The walking hoe is one of the most versatile and useful tools in Bill and Jean King’s market gardens at Outlook, Sask. It can hoe up to 1,000 sq. feet in 30 minutes.
The hand pushed tool features five small cultivator shovels on one side that are used to loosen the soil. The other side, most often used by the Kings, sports a flat bar that acts like a rodweeder to undercut weeds and serve as a kind of stirring pole.
The round piece in the centre breaks up any clots of dirt and pulls weed tops from the soil.
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King said the user can flip up the cultivator tines to allow the bar to go through the soil easily.
“It’s a lot easier to use than a (standard) hoe and twice as wide,” he said.
The Kings have two well used ones, but are unsure if they are still made. They have not been able to find replacements. They have little information on their origins because one came from a family member and the second from a long time gardener. The couple hopes a garden supply company might one day find or manufacture similar labour saving tools for market gardeners.
If you have information, contact section editor Mike Raine at mike.raine@producer.com.
