Why I Ditched the Broadfork and Opted for a Game-Changing Alternative
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Broadfork is a relic of the past - join me on a daring journey as I reveal why I've parted ways with this outdated tool and opted for a game-changing alternative! Don't miss out on this paradigm-shifting exploration that will revolutionize the way you work the soil!
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About Curtis Stone:
Curtis is one of the world’s most highly sought-after small farming educators. His book, The Urban Farmer, offers a new way to think about farming𑁋 one where quality of life and profitability coexist. Today, Curtis spends most of his time building his 40-acre off-grid homestead in British Columbia. He leverages his relationships with other experts to bring diverse content into the homes of gardeners and aspiring small farmers from around the world. Learn more at FromTheField.TV.
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While I heartily agree - not every tool works everywhere and there are many tools and ways to do the same task - I don’t agree on a spade fork in place of a broad-fork. One of my favorite garden tools is my spade fork along with my grandmothers 50 yr old hoe fork. But a broad-fork has a very definite purpose - it’s not to dig like a shovel - it is what was used for centuries across the world and still is in place of a tiller. Like the spade fork, it is good for loosening the ground and works fine in heavy clay, rocky soil, or even easy, well cultivated soil that has had considerable cover cropping and is rich and loose though that’s a bit overkill. It’s job is to use in heavy, deep, rocky soil to save your back. It works off leverage using your body weight. You don’t wrestle it in the ground - you rest it on the ground and then step it in - no jumping and carrying on is needed. Just step it down from side to side. And then once in the ground, then place you hands close to the top of the handles, and gently rock it back with your weight. Don’t try to bring it back in one swoop - let the tool, and your weight do the job. If the ground is super hard, do it after a good rain. It might take once or twice to get it well lifted but your back won’t be ruined bending and lifting. I’m not far from 70, have gardened for 50 years, learned from grandparents who gardened for 70+ years - if you use a spade fork to turn over all your ground - your back won’t make it to 70. Broad-forks helped those who couldn’t afford tractors, horse teams and cultivators and then later rotary tillers. Also in spaces too small for larger equipment. Even today, horse teams are still used for logging where they don’t want to tear up a wooded area but need to cull and get the logs out. A single horse could work a small area but not as small as some sites - like our yards today, where space is quite limited, a broad-fork can really help. Now the issue is to get a good one, in the US, you will spend a minimum of $175 and usually up to $250. They come in different tine sizes and weights. The heavier and longer the fines - the deeper it’s going to “till”. And you don’t want to get the longest tines - a quality 16” long tine broad-fork is like 25 lbs and it’s a beast - most people only need something like a Meadow Creature 12” tines. Most annual vegetables only need 12”, tomatoes will go deeper but they will do that on their own. I have had them totally fill up a 32 gallon trashcan so yes they develop large root systems if given the opportunity. But most vegetables lettuces, squash, melons, carrots, etc won’t go much over 12” if they have room to spread. And if they need deeper territory, they will find their way. This isn’t really a tool for contained (boxed) raised beds. I don’t believe in raised beds any shallower than 12” and think 18-24” for a lot of reasons I will skip but you know them. Too many people make 6” raised beds, sit them on top of the ground and can’t figure why their plants don’t look good or they are constantly having to water. You need to work that dirt under the raised bed so the roots can travel to cooler, moister ground. Under the box, is another place the broad-fork works well. If you have hilled up raised beds say 8-12+ deep ie no box - this will work well each year to loosen the soil where it has compacted down. And you can use your spade fork to dig the aisle way out and back on the hilled up beds. Native soil is where the broad-fork shows it’s benefits in saving your back.
He mentioned a tree planting spake - used one for a number of years to help plant a pine tree plantation - they are great if you use it right. If you use it like a shovel - that’s incorrect in terms of planting bareroot seedlings or berries etc. His brief clip of using one it looked like they used it like a shovel. There are long narrow spades (trenching, rabbiting, etc) that night work better in those situations. How they are meant to work - You sit it on the ground, step on it, (you want a wide tread one and a decent length handle but not as long as a shovel, long enough so the handle hits a little above waist height or that’s what works for me). But once it goes straight down in the ground, you rock it forward, then you or a helper slips the tree in the slit and you rock the tool back to close the slit around the tree. You never remove the tool until the slit is closed. And we are talking bare root bundles here. If you need more space, you can rock back and forth a couple of times. However, the point is to not have too big an opening that an air pocket is left when you close it. A true professional tree seedling planting tool is made to accommodate commercial seedling root lengths.
