Tuesday 20 May 2014

Too Many Tools

 
Our big shed is over run with tools and gardening tools.  We simply have too many, so yesterday I decided to hoick all the gardening tools out and have a good look at what we have.

The Brush Cutter was not amongst the deliberations ... it was just drying off after Lovely Hubby had done another mammoth nettle and weed cutting session, this time with his arms covered up!!
 
Once I had laid out all the gardening tools on the grass I could see the duplications and called LH over to point out his favourites, those tools that might not seem brilliant to me but that do the jobs he needs them to do and are comfortable to use.  Most gardeners will know exactly what I mean, some things just feel right when you use them and no matter how old or scrappy they seem they really are the tools you would turn to time and time again.
 
 
Between us we picked our favourites and yes, there are still some duplications, but they are for when both of us are digging or they have slightly different handle heights, shorter for me, longer for LH.  We also have a lot of sticks with interchangeable heads which are really useful so they were all kept.

 
The rest were then washed, rinsed and left to dry in the sun ...... half an hour later the heavens opened and we were subject to the most impressive two hour long display of thunder, lightening and torrential rain.
 
So they got a second really thorough rinsing before being taken up to the shed in a lull between showers and left to dry off before they will be sold at a car boot sale next week.
 
One more niggly job out of the way.
 
Sue xx

16 comments:

  1. Its one of those jobs that no one likes doing. Our allotment shed has all sorts in it but they all have uses so will be kept for years I hope.

    X x

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  2. It did bucket down yesterday didn't it! I need to use smaller tools & as Mike is taller than me we have quite a selection.

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    1. It's funny we don't have much of a height difference, only a couple of inches, but we have completely different techniques and also shorter 'ladies' tools mean that you dig smaller amounts and fork over smaller amounts which makes for much lighter, more manageable work.

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  3. I have some beautiful new tools given to me from hubby, but I love the tools my mum gave me when she gave up her garden and after nine years they are still brilliant.

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  4. Hi Sue - Looks like you are starting a tool museum in the first photo! We seem to collect Secateurs and either they all migrate to Scotland and then next time they are all back here in England but are never where we actually need them. I know I have thrown some away with the bag of garden rubbish in the past so now I get ones with very bright handles.

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  5. It is hard making decisions what to keep as I would think, maybe I'll need that one for when...
    I like coming to visit your blog in your green corner of the world when I feel like a change of scene.
    You are doing a great job at setting up your new place.
    Greetings from Sydney, Australia
    Alexa blogging at http://www.Alexa-asimplelife.com

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  6. I would need to search the whole smallholding to find all our tools. I have no idea how they walk from one place to another. The most useful things to have several of is watering cans and wheelbarrows.

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    1. I have an astonishing amount of watering cans but as you say they are so useful and so would never be weeded out. I also have lots and lots of trowels which I tend to leave lying in whichever bed I've just been working in when I get called to another job, so I will always keep all excesses just so I can find one when I need one.

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  7. Good idea to spread them all out:) I have a huge task ahead ( yikes) but it will take me steps closer to our new home in the country!! Xxxxx

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  8. I can't bring myself to get rid of any tool! Like Sue (SSS) I don't think you can have too many watering cans and wheelbarrows either. Sometimes when we have our shared lives guys and a few friends round we can give each an implement when they foolishly say "Is there anything I can do to help?"

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  9. Some of our garden and DIY tools are ancient. They were given to us when my father-in-law died 24 years ago and I don't know how long he'd had them.

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  10. The shaft of my border fork broke recently, it is probably about 60 or more year old (I have owned it for 30 and it was obviously very old then), I was distraught, it is very sharp and pointy and penetrates the clay soil here a treat. I have been unable to find anyone to mend it, but OH (bless him) has managed a slightly bodged repair for me, albeit rather shorter. Unfortunately a shortage of car boot sales round here to look for a "new" one. I have joint problems, so although I would be willing to invest in a brand new one, they are mostly too large and not "pointy" enough. (Insert sad face smiley)

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  11. You hubby keeps his tools clean
    Fannar fannar

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  12. Before I started reading this I knew what I was going to comment just from the title. You can NEVER have too many tools!
    We've got lots of duplicates of our garden tools as we used to have another set for when we had the allotment but it can be handy if I ever have anyone help me in the garden (I've also got a mini set for my little assistant gardener).

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  13. Well, I wouldn't get rid of any of them!! I'll lay a bet that the week after you do, you will loose or break one of the tools you've just got rid of! Cleaned and oiled tools are a joy though, aren't they.

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  14. After reading this I sorted through our tools at home - I think they multiply out of badness! Some have already gone the journey - it was such a good idea to lay them out on the grass to see exactly what we had.
    Thanks Sue, inspiring as ever xxx

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