful to, our beautiful family of supporters.- Jesse.
So this is for you! As we carry on into the season, know that we are only able to do so because of your help. You, friends, have effectively planted a farm, and
ALSO......our wedding is being featured today on a website called Intimate Weddings. It is wonderful to see so many people being inspired by simplicity and small celebrations! If you aren't tired of us yet, head on over to see the lovely write up.