Its Called a Trench Hoe and Tiller Companies Dont Want You to Know

Its also called a grub hoe. Are you a grubbing peasant? You are if you garden in order to produce your own food and have discovered the magic of this delightful tool. It has a long handle like a regular hoe but the head is long and narrow and weighs about 2 pounds.

To get the idea, imagine tilling dirt with a mattocks or pick. The weight of the head drives the narrow and flat end into the dirt, effectively chopping it up. A mattocks is heavy enough to do the job but is not ergonomic. Its short handle means a great deal of bending over and stooping. You will quickly tire and probably wake up with a sore back.

A much more practical tool has been used for thousands of years and is still common in Africa and Asia. Many Europeans own one, since gardening is still an important industry there. It is surprising to discover that grubbing hoes are not sold in the United States and I imported mine from China.

With a long handle and a two pound head, it can chop in the dirt with a motion that is gentle and can be sustained for several hours. There is little stress on the back and lifting the head to waist height will get the job done. In this fashion a medium sized patch can quickly be chopped up in the first step of making a garden.

A grub hoe is cheaper than a tiller and requires no gasoline or expensive part replacement. It is more suitable to a back yard or a small plot. It is also great exercise.

It was also once a very common tool. Before hydraulic vehicles, people would dig trenches and irrigation canals with one of these tools. It removes dirt cleanly and also pulls it out with out additional shoveling. It is relatively easy to create ditches using this tool.

This begs why something so useful is no longer sold in America. One explanation is that it is no longer used for serious construction projects. Companies prefer their mechanized big toys. Another is that power tiller companies don't want the competition.

At any rate, gardening has been relegated to a hobby and high grade equipment for this passion is no longer sold in stores. Anyone wanting one should check out Amazon for a specialty manufacturer or go to alibaba.com and try to get in contact with a foreign manufacturer. Most are bulk order only, but some companies will sell individual specimens to consumers. Its sad that China makes something better than us, simply because they use these tools.

 

^ Pimpimp:

 

Hoe

 

It's also known as an azada, I believe ?

Not common in the Uk, I've never used one or seen anyone else use one for that matter...but I wouldn't mind getting one, I can see the plus points.


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polish hoe available at lee valley tools ...weighs 2 pounds

 

Trench hoes are better at digging, although this would slice through dirt nicely.

 

I still prefer a tiller

got 2 and i dont even have a garden hahahhaha

 

The only reason why i garden is so i can grow it cheaper. Expensive equipment eats into your profit margins.