Quality Hand Tools for the Garden, Homestead and Small Farm.

Hi Folks, I'd like to share a bit about our homestead based business, The Tool Merchants. We specialize in quality hand tools geared toward gardeners, homesteaders and small farmers, and offer a variety of tools including spades, forks, various hoes, sickles, knives and more.

My vision is to support good, hardworking folks (such as yourselves   ) with good tools that not only make your work more efficient and enjoyable, but also last for many years (if not decades) of hard use.  On a deeper level, I hope that through the use of our tools our customers become more resilient and healthier people.  That may sound like a tall order for a garden hoe, but that's what gets me out of bed in the morning excited to sell tools!

A couple links of particular interest:  



Every month we give away one Japanese hand weeder to a new subscriber.  Entering the giveaway signs you up for our newsletter which is pretty low key going out 1-2 times per month.  The newsletter shares tips and techniques for hand tool use and care, as well as subscriber only discounts and promotions.

A few months ago we began what we call Evaluation Discounts.  The idea is that we ask our customers for honest feedback on tools before investing in larger quantities of inventory.  In exchange for the feedback, you get a nice discount.  Check this page for current tools under evaluation.  We update it fairly frequently.

Discounts for permies:  Anyone can get 10% a tool by using the code "permies" at checkout.  If you have pie, check out this page to get a coupon code for 10% off your entire order.

Well I think that's all for now.  I welcome any feedback or suggestions on tools you think we should carry or other ways we can serve you better.

Thanks for your support!

-Matt

Cool site Matt!  Do you have a favorite rice knife or kama that you would recommend for harvesting comfrey and general chop and drop?

I have found the tools from easydigging.com to be some of the best tools I've ever used. In particular, the ridging hoe. The first time you pick this beast up, your brain says,   "there aint no way I'm gonna swing this mutha for any length of time. "   It seems HEAVY at first. However, the pointed tip of the blade combined with the weight of the blade and the length of the substantial handle makes easy work out of the toughest soil. I have some gnarly clay soil and this hoe makes easy work out of it. I like this hoe sooo much that I bought one for my daughter.
This is a tool that you will pass down to your grand kids. It is also great for making raised beds! It moves a LOT of soil with each stroke.

Nice, John.  I still have some grub hoes I bought from Easy Digging back when I was just starting out on our homestead, and they've held up very well.  We sell some very similar ones from Italy  , but I think the handles are better .  No varnish and oval so more comfortable in-hand.

You know, I was considering one of the ridging hoes you mention a while back for our heavy clay soil, but this video pushed me to try the Magna Grecia Hoe instead.  He tries the ridging hoe at around the 3:30 mark.

Dave Dahlsrud wrote:Cool site Matt!  Do you have a favorite rice knife or kama that you would recommend for harvesting comfrey and general chop and drop?

Thanks, Dave!  I can't say enough good about a Medium Weight Sickle for harvesting comfrey and chop and drop.  Couple things I like about using one:  Because you cut in a half circle from right to left (if you're a righty) you can work very precisely right up to the base of your larger trees and shrubs.  You can also hold the material to be cut in one hand, slice and then place the material right where you want it.

The medium weight is sharp and thin enough to slice grass easily, but it's also durable enough to tackle things like bull thistle.

I also like to use one for quick harvesting things like mint, lemon balm and nettle.