"U-bar" redirects here. For the letter, see U bar.
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Broadfork" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(August 2010)
The broadfork, also called a U-fork or grelinette, is a garden tool used to manually break up densely packed soil, including hardpan, to improve aeration and drainage.[1] Broadforks are used as part of a no-till or reduced-till seedbed preparation process because they preserve the soil structure and avoid the resurfacing of weed seeds.[2]
A broadforkA broadfork being levered
It consists of five or so metal tines, approximately eight inches long, spaced a few inches apart on a horizontal bar, with two handles extending upwards to chest or shoulder level that form a large U-shape.
The operator steps up on the crossbar, using full bodyweight to drive the tines into the ground, then steps backward while pulling backwards on the handles, causing the tines to lever upwards through the soil. This action leaves the soil layers intact, rather than inverting or mixing them, preserving the topsoil structure.
A broadfork can be used in a garden, or practically for one to two acres (4,000 to 8,000 m²). For larger areas, a tractor- or animal-powered chisel plow or similar tool is usually employed.
A u-bar is similar to a broadfork but has longer tines - up to 18 inches (46 cm) - for deeper cultivation, since it is meant to be used in beds that have already been double dug at least once.[3] A u-bar also has "elbows" that allow the tines to be raised above soil level when the handles are tilted all the way back. Thus, clumps of soil that get caught on the tines can be broken up by shaking the handles up and down, rocking the tool on its elbows.
Whereas double digging a one hundred square foot (9.3 square meter) bed can take several hours, tilling the same bed with a u-bar can often be done in a half hour or so.
broadfork, redirects, here, letter, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, sc. U bar redirects here For the letter see U bar This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Broadfork news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2010 The broadfork also called a U fork or grelinette is a garden tool used to manually break up densely packed soil including hardpan to improve aeration and drainage 1 Broadforks are used as part of a no till or reduced till seedbed preparation process because they preserve the soil structure and avoid the resurfacing of weed seeds 2 A broadforkA broadfork being leveredIt consists of five or so metal tines approximately eight inches long spaced a few inches apart on a horizontal bar with two handles extending upwards to chest or shoulder level that form a large U shape The operator steps up on the crossbar using full bodyweight to drive the tines into the ground then steps backward while pulling backwards on the handles causing the tines to lever upwards through the soil This action leaves the soil layers intact rather than inverting or mixing them preserving the topsoil structure A broadfork can be used in a garden or practically for one to two acres 4 000 to 8 000 m For larger areas a tractor or animal powered chisel plow or similar tool is usually employed Contents 1 U bar 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksU bar EditA u bar is similar to a broadfork but has longer tines up to 18 inches 46 cm for deeper cultivation since it is meant to be used in beds that have already been double dug at least once 3 A u bar also has elbows that allow the tines to be raised above soil level when the handles are tilted all the way back Thus clumps of soil that get caught on the tines can be broken up by shaking the handles up and down rocking the tool on its elbows Whereas double digging a one hundred square foot 9 3 square meter bed can take several hours tilling the same bed with a u bar can often be done in a half hour or so See also EditGarden fork Claypan Hardpan Soil Jean Martin Fortier farmer author who promotes use of the broadforkReferences Edit Smith Edward C Smith 2009 The Vegetable Gardener s Bible Storey Publishing p 24 ISBN 978 1 60342 475 2 Johnny s Guide to Small scale Bed Preparation Tools www johnnyseeds com Retrieved 2020 07 31 Garden amp Lawn Tools Lee Valley Tools External links EditMore about broadfork u bar Broadfork the best tool for gardeners Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Broadfork amp oldid 1151578666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
