Broadforks
- Why is Meadow Creature's Broadfork better?
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Our broadforks are unique in their featuring machine-cut high strength alloy steel tines, and how they ship as a single solid welded unit, with no bolt-together handle connection to fail or work loose.
Our forks are built for the hardest work. Unlike other forks that advise you to not use them to break new ground, or break up hard clay or hardpan, our forks were created to do just that. Our 14" broadfork is an awesome all-around tool to turn a hard-packed pasture or bulldozer-compacted residential yard into a productive garden bed. It's also great for harvesting root crops, loosening root balls to transplanting trees and shrubs, loosening quack grass, bermuda grass and other invasives by the roots.
The triangular-pointed high strength steel tines on our forks penetrate soil easier than the round, conical-pointed tines of other forks.
Our steel handles are better than wood handles, not inferior to wood. Welded steel handles make our tool better for three reasons: First, they are stiff, and do not waste your energy by flexing as you work. Integrally welded to the tines, there is no bolted connection to work loose and break, or add extra movement wasting your energy.
Second, our handles are smooth, that matters because in tilling with the broadfork, your hands are constantly sliding to the top of the handle to pull back, then sliding down low to lift and pull the fork out of the ground and toward you for the next "bite". Sliding on steel is easier on your hands.
Third, the weight distribution of our steel handles give our tool a better balance. Our forks pivot at the point that you naturally grab them to lift them out of the ground.
Our round-pipe foot bar is easier on your foot than a square-edge bar, as you rock the tool, standing on it with the tines at different angles.
- Watch our broadforks in action!
- Which Broadfork is for me?
- We manufacture three styles of broadfork: 12-inch, 14-inch and 16-inch tine lengths. All our forks are about the same width.
All cut a natural row width of 24" to 30", that depends more on how the tool is used than on which tool is used.
Our 12" broadfork was created to make our forks more accessible to users who need a lighter weight tool, yet still demand a strong, unbreakable tool that will last a lifetime. This fork is strong enough to break the hardest ground, and light enough for almost anyone to use. The handles are 46" long and 19" apart, and the tines 12" long. The handles are a smaller diameter than our 14" and 16" forks, and a comfortable fit for smaller hands. Large or tall users may prefer the handles of the larger forks.
The 12" broadfork weighs 16 lbs. If you have doubts about your ability or comfort in handling our larger forks, this tool is for you.
The 14" broadfork is by far our best seller. It has good leverage and a great balance, that makes it easy to use. In our experience, most people are comfortable using this tool, and appreciate the extra tilling depth of the 14" tines. This is an ideal tool for both breaking new ground and light aerating. The handles are 50" long and 20" apart, and the tines 14" long. The 14" Broadfork weighs 22 pounds. The handle length gives our 14" fork great leverage and makes it the most comfortable choice for tall users.
Our 16" broadfork is a heavier tool for experienced farmers, for the most demanding root-crop cultivators, where the extra 2" depth justifies the considerably greater effort required to use it. This tool is intended primarily for deep aeration, but also works great for breaking new ground - it's just more work. The handles are 48" long and 20" apart, the tines are 16" long and the fork weighs 25 pounds. If you have any doubts about your comfort level, please choose the 14" fork. Even the 14" tines are several inches longer than the tines on any wood-handled broadfork.
- How wide is the row cut?
- Broadforks are used working backwards, weaving or alternating side to side as you go. Weaving by half the distance between two tines, the tool cuts a natural row width of about 30". Not weaving at all cuts about 24". To cut much wider than 36", its usually easier to make multiple passes. Working backwards avoids stepping on what you've just tilled, and is easier because you're always lifting into soil just loosened.
- Don't you have to be really strong to use the broadfork?
- We make no health or medical claims.
Our customers tell us that the broadfork is easier to use than a garden spade,
and that at least once you've carried the tool to your work area, the tool weight
works to your advantage.
It uses your body weight to get the tool into the ground, without so much asymmetric
stress to legs or lower back. Working the soil uses upper body muscles in a
push-pull motion that takes some strength but doesn't strain the back as much as
a shovel. While it's still hard work, and you must remain aware of your own
limitations, there's less bending at the waist, less twisting of the back, and
no lifting the weight of soil, compared to using a shovel or spading fork.
Our 12" fork is easy for most people to carry and use. Our 16" fork can be a chore to carry around, and also requires more strength. The 14" is by far our best seller, accessible to almost everyone. If you have a concern about the tool weight or strength required, we recommend getting the 12".
- Why does the 16" broadfork have shorter handles?
- The slightly shorter handle on the 16" keeps its overall length within the size limit required for cost-effective shipping.
- Did you invent the broadfork?
- Thanks for the flattering thought, but no.
Broadfork-type tools have evolved for centuries.
In the 1970's, Eliot Coleman popularized the tool in America and gave it its English name, the broadfork.
Eliot's affiliated company (Johnny's Selected Seeds) sells broadforks, but his are lightweight tools with short tines
(typically 10 or 11 inches) intended only for tilling already loose soil.
There is a place for light tools, but we have sold literallly dozens of our forks to people who bought his,
broke it and bought ours.
