Pasture Renovation

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Another advantage of a "retrofitted" cultivator is its adaptability. The smaller machine can be maneuvered into a much tighter space than is possible with a fullsized harrow. If your farmland—like mine—is divided into several tightly enclosed pastures, you'll find that the larger implements are almost impossible to use without ensnaring fences, uprooting dwarf fruit trees, or even pulverizing a prize chicken or two.

The modified rotovator, by contrast, turns the soil right up to the fence line . . . even in corners! In fact, you can confidently back a straight-blade machine to within inches of a valued tree or shrub. And—while chickens are sometimes fatally confused by a trailing row of disks—my hens seem to be quite skilled at avoiding the more closely mounted, compact tiller.

The straight-tined tiller is also an efficient tool for working hay mulch and leaves into depleted garden soil each autumn. Straight blades won't allow the undecomposed remnants of hay to ball up and clog the machine (which is likely to happen when you're using a set of standard curved tines for the same task). The straight-edged diggers are also unsurpassed for breaking new garden area . .. in fact, just making four or five passes over your plot in the early spring is a guarantee that later tillage will go smoothly.

As a final bonus, straight blades are easily stored away (after having been given a good sharpening and oiling) on just a few inches of shelf space in the toolroom. . . . ready and waiting for use another year when—once again—you notice that faithful of Bessie is beginning to look at you reproachfully.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print