Broadforks
- Which Broadfork is for me?
- We manufacture two styles of broadfork: the 14-inch tine length and the 16-inch tine.
The 14" broadfork is a great tool intended to meet everyone's needs. It has good leverage and a great balance, that makes it easy to use. We recommend the 14" broadfork for everyone, in particular for breaking new ground, or if people of different size and strengths will use it. The 14" fork has 50" long handles and weighs 22 pounds.
The 16" is a heavier tool for the most demanding root-crop cultivators, where the extra 2" justifies the greater effort. Breaking new ground using the 16" fork requires considerably more effort than the 14". The 16" broadfork has 48" handles and weighs 25 pounds.
(The tine length is measured from the tine tip to the bottom of the cross pipe. Both styles have four tines spaced at 6-1/2" from center to center. The center-to-center distance between the handles is 19-1/2". The bottom cross pipe is 21-1/2" wide.)
In typical use, either tool is used working backwards and weaving side to side, to cut a row having a natural width of about 30". To work a wider row, you can weave further side to side, or make multiple passes.
- Why does the 16" broadfork have a shorter handle?
- The slightly shorter handle on the 16" enables it to fit in the same box as the 14", that is right at the size limit for shipping.
- 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. It uses your body weight to get the tool into the ground, without assymetric 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 work, and you must stay 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.
- Can I pick up the broadfork in person?
- Yes, during business hours and by appointment. You will be charged local sales tax. If you're considering a ferry trip to Vashon Island just to pick up a broadfork, please keep in mind it is cheaper to ship it than to drive on the ferry.
- 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 and gave it its English name, the broadfork. Eliot's affiliated company still sells broadforks, but his are lightweight tools with short tines and are intended only for tilling already loose soil, and are useless for hardpan. (If that's what you need, please buy one of his or one of the other light, inexpensive tools.) Our design is based on feedback from farmers who've used all the other tools available and asked us to create a tool with longer tines, much stronger, and still easy to use.
- 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?
- The custom fabrication side of our business can make anything you want.
Please see our waterjet/fabrication portfolio above.
Ordinarily, the design and engineering cost of a custom project is far in excess
of the cost to fabricate a single tool.
If what you want sounds like a good product idea to us, we may subsidize the engineering cost. Examples of past projects are a mobile wheel kit to make a neighbor's hoop house movable, several custom planting tools, chicken coop wheels, and our cider press prototypes. We've also built custom cheese making equipment. Please contact us at sales@meadowcreature.com or call 360-329-2250.
- 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.
- 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 return shipping costs.
For free return shipping, you must return the broadfork with its original packaging. 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, that if your broadfork is damaged in normal use, we will replace it at no charge. Please tell us who originally purchased the tool, email a photo of the damage and explain how it occurred. We won't ask you to find your receipt or prove that you're the original owner. - What about sales tax?
- Sales tax is charged for purchases shipped to Washington state addresses, or picked up in person.
- When will my broadfork arrive?
- Broadforks ship by Fedex Ground / Fedex Home Delivery. You should receive
your package in 3 to 6 business days after ordering.
Items appearing in our shopping cart are in stock and usually ship within 2 business days of receipt of your order. Occasionally, orders may be delayed by a few additional days, in which case we will notify you.
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? Canada?
- Yes ... maybe ... but ... the cost to ship our oversize package beyond the lower 48 is prohibitive.
Shipping to AK and HI is available, at a shipping charge of about $170.
Our broadfork package is too large to ship to Europe by any of the common carriers.
We've shipped a few broadforks to Canadian customers. The shipping, brokerage and customs charges continue to surprise us. Fedex will ship our package, but the total ship charge with all fees is nearly $200. Can you have it shipped to a friend or relative this side of the border? Please email us at sales@meadowcreature.com for more information.
- 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.
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