Broad question about broadforks
February 13, 2025 1:47 PM Subscribe
I'm hoping to field some opinions about broadforks from people who have spent more time using them than I have.
I could share lots of opinions about shovels of all types -- length of blade shape and materials and technique. Pitch forks, digging forks, maddocks, hoes, trowels: I am happy to bore you at a cocktail party / hoedown. But I have had very limited experience with a broadfork, and I believe it's the tool I need (it's definitely the tool I THINK I need, and the tool I WANT).
To those of you who have used them, what advice can you offer? I'm currently considering investing in one when I put a Johnny's seed order in. They have a selection PDF that's sort of helpful.
Do you have an opinion on:
- all metal vs wood handles
- round/thin tines vs plate blades (what Johnny's calls traditional vs hardpan tines), especially robustness over time, and if the round ones tend to bend
- width
- height of handle, especially considering I'm 6 foot somethin'
- general should you get this tool, especially this tool vs other manual soil manipulatin' tools like hoes (I not own a roto-tiller or equivalent motorized tool).
I have a largish garden and would like to make it larger. I am in the early stages of an organi-matter introduction program which I will not describe, but this tool plays a role.
Anything you've got I'd like to hear.
I could share lots of opinions about shovels of all types -- length of blade shape and materials and technique. Pitch forks, digging forks, maddocks, hoes, trowels: I am happy to bore you at a cocktail party / hoedown. But I have had very limited experience with a broadfork, and I believe it's the tool I need (it's definitely the tool I THINK I need, and the tool I WANT).
To those of you who have used them, what advice can you offer? I'm currently considering investing in one when I put a Johnny's seed order in. They have a selection PDF that's sort of helpful.
Do you have an opinion on:
- all metal vs wood handles
- round/thin tines vs plate blades (what Johnny's calls traditional vs hardpan tines), especially robustness over time, and if the round ones tend to bend
- width
- height of handle, especially considering I'm 6 foot somethin'
- general should you get this tool, especially this tool vs other manual soil manipulatin' tools like hoes (I not own a roto-tiller or equivalent motorized tool).
I have a largish garden and would like to make it larger. I am in the early stages of an organi-matter introduction program which I will not describe, but this tool plays a role.
Anything you've got I'd like to hear.
Response by poster: Ha! Sorry about that. Correct link. Mods, maybe could you fix that for me?
posted by AbelMelveny at 2:49 PM on February 13
posted by AbelMelveny at 2:49 PM on February 13
Best answer: We have a wide wooden-handled model with round tines (maybe it is Johnny's 727 or maybe it is a similar one from somewhere else). I can't image a broadfork with metal handles as they would either be so thin that they would bend too easily or they would make this already quite heavy tool way too heavy to use comfortably. The round tines are fine in our soil, but that soil is very easy to turn and was already a garden when we got the broadfork.
For width, you'll want to think about the width of beds you typically use, so you can do the whole thing in two passes. A 20" model would be great if you don't go any wider than 40", but if your beds are wider, you probably want a 27" model.
If you're doing a lot of deep hoeing or shovel-based turning now, the broadfork probably makes sense as a replacement (and a less soil-disruptive and human energy-intensive method). If you usually just top-dress and plant, maybe with a little weed removal with a sharp hoe, you might not get a lot of use out of a broadfork. I can't comment on the effectiveness of a broadfork for breaking new ground compared to other tools.
By the way, if you don't have a sharp weeding hoe (e.g. a stirrup hoe), then I'd consider that a better investment than a broadfork. I recommend a large one and a little one so you can get between plants effectively. Totally different use case, but these are the bees knees for weeding.
posted by ssg at 3:05 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]
For width, you'll want to think about the width of beds you typically use, so you can do the whole thing in two passes. A 20" model would be great if you don't go any wider than 40", but if your beds are wider, you probably want a 27" model.
If you're doing a lot of deep hoeing or shovel-based turning now, the broadfork probably makes sense as a replacement (and a less soil-disruptive and human energy-intensive method). If you usually just top-dress and plant, maybe with a little weed removal with a sharp hoe, you might not get a lot of use out of a broadfork. I can't comment on the effectiveness of a broadfork for breaking new ground compared to other tools.
By the way, if you don't have a sharp weeding hoe (e.g. a stirrup hoe), then I'd consider that a better investment than a broadfork. I recommend a large one and a little one so you can get between plants effectively. Totally different use case, but these are the bees knees for weeding.
posted by ssg at 3:05 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Ha! Sorry about that. Correct link. Mods, maybe could you fix that for me?
Link fixed in the post!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:12 PM on February 13
Link fixed in the post!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 3:12 PM on February 13
Response by poster: Thanks, Brandon.