Look I get it, all of this stuff is 5x the price it was just a few years ago - even plants are in my opinion a rip off. Today they sell us what 20 years ago were liners and cuttings only sold to finishing nurseries to grow on for a few months up to 2+ years before selling. Today they are trying to convince us this is better - it’s not. These plants are too young and fragile to be set out - but they are charging us like they are big 3 gallon plants. And we want to be smart in how we spend money - buy local if you can - Amazon can be up to twice as expensive because they work the shipping into the price. Plus we pay for free shipping membership at $13/ on the - it’s nuts. Don’t let convenience rob you of your financial security and growth. When we do spend money, we need for it to work, last decades, and be able to do more than one thing. A broad-fork is a bit of a specialty tool but it’s cheaper, less smellier, and no noise over a gas tiller. You can use it anytime day or night and disturb no one, you don’t have to get gas and or oil for it, no tuneup kits because the gas has gone bad, no draining, no batteries. Is it going to be like a big tiller no - but that is a once a year tool unless you have a commercial garden or have a big place to get settled. And you can use it for vegetable or ornamental beds, hedges, to do a row or an acre. Even loosening up a small area to then shovel out to plant a tree or shrub works well. You can use it to loosen up the ground for lawn sowing or even aeration. It’s quicker than a spade fork and your back will thank you - once you get the hang of it and aren’t fighting it doing its job.
Each to their own but if you buy a broad-fork there is one disadvantage, everyone wants to borrow it. Make sure you have one that has a lifetime warranty like Meadow Creature. Like tools, look for those that have been around for decades like BullDog (Clarington Forge) been around since 1700s in England but now a factory here too. Look for folks that have lifetime warranties - if someone won’t stand behind their tools for at least 5 years - look elsewhere. Look and try to buy a range for the job you need to do - home gardening, farming, commercial.
Thank you for your great advice and many years of experience in gardening. Appreciate sharing your knowledge!
Doyou have a website or place on the internet for gardening info? Thankyou for the information you gave on broadforks
thank y
Thank you for sharing your experience and advice!!! I enjoyed this video, but I think for the sake of long term sustainability of my gardening I’ll invest in a quality broadfork.
I get the impression that if you’re in a pinch and can’t get access to a good broadfork a spadefork can be used in a pinch, but I suppose that depends on the quality of the fork.
WOW! Thank you for the time you took to share your knowledge with us. Much appreciated!
"there is no one size fits all" TH-cam videos need more of this, especially in gardening. Soil is a complicated ecological and geological mix, assuming "just do what I do" is overly simplistic and frankly horrible advice. Thank you so much for saying that much needed phrase.
Yep, ideological farmers/gardeners are the most annoying. Once you go dogmatic and ideological, you've thought your last thought you're ever going to think.
instablaster
I'm so glad I came across this video starting a no till bed this year and I didn't want to invest in a broad fork straight away already have a pitchfork so this is great to hear somebody confirm my thought that I don't need a fancy niche tool that cost 200+
Thank You!!! I am dealing with super rocky soil and was thinking about buying one of those big, heavy & expensive broad forks. You just saved me $ and frustration 👍🏼😁
i to was looking into buying a broad fork $250 !!!!.......then i saw your video and it was like a light bulb went off, i'll use my fork like you show instead....it's like a no brainer, why didn't i think of that. Thanks for saving me $250 bucks, sweet!!
Indeed. The digging fork is king when it comes to weeding. I have seen and tried a number of specialized weeding tools and in the end the digging fork is still the best.
yeah, those weeds can go deep 20cm in soil
the fork is able to pull the whole weed root network without cutting it into small ones (and they regrow fast)
you can pull many weed in one go this way.
