Essential Tools

The Magna Grecia Hoe

For more, please read the article recently published by Small Farmers Journal.

Watch a video of this hoe in use

Leonard Lee, the founder of Lee Valley Tools, has a talent with regards to promoting the tools his company sells. In their catalogue under the "Sliver Gripper" tweezers he wrote: "Some tools are hard to describe because they are so good that an accurate description sounds like a carnival snake-oil pitch".

Now, after several seasons of extensive use, we believe that if Mr. Lee would have come across the Magna Grecia hoe and actually tried it out, he would place it on his list of tools fully deserving the "snake-oil pitch". Of course, apart from design itself, a man of his caliber as "tool expert" would evaluate the material and temper-related properties of this uncommon groundbreaker.
You see, the quality line of the Falci's hoes is made of special tool steel with extra silica content to provide high abrasion resistance, and then hardened to 52-53 RC. This can't be said of many hoes on the Western market today, if it ever could... (Note 1)

Although we "discovered" the Magna Grecia on the dusty shelf in a far away factory and were the first to test it out on Canadian soil, it is thanks to Joel Dufour of Earth Tools, KY (who purchased the entire lot of them from Italy) that they are, for now, available on this continent.

Besides Earth Tools another source within USA is Steve Leppold in Oregon who would prefer not to mail them but instead will offer them locally on a donation basis (with a check for the listed price made out to a nonprofit chosen by Steve that works toward food security). He may be contacted at steveleppold(at)yahoo(dot)com

In Canada it can be obtained also from ScytheWorks.

The price per hoe (or handle) at each of these sources is the same. The shipping costs vary, of course, sometimes considerably... Still, it makes "ecological sense" to order from the geographically closest source. There will be exceptions, as in cases where a US resident orders a scythe from us and the hoe can take a "free ride", so to speak. Conversely, if a Canadian is already getting other tools from Earth Tools it would be more economical to order this hoe from them.

Complete tool;      $50 - OUT OF STOCK
Head only;           $35 (from eye to points the prongs measure 30cm; head weight 1 1/4 kg. /1250 gm)
Handle;               $15 (Hickory wood, 1 1/4 by 1 1/4 octagonal profile, 58 inch long (Read more - Note 2)

UK:
Simon Fairlie
chapter7@tlio.org.uk
http://www.thelandmagazine.org.uk/
http://www.thescytheshop.co.uk/

Folding buck saw

24" aluminium frame, copper rivets, wooden tensioner/handle -- $38 More info on the saw and its maker. Shipping: 1-4 saws; anywhere in Canada: $10

For Bob's 24" bucksaw send $50.00* -- check or money order -- with your mailing address, to the address above. (He sells extra blades at $5.00 a peice)
*US funds. This includes Minnesota sales tax and parcel post in continental U.S.

General purpose knives from Mora; the knife-making capital of Sweden

"One of the most useful articles in the hunter's, trapper's, camper's or prospector's outfit is the sheath knife, and... I am inclined to think those who have no use for a sheath knife have never been fortunate enough to own a really good one..."

E. Kreps
(author of The Science of Trapping)

The knife with a finger guard and the red-stained handle [Note: sold out] was made by the Jonsson company, the other by Ericsson (still before it amalgamated with Frost).
Both have 3 5/8" long carbon steel blades and birch wood handles. The edges are very nicely beveled and ready for immediate use. Unlike during Knep's time (cca a century ago), these now come with molded plastic sheaths.

Special offer: $8.50 IF accompanying a scythe order.
Otherwise add $2.00/knife (still an excellent value)