Ten Garden Tools for the Beginning Organic Gardener

Gardening has been my hobby ever since junior high school. I'm not quite sure why, except that there's something about fussing around with soil, bedding plants, and packets of seeds that is so immensely satisfying. But like any hobby, gardening requires patience, a little skill, and tools to make the job even possible.

My collection of garden tools is pretty substantial and fills up a shed that's nearly 10 feet wide by 30 feet long. I have a tool for every occasion and my neighbors know it, which is why I'm called "Rent It Central" in my neighborhood. Of course, not all these tools get used all the time ~ such as Grandpa's old tamper which hasn't seen dirt since 1996 or his crossbow saw that's large enough to cut down a 60 feet maple tree if we felt so inclined. But for basic all-around garden tools for someone new to organic gardening, most gardeners can manage with these ten commonly used tools:

Pointed Shovel

There are many styles of shovels available but not all do the same task. A true shovel has a "lift" behind the blade which some people refer to as a gooseneck. This means that when the blade of the shovel lies flat on the ground, the handle hits you somewhere around mid thigh. A shovel is designed for digging holes and moving soil, and allows the body to leverage itself to handle the weight of the soil.

Don't confuse a shovel with a spade. Spades usually have a flatter blade and flat handle. This means that when the blade is placed flat on the ground, the handle will be on the ground as well. While spades certainly serve their own function, if you can only afford to buy one, stick with a shovel.

Leaf rake

These fan shaped rakes have only one purpose, to rake leaves. For large yards with lots of leaves, buy a wide 30" rake. For a smaller yard with few leaves, a 12-18" wide rake will work. Keeping the leaves and debris off your yard will help keep a pest problem under control.

Small pitchfork