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Harvesting Crops with a Broadfork

Posted by David Grau on

Harvesting Crops with a Broadfork

The broadfork is such a versatile tool on the farm or in the garden. They make for great soil preparation, or course, aerating the soil, and for mixing in amendments and compost. The 7 Tine Harvest Broadfork is also an extremely useful tool for harvesting crops like potatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, and beets.

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Valley Oak Trial Garden Update

Posted by David Grau on

Valley Oak Trial Garden Update

Summer is officially here. We've been having summery weather in our area for several weeks, hitting highs over 100 F some days. We hope your summer growing season is off to a good start, or will be soon. Tomato plants bearing ripe fruit have steadily taken over the trial garden at Valley Oak Tool Co.

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Growing Sweet Corn

Posted by David Grau on

Growing Sweet Corn

Nothing is quite like picking your own sweet corn. Corn needs warm soil for best germination. Plan on making several sowings over your season. That way you’ll get to harvest throughout the summer. Corn needs plenty of sun, warmth, and water.

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Cooking Dolmas with Grape Leaves

Posted by David Grau on

Cooking Dolmas with Grape Leaves

Grape leaves really put on a lovely show of glossy green foliage in the spring. In one garden we have an old grape vine, which has climbed up into numerous trees, and offers a dense shaded area once fully leafed out. The leaves are so copious that we did some research into how to use them to make dolmas (stuffed grape leaves).

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Ecological Pest Control Solutions

Posted by David Grau on

Ecological Pest Control Solutions

Springtime for gardeners means planting, weeding, and enjoying the beauty of flowers and new veggie plants. It can also involve dealing with such unpleasant visitors as aphids, gophers, slugs, snails and marauding scrub jays pecking away at just-ripening fruit.

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