{"title":"Broadforks","description":"\u003cp\u003eA broadfork is a long-handled garden tool used to loosen and aerate soil with less inversion than a rotary tiller. The user steps on the crossbar to drive the tines into the bed, then pulls the handles back to lift and fracture compacted layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eUsing a Broadfork in Garden Beds\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWork in sections across the bed. Insert the tines, press down with your weight, and rock the handles back only as far as needed to loosen the soil. Move a short distance forward and repeat. The goal is to open the soil rather than turn it completely upside down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis approach can be useful when preparing established beds, loosening compacted areas, or improving access for air and water. In clay soil, work when the ground is moist enough to penetrate but not wet enough to smear or compact. Very dry or saturated soil is harder to work and can damage soil structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBefore You Begin\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemove large stones, irrigation lines, and other buried obstacles from the working area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck tine length, tool width, handle style, and product weight against your soil and bed size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse steady body weight rather than forcing the handles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFollow the product instructions and wear appropriate footwear and gloves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA garden broadfork can help prepare beds while leaving more crop residue and soil layers in place than conventional tilling. Results depend on soil moisture, compaction, roots, and stone content.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee the current four-tine tool below, or browse more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tools-equipment\"\u003efarm and garden tools\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pv-broadfork-mtl-hndls-5-tine","title":"Broadfork Metal Handle 4-Tines","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe broadfork is a gardening tool that is widely used in Europe and is growing in popularity in the USA. Broadforks are excellent for breaking open compacted soils deeper than with a rototiller or a spade. This tool will deeply aerate your soil, increase water percolation, and preserve soil structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn comparison, a rototiller pulverizes soil into a fine dust that compacts and hardens after the first rains. The 12” tines are 2” longer than the main competitor’s broadforks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur broadfork weighs less than 20 lbs. making it easy to carry and maneuver in the garden than heavier broadforks. It is best to broadcast compost and soil amendments prior to broadforking, as the amendments will trickle down into the cracks. This is especially useful for rock phosphate, since phosphorus is leached very slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBroadforks feature:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e¼” Thick tempered steel tines. We've put these tines to the ultimate test. Even in roots, rocks, and clay they're nearly impossible to bend.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeighted \u0026amp; Balanced For All Day Use - our broadfork is designed with the average gardener in mind, we could have made it bigger, but ultimately we wanted you to be able to easily use it all day.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e12\" Long Tines - The perfect length for aerating your garden soil. Tines longer than 12\" make the tool hard to use for average sized gardeners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1½\" Wide Square Treadbar - Making a square treadbar (round steel is very slippery, especially in the mud) creates a more stable place for you to stand. 1½\" is plenty wide for your feet to be comfortable, secure, \u0026amp; stable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e48 inch long handles are steel. Detachable, comes with pins to hold in place.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalanced design, stout metal handles, reinforced tines, and a wider treadbar - a tool that is easy to handle, extremely durable, totally reliable, and far easier on your body to use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHuman powered, no smelly fumes, no jolting noise, no pollution, \u0026amp; it saves earthworms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProudly Made in the U.S.A. - Hand made in Grass Valley, CA.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: red;\"\u003e ⚠ Warning:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e This product or its packaging has a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/1391\/9089\/files\/Prop_65_warning_sign-web.pdf?v=1612218849\" title=\"CA Prop 65 Warning\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCA Prop 65 Warning\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Peaceful Valley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21548980109425,"sku":"GDO555","price":209.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/1391\/9089\/products\/broadfork-metal-handle-4-tines.jpg?v=1743657533"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/1391\/9089\/collections\/broadfork-metal-handle-4-tines.jpg?v=1788282097","url":"https:\/\/www.groworganic.mom\/collections\/garden-broadforks\/broadforks.oembed","provider":"Grow Organic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}