hand tools that survived actual seasons, not the pretty starter kit
the aluminum trowel from the grocery store bent in our clay by week two. this is what replaced it, one purchase at a time.
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1
DeWit forged trowel
one piece of boron steel, no weak point where the blade meets the shaft. this is the one that didn't bend in the clay bed by the fence.
2
Edward Tools carbon steel trowel
cheaper backup, lives in the car. lifetime warranty i've never needed to use
3
the $4 aluminum trowel from the grocery store
bent on the first real dig into clay (learned the hard way). still fine for potting soil, that's all it gets now.
4
Felco F2 bypass pruners
22 replaceable parts. people online with 30-year-old pairs say they've only ever swapped the spring and blade. mine are 4 years in.
5
Fiskars bypass pruners
the ones I actually loan to neighbors. losing a $15 pair doesn't ruin my week the way losing the Felcos would
6
Nisaku hori-hori knife
does the job of four tools. the sheath wears out before the blade does, not the other way around
7
Radius Garden ergonomic hand tools
die-cast aluminum, weirdly heavy for how small they look. worth it now that my wrist complains by October
8
Showa Atlas nitrile gloves
9
a wooden-handled hoe from an estate sale
no brand on it anywhere, older than me probably, still has the best edge of anything I own
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