It’s no secret that we at Portland Edible Gardens are enamored with the hori hori… In fact, we love this tool so much that we gift all our new clients with one! The word “hori” literally means “to dig” in Japanese. The hori hori is similar to a trowel, but with straight sides instead of a tapered blade, and with a serrated edge on one side of the blade. They are great for:
We love a truly multipurpose tool!
Next on our list of favorites is the hand cultivator. Like a mini three-pronged hard rake, the hand cultivator is the right tool for preparing a perfect seed bed for direct-sown crops. We also like to use the hand cultivator to aerate the soil before transplanting starts.
The digging fork (also called a “spading fork”) is, well, exactly what it sounds like: a short-handled tool with four prongs perfect for digging and lifting heavier soils in raised beds. This tool is essential during spring soil preparation when the soil is dense from compacting winter rains. The digging fork is also very helpful for lifting large deeply-rooted plants when clearing beds of spent crops.
Digging forks come in lots of materials, heights, and handle shapes. Ultimately, the best tool is one that feels most ergonomic for your body, so we highly recommend shopping in-person and trying out a few (see our list of favorite local retailers below). Our favorite digging forks have a carbon steel head that is forged from a single piece of metal. These are less likely to snap under pressure - and believe me, we have broken our fair share of cheap digging forks over the years!
The hard rake (or “bow rake”) is another essential tool for preparing raised beds for planting. The strong, short tines are perfect for breaking up clods of soil, removing debris, and smoothing prepared soil before planting. The tool’s overall weight is definitely something to keep in mind when choosing a hard rake; we love a fiberglass handle that is both durable and lightweight.
These sheers are a carryover from Garden Mentor Amelia’s flower farming days… and are indispensable in the veggie garden as well! They are lightweight, hold a good edge, and the needle nose is perfect for delicate tomato pruning. These sheers also work great for harvesting leafy crops like salad greens and tender herbs. Bonus points if you keep them sharp with a Corona blade sharpener and sanitize them with isopropyl alcohol between uses!
We love to support small local retailers when we shop for our tools! The folks who work in these stores are a true community resource and can always help you find what you’re looking for. A few of our favorites are SymbiOp Garden Shop, Wichita Feed & Hardware, Concentrates, Inc., and Linnton Feed & Seed.
Originally from New York, Amelia moved to Oregon in 2016 and has been farming ever since. She has worked on and managed farms from 16 acre mixed veggies to an intensive half acre of cut flowers. Her love of plants also manifested at school educational gardens, a genomics lab at a botanical garden, a seed saving nonprofit in Bangalore, India, and flower shops across the country. When she’s not puttering in the garden, find Amelia working on a sewing project or exploring a new park with her daughter.
