Tools of the Trade

Being both a gardener and a farmer, Jeff Poppen has a wealth of tools to work the land. He showcases a wide range of hand held manual tools, as he explains how to use them efficiently and effectively. He also compares the function of those tools with their counterparts – heavy duty tractor implements.

Gardener Extras

The 'lively lad' is a vintage brand of manual weed cutter or grass whip, circa 1925.
While a scythe is an ancient agricultural hand tool, it remains in use for specialized farming.
Unlike a regular axe, a splitting maul has a dull, thick wedge-shaped head that uses weight to force wood fibers apart.
A tile spade (drain spade) is often interchangeably referred to as a "sharpshooter" or "transplanting spade" designed for digging deep, narrow trenches.
A grubbing hoe (azada, eye hoe, grape mattock) is a heavy-duty gardening tool with a sharp, thick blade set at a right angle to a long handle. It is highly efficient for chopping, digging, clearing roots, and turning heavy sod.
A thrusting bar (pry bar, tamping bar) is used to break up compacted soil, chop through tree roots, pry out heavy rocks, and tamp down dirt.

Jeff Poppen

Jeff says his parents loved growing plants on their Illinois farm, and he credits them for his passion for growing. He’s made his living growing the best organic vegetables he can. Jeff acknowledges he has learned through experience over four decades. He is also an avid student of old-time farming methods, the way folks grew stuff before all of the chemicals in farming. He is compelled to try and shorten the learning curve for other gardeners. Jeff adds, “My wish is that my love for growing organically inspires others.”