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  • From: Sheila Payne <srp75 AT msn.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Weed control advice?
  • Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:49:42 -0700

Ryan,

I grow on about an acre, about 2/3 is in permanent beds.  The one larger 1/3 acre field we pay another local farmer to do once a season tractor work.  The rest of the time we mostly use hand labor.   Occasionally we rent a BCS tiller. The wheel hoe is a primary tool for us.  We use it in between the permanent beds and in between rows of the larger field where we have the tractor lay plastic mulch.    In addition, when we spread compost over the top of the permanent beds we use the wheel hoe to loosen the top and work in the compost.
Since we have not invested in any large equipment, we are not the "handymen" others on this list are,  the outlay of $300 plus was worth it for us.  We ordered a Valley Oak with a metal wheel.    http://www.valleyoaktools.com/
We've had no problems in 3 years of use.  We need to replace the foam pads on the hand holds, but the duct tape repairs will probably make do for another year.

Sheila

Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:40:30 -0500
From: ryan AT bootstrapacres.com
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Weed control advice?

Hi all, I'm a new veggie farmer planning my first big season after tooling around for a while. I just joined and read some of the previous messages in this thread.

I'm in the wheel hoe market and considering both the Planet Whizbang and this one:


I'm also considering the ridiculously-priced one from Johnny's because it supports multiple widths and configurations. I'm planning to sow in beds with long rows 16" or 10" apart, depending on the crop. I haven't used a wheel hoe before, so if someone can tell me that I'm nuts to spend that kind of money and that I'll be fine without this particular tool, I'm all ears.

I'm planning 1.5 acres of plantings on a limited schedule, so it's possible that I'm that rare person for whom this is the right trade-off.

What do you think?

Ryan Platte
Bootstrap Acres, growing your lunch in Churchville, New York
http://bootstrapacres.com/


On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Zachary Mathes <zwmathes AT gmail.com> wrote:
and I aint giving no SOB $400.00 + for no damn
 
Glaser wheel hoe!

I would suggest:
 
http://planetwhizbang.blogspot.com/
 
for plans and parts to build your own wheel hoe for significantly cheaper.  I believe I have about $110 into mine

Zac Mathes



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