Bed prep tools

Broadfork

The broadfork or grelinette is a cornerstone tool for regenerative commercial/human scale farming. A 600mm wide steel base and six 300 mm tynes with light weight wooden handles allows back saving ease to aerate and decompress 750mm wide permabeds in one pass

By using 200- 250mm spacing between applications on your raised bed, the gentle movement of the handles toward you is enough for a deep soil penetration while not overly disturbing the soil web, resulting in numerous benefits including;

decreased weed burden as buried seed is not brought to the surface from turning
leaving soil microbes (beneficial bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, fungi) relatively undisturbed
greater continuity of soil carbon creation. resulting in increased cation exchange, moisture holding, decreased fertiliser use and runoff
no clay panning
deeper and healthier root development
natural drainage
The benefits go on

The Broadfork, a must-have no dig farming tool, providing deep aeration of the soil without disturbing soil structure or microbial life. Available from ActiveVista by Longley Organic Farm

View our Broadfork and Accessories Range

Bed prep rake

We use this very sturdy and lightweight bed (forming) prep rake now available from our site, ActiveVista micro-farm supplies in Australia

Great for using after forming commercial permabeds with a Rotary plough (as seen below on a walk behind tractor)

The bed prep rake lowers and widens the beds to the desired size, before broadforking. This will allow you to incorporate compost and fertiliser either with the Rinaldi power harrow possible without dragging the fertiliser, soil and compost or with the quiet and compact Tilther

Tilther

We use the tilther to prepare for intensive (carpet) planting of salads, kales, spinach and other baby leaf crops. Essential for preparing the top 50mm of soil for intensive planting, the tilther creates a seed raising style top layer with the following benefits;

Great soil to seed contact to support maximum germination
Prepares a level and even harvesting surface, important for use with the Quick Cut Greens Harvester
Incorporates compost and fertiliser into the top layer evenly

A joy to use, quiet and drill powered the tilther is great for use in hot houses. Available from ActiveVista microfarming supplies by Longley Organic Farm