Market Farming

[Allan Balliett <igg AT igg.com>]

John Jeavons was one of the early popularizers of the broadfork. He 
gives plans for making one in his 'backyard minihomestead book' 
(title approximate!!) The forks he recommends are great monsters, 
designed by a pair of Berkeley engineers. He specifies the quality of 
steel used in the fork (angle iron, etc) Even a large man is not 
comfortable lifting one of these forks repeatedlly, so you drag it 
backwards along the bed until you get to the next bite point, adjust 
it perpendicular to the bed surface, jump on it with both feet, then 
throw your weight backwards to get the soil lift. Try this in stiff 
soil with the Smith and Hawken fork (which, btw, has much shorter 
tines -  - at least mine does) and you're likely to be lying flat on 
your back staring at the sky with two broken wooden handles in your 
hands. (Worse, of course, in my beds, which are studded with 1/2 inch 
rebar for poly hoops, an uncontrollable fall like that can lead to a 
fatal piercing.:-) Someone in MD fabricates the Jeavons forks. (Check 
with MOFFA) Last I hear, they were asking around $300 for one.

Hope this is helpful.

-Allan Balliett
Biodynamics Now!
csa AT claymont.org



>  > I've been looking for a broad fork for some time.
> >  Where can I find one - an affordable one (no Smith and Hawken for me),
> >  that is!
> >
> >  Robert.
>
> We got ours from Smith and Hawken before they got quite so cute. Try:
>
> A.M Leonard
> 800-543-8955
> I couldn't find it in the catalogue on hand now, but I am *almost* sure they
> have one
>
> Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
> 888-784-1722
> Deep Spader, similar to a broadfork and Bio-fork
>
> Johnny's
> 207-437-4395
> Eliot Coleman design Broadfork
>
>
> Jim and Jo
> The Community Farm Newsletter
> http://www.mufn.org/public/tcf
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Farr <rbfarr AT erols.com>
> To: market farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 10:33 AM
> Subject: Re: Production methods: tillage, beds, rows, etc.
>
>
> >  ---
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