Broad Fork Building Workshop
Event Details
Time: February 27, 2010 from 10am to 5pm
Location: Inspiration Farm
Street: 619 E Laurel Rd
City/Town: Bellingham
Website or Map: http://www.inspirationfarm.com
Phone: 360-398-7061
Event Type: re-skilling, cultivation, techniques
Organized By: Brian Kerkvliet
Latest Activity: Dec 24, 2011
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Event Description
Part of the Re-Skilling Series at Inspiration Farm
Co-sponsored by Transition Whatcom
Spring is coming .....
Who needs a rototiller!? Time to tune up your U-bar skills!!
Build your own custom Broad fork out of recycled materials and then recycle your rototiller!
The U-bar (or broad fork, as it is sometimes called) has been used in Europe for centuries. Not a common tool in the US, though every gardener wants one.
The U-bar is similar to a spading fork, but rather than turning the soil, it aerates down 10" to 20” without mixing the soil strata, maintaining soil health and life force. Producing a deeply aerated planting bed while combing the weed roots intact to the top where they can be raked off. Long handles provide extraordinary leverage, allowing a person of average strength to loosen large areas with less time and effort it would take with a conventional fork. Versions on the market are prone to breaking, I will help you build a stronger one.
Using mostly recycled steel pipes and bar stock, you can build a U-bar spicily suited for you. Mild metal working skills are helpful to bend grind and weld your new tool. I can help with the welding.
WHEN--- Saturday Feb. 27th 10 am to 5 pm
WHERE--- Inspiration Farm - 619 E Laurel Rd. Bellingham
WHY--- build and take home a U-Bar designed for your body and soil !
COST--- $145
Sign up soon, space is limited to 6 participants.
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Angela MacLeod on February 26, 2010 at 1:30pm
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Everyone,
I think there is still room in the broad fork workshop, if you're wanting to participate.....
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Comment by Brook Hayes on February 24, 2010 at 12:09pm
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Brian,
I signed up for the broadfork workshop! I wanted to let you know that I could also do it a different weekend if you would rather wait to try to get more people to sign up. I know that as it gets warmer you get busier, but maybe it would be more worth your effort if there were more folks. Let me know, and if I don't hear from you I will see you on Saturday!
Brook
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I love using the Broad fork. I am not physically large or strong but using the Broad fork allowed me to work my garden beds a lot faster and more efficiently than using a shovel or any other tool. It was a good work out without hurting my body and it was a fun movement experience. It's not an elegant looking tool but it sure gets the job done. it's at the top of my list of must-have tools. Living here on Inspiration Farm I have used three different sizes of Broad forks. It really makes a difference to use the one that fits your body size.
Brian is great teacher and guide. I enjoy his warm generous spirit and his creative playful attitude about making tools. What an opportunity this workshop is....to make a Broad fork that fits you!!!
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Comment by Heather K on February 11, 2010 at 1:00am
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U-Bar or Broad-forks are one of the best hand tools to have! They are fun to use, protect the soil life & tilth, and replace any harmful industrial methods like plowing or rototilling. I would say this is one of my top ten favorite tools!
Thanks Brian for again offering your skills for another Broad Fork Building Workshop! I'll be there in spirit!
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