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  • From: bcluton AT aol.com
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Glaser wheel hoe
  • Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:19:34 -0500

I don't use a Glaser wheel hoe but rather one from Valley Oak Tools.  They're about the same price.  Glaser offers some different options in terms of planters, etc.  But Valley Oak models have aluminum handles(rather than wood).  I think the lighter handles make a lot of sense.  The handles will eventually stress and break at the base but this is after many years that we're now going to have to replace the handles.  

Anyhow....I absolutely cannot imagine life without our wheel hoe.  We have heavier clam loam and gravelly soils and it works great for skimming the weeds at their thread phase.  We tractor cultivate most of the tire paths and crops on single row but still put miles and miles on our wheel hoe using it to cultivate bedded and multi-row crops.  The trick as with any weeding is timeliness.  You can blast through a lot of row feet when the soil surface is dry and the weeds are tiny.  

This all said I picked this wheel hoe up from a friend who hated it.(she was a bit shorter)  My wife hates it.(she is a bit shorter)  Leverage is key to stress free working so perhaps adjust the handle height accordingly.  You will get a bit of an upper body workout if you're really shuffling it and covering a lot of ground.  In terms of fatigue and stress on wrists and hands it's way better than a stirrup hoe in my opinion.  The wheel hoe is great for getting really close to d irect seeded crops and/or transplants.  Straight rows help.(if necessary we still use the stirrup hoe to come across beds with small transplants)  It may take some getting used to but after you get the knack I feel it's pretty easy.(In the very least its a task where you get to stand up straight for awhile!)

I've always thought wheel hoes where sort of pricey for what they are in terms of materials but in terms of working in our system they're invaluable.

Brian

  


-----Original Message-----
From: Danielle Conger <danielle.conger AT gmail.com>
To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:55 am
Subject: [Market-farming] Glaser wheel hoe

Can anyone tell me if these are worth the high price tag? I do most of 
my gardening by hand and have been wanting a good wheel hoe.

Thanks!

-- 
~~Danielle
Touch the Earth Farm
http://touchtheearthfarm.com

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