Great video! This convinced my husband to go with this tool instead of a broadfork our rock filled clay soil yard.
damn it, i bought a garden fork for my hard rocky soil and now i regret it. Very hard to get my weight on it and step on the fork. The broadfork did great though. It broke through compaction. Id say garden fork are for sandy perfect soils, or garden beds. Whereas a broadfork is for soils that need loosening
Thanks for this, I've always used a digging fork for a variety of things (just because my Dad used one in the garden when I was a kid) and been surprised how few other people seem to appreciate its versatility.
I don't have the energy I used to have when I was younger so I stick with my garden fork. It doesn't put too much pressure on me or take up a lot of space. I can stab it in the ground with one hand and lean on it if I have to stop and grab something before getting back to the job. My fork is solid cast so the tines are very strong, have levered out plenty of rocks in the last 25 years. :)
I agree strong light and multipurpose tools make things a whole lot easier.
ppppppppppppiioppKelley Johnson
I use that same pitchfork at my workplace.Its a really solid, sound tool, probably the best fork I've come across.
Watching at the market "while standing" lol. Long time follower and Thanks for everything.
Question:
Can you do a video on management?
How do you maintain 5 properties?
Do you use programs or record keeping software? I am very good at growing but the business side of it is a challenge.
I have a broadfork and i have many rocks, its a nightmare to work it into my rock bed, i mean garden bed.
Locally we call that a potato fork and it's all I use for opening up my soil. Every time I look at the broadfork I am left wonder how on Earth I'd be able to move that behemeth around. Thanks for the fork links. I have broken a handle or two over the years. I love the 2 hand concept.
I agree Curtis, I rented a rototiller this past summer with the idea of getting good radishes, the radishes came out the size of marbles after 30 days. I was unable to rototill at my other plot and just amended the soil, worked it with a digging fork, planted radishes and said a prayer. The radishes at the non-rototilled plot are looking lovely and it hasn't even been 30 days yet. By the way, I am on my second fork, I cracked the first one in half this past summer.
Roto tilling actually makes your soil worse I have found and turns it into hardpan . We just throw compost, wood mulch, shredded leaves on top every fall. Then by spring most of it has composted away and then we give the garden a quick rake of the remnants, they go back into the compost bin.
Is this the Ruth Stout method?
Bill Lindeman
It our family's method. I learned from my parents/grandparents who gardened their whole lives and they tried to mimic nature as much as possible. They lived into their mid nineties.
i think Fortier mentionned that rototiller can cause hardpans, alto he use it alot
but i think he used it depending on soil conditions.
I thought I was crazy preferring a garden fork. Glad to see I am not the only one.
I designed a tool that is half broad fork and half shovel. I call it a ... broadspork (not everyone will get this reference)
Super helpful.. I have super rocky soil and have been wanting a pitch fork of some variety for loosening up my beds mostly and I’m discovering all the many different kinds of forks, it’s almost over whelming lol it vid was super helpful with helping me decide! Thanks!
I love my radius tools. Have had them for years. But I still want to try a broad fork because I'm on old pasture land that is more compacted with areas of clay. I have broken one of my forks . But again, love my radius pro forks . The handles and weight are just right.
The gravy never stops! Thank you Curtis
I found the Bully Super Fork to work well. The 4 tines are really thick, no chance of bending, and the handle is a straight bar - made for two hands. Its been fine for my small plot - raise up those giant clay clods, add amendments, and stir it and chop those clods. And also use it as a soil aerator, followed some some top dressing of a light soil mix.
Thank you! Like others, I am dealing with rocky soil, and was just getting ready to purchase a broadfork. Your info makes perfect sense. Off to your link...
Nobody has to buy anything on Amazon!!
Although I agree with your reasons, I have to wonder if your broadforks over there are different from what I use - mine has thin tines that are easy to insert into course or heavier soil. The other reason I use a broadfork when I only have one or two beds to dig is that as I get older my back is not as good as it was and a broadfork is so much easier on your back since there is no bending involved.
Great video Curtis; loved hearing your thoughts about this! Thanks again!
The yard you're in right now is quaint. Cute. It is great to experiment in the garden. So fun to see what works for you and what works for (Justin Rhodes) lol.