Sorry for the threadsit/additional question:
I've noticed a lot of these have 48" long handles. That puts the top of the handles right above my belt, assuming the tines are buried. I'm wondering about the motion, whether as I pull back I'd end up bending over a lot. I'm imagining a very long handled version where my arms are higher to start, but I can pull them back to waist high, with less back motion. Years ago I drew up plans to build one of these things (I no longer have access to scrap steel and a welder), and the handles were up to my shoulder in my plans. The folks that have them, are you bending over a lot as you pull this thing back? Google Image search shows me a lot of both.
And I do own a stirrup hoe -- an amazing tool. Thank you for the suggestion, ssg.
posted by AbelMelveny at 3:24 PM on February 13
Sorry for the threadsit/additional question:
I've noticed a lot of these have 48" long handles. That puts the top of the handles right above my belt, assuming the tines are buried. I'm wondering about the motion, whether as I pull back I'd end up bending over a lot. I'm imagining a very long handled version where my arms are higher to start, but I can pull them back to waist high, with less back motion. Years ago I drew up plans to build one of these things (I no longer have access to scrap steel and a welder), and the handles were up to my shoulder in my plans. The folks that have them, are you bending over a lot as you pull this thing back? Google Image search shows me a lot of both.
And I do own a stirrup hoe -- an amazing tool. Thank you for the suggestion, ssg.
posted by AbelMelveny at 3:24 PM on February 13
I think that 48" will be plenty high unless you exceptionally tall. For one, you don't need to rotate until the tines are horizontal, just 25 degrees or so to break up the soil. And secondly, you can also step backwards as you pull if you want to rotate more, which you're going to do anyways if you've stepped up onto the tool to set it into the soil.
posted by ssg at 4:22 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]
posted by ssg at 4:22 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I love using my broadfork, there is something about it that is just fun.
I will say, though, that once we got our garden more or less in shape, with a sort of a no-till philosophy in mind, I don't find myself using it a lot. A bit like tilling, it just isn't really needed. However, depending on your gardening practices and philosophy, that might vary a lot. You could certainly use it as often as (and completely in place of) something like a tiller.
There is nothing like for things like breaking up sod.
It is also great for things like digging holes - for whatever reason I always found it to work a lot better than a regular shovel.
The one I have is pretty big and sturdy. It is all metal and, for example, the vertical risers are very sturdy. You can lean or pull back on it with basically your full body weight with no fear something is going to give out (and I think that is one of the things that makes it so useful). Similar ones I see only are maybe: 1 2 It looks about like this when using it (and how he explains when or when not to use it, is about how I would think about it as well).
Mine is if anything a bit heavier & sturdier looking than those, just FYI.
posted by flug at 1:28 AM on February 14
I will say, though, that once we got our garden more or less in shape, with a sort of a no-till philosophy in mind, I don't find myself using it a lot. A bit like tilling, it just isn't really needed. However, depending on your gardening practices and philosophy, that might vary a lot. You could certainly use it as often as (and completely in place of) something like a tiller.
There is nothing like for things like breaking up sod.
It is also great for things like digging holes - for whatever reason I always found it to work a lot better than a regular shovel.
The one I have is pretty big and sturdy. It is all metal and, for example, the vertical risers are very sturdy. You can lean or pull back on it with basically your full body weight with no fear something is going to give out (and I think that is one of the things that makes it so useful). Similar ones I see only are maybe: 1 2 It looks about like this when using it (and how he explains when or when not to use it, is about how I would think about it as well).
Mine is if anything a bit heavier & sturdier looking than those, just FYI.
posted by flug at 1:28 AM on February 14
I like metal handles and plate tines but I am dealing with either very heavy clay, or rocks. I’ve broken plenty of shovel handles.
Handles come up to - hm, my armpits with the tines just on the surface?, I sure don’t want any bend in my back working it, use my weight and the weight of the tool instead.
That said, a hoe and sharpener that suit you come first, I’d think.
posted by clew at 8:28 PM on February 14
Handles come up to - hm, my armpits with the tines just on the surface?, I sure don’t want any bend in my back working it, use my weight and the weight of the tool instead.
That said, a hoe and sharpener that suit you come first, I’d think.
posted by clew at 8:28 PM on February 14
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I think mine is from Tractor Supply, and has fiberglass handles, which I've been happy with. Wood would probably make it too heavy for me to use effectively, and I am not 6' tall. The traditional tines have been fine, and the tool itself is a force multiplier. I can break up a row (in a weedy but pre-existing garden) a lot faster with this than I can with anything else short of a roto-tiller. Keep a bucket with you for the rocks you will uncover. It's one of my favorite garden tools!
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:41 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]