Three Great Tools: Rogue Hoe, NRG Trowel and Zeon Electric Riding Mower
Check out the first three picks for best Tools for Wiser Living and what makes them great.
April/May 2009
By Cheryl Long
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The amazing, ergonomic NRG garden trowel.
PEYTON BALDWIN
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As we all know, there’s a lot of unnecessary, or necessary but poorly made, stuff on the market. To help you sift through the hype and identify products that meet high standards of design, materials and/or function, we’re marking Earth Day 2009 by naming our first three Mother Earth News Tools for Wiser Living.
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An essential low-tech tool
There’s nothing like a quality hoe to keep weeds in their place. We’ve tested many hoes over the years, and our all-time multipurpose favorites are the Rogue garden and field hoes. Instead of the cheap, lightweight metal used in most commercial hoes, Rogue hoes are handcrafted from high-quality tempered steel made from recycled agricultural disc blades. The blades hold a sharp edge extremely well, and have a slight curve that helps the hoe cut into the soil. These simple, classic hoe designs are offered in several styles and widths, including extra long handles for taller gardeners.
We thought the Rogue Hoes might be too heavy for routine garden weeding, but the extra weight means you don’t have to chop as hard. Some models, such as the 7-inch wide “70G,” do triple duty, easily cutting irrigation ditches and reshaping raised beds.
These hoes are versatile and superbly designed with high quality materials and recycled steel — truly a Tool for Wiser Living. You can order Rogue hoes from sales@roguehoe.com, or call 417-962-5091. Prices start at $26.
A modern spin on the classic garden trowel
We’ve previously reported about the wonderful NRG (natural radius grip) garden trowel, and we still dig it. With a unique curved handle and a rust-proof, lightweight aluminum and magnesium blade, this trowel works better than traditional straight-handled trowels. We like it so much that we sell it. And this year we’re also offering the NRG line of stainless steel long-handled spades, forks and more. Price for the trowel is $12.99; the shovels start at $29.99.