We want you to be happy - if you have light fluffy soil, and want a light tool, please buy our 12" fork, or buy one of Eliot's or another light, inexpensive tool. Please note, while our 12" fork is light and easy to use, it's still indestructible, and in that regard is nothing at all like the light duty broadforks.
Our design is based on feedback from farmers who've used all the other tools available, found them lacking, and asked us to create a tool to meet their needs, with longer tines, much stronger, and still easy to use.
- Can our organization get a free broadfork?
- Meadow Creature is able to donate a limited number of broadforks to qualifying organizations.
Click here to learn more. - What other tools do you make?
- Please see the links above for our kill cones and self-serve farm stand cash boxes. We have a small commercial cider press and a chicken plucker/scalder in development.
- Do you make custom tools?
- In theory ... the custom fabrication side of our business can make anything you want. Please keep in mind the cost to design an fabricate custom tool is far in excess of the cost to make a tool in volume. It's probably not practical. For the broadforks specifically, no we don't make different widths, or more tines, or other variations.
- Can I order by mail or by phone?
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Yes, please Click Here to figure your total and pay by check or money order.
You can order by phone - please call 360-329-2250 and leave a message telling us a good time to call you back. We'll have to call you back to take your order.
And of course you can purchase and pay through our web store, using VISA/MC/Discover, or PayPal.
- Can I pick up the broadfork in person?
- If you're visiting Vashon Island, our forks are available for purchase at Vashon True Value. Please Click Here for hours and directions. You will be charged local sales tax (8.6%).
- Where can I buy a broadfork at retail?
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These fine retailers stock our broadforks:
WASHINGTON
Portage Bay Grange
4110 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
206-434-1445
portagebaygrange.com Vashon True Value
9750 SW Bank Road
Vashon, WA 98070
206-463-3852
vashontruevalue.comOREGON
Grow Organics
2035 12th Street
Hood River, OR 97031
541-632-3478
groworganics.org Healing Ponds Farm & Garden Store
12675 SW Canyon Rd
Beaverton, OR 97005
(503) 646-6859
healingponds.com Naomi’s Organic Farm Supply
2615 SE Schiller St.
Portland, OR 97202
503-517-8551
naomisorganic.blogspot.com The Tool Merchants
1488 E. Fork RD
Williams, OR 98544
541-450-3893
thetoolmerchants@gmail.comCALIFORNIA
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
125 Clydesdale Ct.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
888-784-1722
groworganic.com Webbs Farm Supplies
5381 Old San Jose Road
Soquel, Ca 95073
408-395-2227
webbsfarmsupplies@yahoo.comPlease contact us if you're interested in carrying our products in your store.
- Satisfaction Guarantee / Return Policy / Warranty
- If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return
it within 30 days for a full refund, including all shipping costs.
For free return shipping, you must return the broadfork in its original packaging, so please save it if you have any doubt. Please call or email to schedule a Fedex pickup.
Our broadfork is meant to last a lifetime, if not abused. Our tool is fully intended for working hardpan. It's not intended for prying up boulders. We offer a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser, that if your broadfork is damaged in normal use, we will replace it at no charge. We won't ask you to save or find your receipt, just try to tell us who originally purchased the tool. - What about sales tax?
- Sales tax is charged for purchases shipped to WA state addresses.
- When will my broadfork arrive?
- As of Monday, May 13, we're shipping 1 to 2 business days after receipt of order. Your card will be charged after your package ships. All orders are shipped via Fedex Ground -- Fedex will email a track link at the time of pickup. Please note, Fedex requires a street address, and a phone number for the delivery location - we need this to process your order. Sorry, we cannot ship to PO boxes.
- Do you ship to Alaska? Hawaii?
- Yes we ship broadforks -- you'll be charged $90 to $120 depending on your exact location. Please note, your fork will actually ship via USPS parcel post.
- Do you ship to Canada?
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We're happy to ship to our Canadian customers - please contact us by email.
International ground shipping to Canada by Federal Express costs $100 - $160 US, including
shipping, customs, and HST/GST charges, plus the cost of the tool. Please email
sales@meadowcreature.com
and provide your shipping address, email, and telephone number, and which size
broadfork you wish to purchase. We will get back to you with a shipping price. We can accept payment only via PayPal in USD.
Please note, we can’t ship 2-packs to Canada because the slightly larger packaging exceeds Fedex's size limit.
Alternatively, we can ship (including 2-packs) to a US location near the border for you to pick up. Our web store can process your order if your credit card has a U.S. billing address. Otherwise, please contact us by email or phone.
- Do you ship to Europe, the UK or Australia?
- Unfortunately, international shipping costs and size restrictions make it prohibitive to ship to Europe, the UK, Australia, or other overseas locations. We are surprised there is no international surface shipping service for individual large packages - only air express, at a cost of $300 to $500 per fork! We wish such a surface option was available.
- Privacy Policy
- Meadow Creature LLC values the privacy of our customers. We will not rent,
share or otherwise disclose your postal or email address or other information with third parties.
Our online ordering system may use cookies for the duration of your shopping session. Any information is kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party.