I use my spading fork as a dibbler as well.
What a great video. I've been considering a broadfork for our garden and I think is an excellent alternative.
Thank you Curtis, will be buying one shortly 🙂
To those on the east coast establishing beds in red clay: go ahead and get the broadfork
Thanks - his soil is already busted up - that fork would bounce off my clay.
I'm also an advocate of the pitch fork. I can get a bed done pretty quick. I too have rocky soil so the pitch fork works perfect in my context.
Pitch fork and digging fork are different tools. Pitch fork is for pitching hay
i think the hay fork is for hay.
its a spud fork
It's like the difference between a teaspoon and a ladle. While I wish my mouth would open wide enough for a ladle full of ice cream, sadly my mouth won't open that wide, so a teaspoon is more appropriate. also make the ice cream last a little longer. That broadfork looks like in the right situation you could turn a lot of dirt. But you have to be stronger than me to turn it. My garden is small and digging fork is perfect for me.
As Curtis mentioned there is no one tool for all needs. I use both depending on the situation. Now that my beds are established I love my broadfork. While it may be heavier, I find I can move quicker down the length of the bed loosening the soil instead of the pitchfork. I also always question opinions when there is a link to purchase the product being "pitched" as being better.
I question videos where I’m told the soil is rocky and not a rock in sight and the fork goes in effortlessly!
Damn that soil looks fluffy! I can only dream of soil like that with the 99,9% clay that I'm st (not counting the rocks).
Our land sounded similar to yours where we wanted our garden. It was an old homestead road. We threw about 8" of wood mulch over and in a year or two we have killer soil and our food is over abundant. We are getting 20" + Summer Squash this year and our Kale is insane!
I'd do that if wood chips were available in abundance here but they are not and with over an acre to play with all chips that I do get are used for mulch around trees
I used to garden on a thin layer of soil over a glacial esker of rocks. i bent fork tines frequently but that broadfork would not have worked.
Oh been out working in the garden for weeks with my digging fork. Thinking I would like a broad fork. Now I reialze I use the digging fork for everything right down to a temp post to lean things against lol
A Broadford is relative. What you have in your hands is a broadfork. It's just lighter, smaller, and more nimble.
The last five fork i have brought have all bent with in hours
Big fan of the small fork, although I've never used a broad fork.
Are there any advantage to stainless tools, besides longevity?
Not to mention a decent broadfork is $180...and this thing is $35 on amazon. Thanks!
Unless you're selling meadow creatures on your website...right Curtis?
Did it last or did you go with another brand?
Glad I came upon your video was going to buy a broadfork but don’t think I need it after seeing this.. will be buying a digging fork instead. TY
Very useful info! And opinions
The only fork we use in the garden is our kitchen fork, haha. We never step on our beds so we dont have to worry about fluffing up our beds.
Well, I guess now I'll have one of these, PLUS a Meadow Creature broadfork to try out! :S
The Radius fork has stainless steel tines. Is it possible the old fork is aluminum? There are a lot of aluminum garden tools available now, intended for light-duty work only.
The radius digging fork I have used and within a 100 square feet the tines began to bend. Stainless steel is inferior as a good digging fork.
Well darn. The link for the fork goes to Amazon and says currently unavailable.
Hmmm... I have a lot of rocks and zero problems with a broadfork. I think that may be a good digging fork, but not because of rocks. The tines are going to hit the rocks regardless of which tool it is!
I just ordered one with the link, hoping this will help with tap rooted perennial pests I am at war with including Burdock and runners like quack grass and locusts. I would like to get to the point where i can use it for harvesting carrots but the weeds are too competitive and keep reseeding before I can get to them!
Kimberly O'Boyle maybe disturbing your soil is broadcasting more seeds have u tried smothering the problem or flaming it them smothering? I’ve heard pulling weeds equals 7 more yrs of seeds in perfect germinating depth. Hoping you have everything under control. 🙏
Is the song in the end created for the purpose of your channel or can it be downloaded somewhere? One of the best channels among the others containing all business strategy, agriculture and valuable growing tips.
Thank you so much for the infos!
