I remember proudly carrying home my first ever garden spade and fork… a good 40-minute walk, in the days before I had my own car, on a very warm morning, across a major retail estate and then a field road (the short cut). That spade got heavier and heavier… but I still love it!
Until a few years ago, that was my favourite garden tool, used to create my first garden from scratch. But then my Mum gave me a beautiful copper/bronze “Implementations” trowel, and since I now live in a different house, with a rockery as my garden, the trowel has been my most valued and trusted friend.
It has a smooth wooden handle, and the head is solid bronze. It doesn’t rust, stays sharp, and is very strong – great for stony soil! Soil doesn’t stick to it, and supposedly using copper tools reduces the number of slugs and snails… I’m a little sceptical there though!
You can see similar tools here. The website explains why copper is so good for gardening implements, and why it is in general such a valuable material.
Do you have a favourite garden tool?
Oh I want this trowel.
Not only is it an excellent tool, it looks good too!
I’ve never heard of a copper trowel, very interesting. I do have a favourite tool. It is a wicked looking miniature pick with a two prongs at the other end. I seem to be able to do everything with it. I don’t know what it is called but I am lost without it. It has an annoying habit of blending in with the garden and I can’t find it, so my husband has now painted the handle white!
I’ve got something similar, which is incredibly useful for weeding and getting between paving slabs etc! That’s a good idea to paint the handle… I’m always losing tools, gloves etc in the rockery.
I will share with my garden club members tomorrow
That’s a nice idea. My Mum bought my trowel from someone who went to her garden club to hold a talk on copper tools.
AWESOME maybe we can take a field trip to where they are made
Lovely looking trowel – and good that it’s practical too, I’ve seen gardening tools that seem to be designed to look good without much thought for how they’ll be used. I have a terrible habit of losing trowels and hand forks (and secatuers, balls of twine, labels…) so I try not to become too attached to them!
The only thing I’ve lost gardening so far are a sharp knife used for getting dandelions out (worrying where that went!) and a ring!
How interesting! I didn’t know about copper tools. I have to keep that in mind when gardening season begins.
I admit I was sceptical at first, but I love this trowel!
Wow! That is a handsome trowel! I quite like my trowel too, it has a lovely wooden handle. I was shocked to find it strewn outside on one of my raised beds this afternoon though. I don’t know how long it had been left there, just rotting in the rain. I can only assume it was my husband’s fault!! No care and attention, tut, tut
I’m the only one who uses the trowel, but sometimes I have to hunt for my spade!
How beautiful! Useful and lovely, doesn’t get much better than that!
I agree – my other tools are ugly in comparison!
It’s not “everyday” vocabulary, but a very important word for a gardener!
Your copper trowel looks very beautiful and strong. I never saw such valuable garden tools here in Germany.
My favourite garden tool is a hand-fork with a wooden handle and three strong prongs on iron. It belonged to my father who was a passionate gardener. Not any other garden tool I love more than
this very special hand-fork….(My father´s 100st birthday was on February 5th.)
It’s nice to have a family heirloom like that, that can be put to good use.
It´s an old and quite simple tool, but I like to use it in memory of my father…
Great to see that one of our trowels is so well loved, and is doing good work for you!
How nice of you to visit my blog and comment – thanks!
What a gorgeous tool! I’m so impressed with the idea of solid copper. I don’t know if I’d make the purchase for myself, but I would love to give this as a gift to my mother, who is at 80 still an amazing home gardener. Anyone who loves to spend time digging in the earth knows how marvelous this implement really is!
That’s a lovely idea! How lucky your Mum is to be able to enjoy gardening still. These tools make excellent gifts, and it’s Mother’s Day soon… (in the UK anyway)
Got one sent to me in Sweden a couple of years ago. Looks great and does the job without getting dull. Simply the best…
Felix
I agree – am thinking of asking for another tool next birthday! Thanks for commenting, Felix!
That looks like one sturdy, well-made trowel! I would say I like my hoe because in Texas, we need ways of rooting out stickers as hands-free as possible!
I hardly ever use my hoe, as my garden is all uphill and it’s easier to bend down! I’m assuming stickers are a weed…? I have to get dandelions and occasional thistles out. Thanks for stopping by Leilani!
Pingback: Favourite Tools #2: Hand Blender | Words and Herbs