And for those that don't want to purchase the fork from Amazon, but directly from the company radiusgarden.com/collections/pro-stainless-steel-tools/products/pro-stainless-border-fork
This is a link to a border fork. Is he using a border fork, or a digging fork???
short forks hurt my back
Ergonomic, diverse farming tools, sold
Could it also have something to do with the kind of crops your growing eg. Quick growing crops on high rotation do not need very deep aeration but crops that take longer or perennials need deeper aeration for a deeper root system. Since you grow mostly greens teasing is enough I guess!
Badass thank you my fork sucks, I forgot to fork my bed this year and could definitely see that it is needed
So Curtis im curious, how do you take days off given the nature of farming and everything that comes with doing it for a living?
+Nameless automated irrigation mainly.
how about one that is shorter to work raised beds
Thank you that was helpful 💚🌍💚 Katja
As a tall guy, I’m always so annoyed how short the handles typically are. 😞
You must not bye on Amazon when you what to selling at your local people.
On a scale of 1-10. The paper pot seeder how valuable are you finding it as an investment for your production?
you shouldn't ask for a 1 to 10 scale, you should ask for the cost break down, he finds it very valuable if you buy that thing as he gains some money from you doing so.
there is going to be a point were the time gained pays out the investment made in the paper thread. then you need to deduct the machines write off in a period that you think is acceptable and with in the life time of the machine to find the return you wil get on this investment
so break it down in to "investment" and "gain" +"time", if that balance is positive invest
Excactly why i own both. Just depends on application.
Tine geometry is easily remedied with a file or grinder like a shovel edge. Just a reminder for Posterity's sake...whoever she is.
3:30 Man left the gate open. It really drives me nuts when deliveries do this Amazon, UPS, USPS, etc. They're so inconsiderate of other peoples property.
Not just gates. I had an electrician leave a door to our house open, a door we rarely use. We didn't find out until about 14 hours later.
The shoes though...
i like it too
That garden pro looks like its sold out everywhere :/
Still don’t use a broad fork?
I used that and i ended up punching a hole on my lawn drip system 😬
Broad forks are scary expensive. Good to know I can just use a pitchfork to get similar results
Yeah ok. Its a nice fork. What brand is it. Where can we get it????
Ahh, never mind. You said it thanks
Looks easier for me to handle too.
why didnt you get one the forks from your friend in NZ?
They told me they were going to send me one and never did.
8 people work in the Broad fork business
My clay soil would destroy that digging fork in less than a couple hours.
Must be cold there
Lets be honest here with a D handle u CAN use 2 hands. And i have big hands.
So many bad reviews on the radius products, looks like I won't be buying
Optionality laugh such ergonomically word.
Optionality!!! You millennials make up such cool words!!
multi-locational...
pitch fork is the only fork i know....
Curtis stone and others was a great inspiration to me stay on target with this system and you'll smash you goals i promise! Check out my latest video on FB @ Heritage Creek in NY Coming to Utube with my videos soon! Grow the change you want to see in the world!
one size fits all jajajaja don't exist lol
curtis how much money do you get paid from youtube
hustleman500 Celo not enough.
You don't get rewarded until you reach 1million subscribers.
Then you get 10k a month.
But Curtis doesn't allow advertising so I doubt he makes much .
If you watch all his videos , then you owe him 200. Or more
he plugs products and his courses. pay attention on how he is able to monetize a lot of things, take notes
1:16 oh yeah
DITTO!
NEVER HEARD OF A BROADFORK SO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FK YOU WERE ON ABOUT, A PIC OF ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL.
All caps. Must be angry...
Ahh forkit...
Get forked man!
This vid would have been more compelling with out the product placement that he no doubt makes money off
I don't think so. He's not going to make much if you buy from that link. Many of us appreciate his work and would be happy that he would also profit from sharing his knowledge. I have no doubt that he is genuine about preferring this tool. This is not "product placement" which is rather inserting products for the sake of promotion only and no genuine reason.
*mallow and dandelions are not weeds* both are edible, dandelions grow because soil is missing calcium and it helps in prevention of compacts soil. *purslane* is edible, also seen as a weed many health benefits vitamins minerlas omega-3 fatty acids