Re: Compost Forks

**Kelejan** 3/2/2014, 3:24 am

sanderson wrote:kelejan, How heavy does it feel? Is it good for someone with a bad back?

Sanderson, it is rabbithutch that has ordered this. See quote included in my post above. Smile

**sanderson** 3/2/2014, 4:23 am

Opps!

I guess my question is now irrelevant about weight.

rabbithutch 3/2/2014, 1:50 pm

That 6 tine fork from Tractor Supply looks even better than the one I bought. I should have thought of them before ordering. The tines appear to be a bit thicker than mine. It would be a lot better if it included someone to turn the compost pile every 5 or 6 days. Smile

**jimmy cee** 3/2/2014, 2:35 pm

rabbithutch wrote:That 6 tine fork from Tractor Supply looks even better than the one I bought. I should have thought of them before ordering. The tines appear to be a bit thicker than mine. It would be a lot better if it included someone to turn the compost pile every 5 or 6 days.

Thanks for that tip. I was going to order one, now I'll just check it out at Tractor's
I know no one will come along with it to do the turning..

**donnainzone5** 3/15/2014, 2:17 pm

Rabbit,

Is the fork you ordered very heavy? I do have a bad back and smallish hands.

rabbithutch 3/15/2014, 2:43 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:Rabbit,

Is the fork you ordered very heavy? I do have a bad back and smallish hands.

I think 'heavy' might be a relative term here. It is not as heavy as a flat-tined spade fork. I would say that it probably weighs 3-4 lbs., at most.

I'm a geezer with muscle and heart problems who takes things very slowly. I don't find the tool heavy, but I don't use it for very long periods either.

HTH

**donnainzone5** 3/15/2014, 2:57 pm

Thanks! I was afraid it might weigh about the same as one of my cats: 12-13 lbs.!

Think I'll go ahead and order it from Amazon.

**sanderson** 3/15/2014, 3:00 pm

Rabbit Hutch, I found an Ames bedding (manure) fork like yours with multiple tines at Home Depot!! bounce

As a woman with a bad back, I would say that it is heavier rather than lighter. But lighter than the 4 heavy tined, short handled, gardening fork. I think it will be perfect for finely chopped compost material.
Compost Forks - Page 2 Compos22

**sanderson** 3/15/2014, 3:05 pm

Donna, Do you have Home Depot in your area?

**donnainzone5** 3/15/2014, 3:14 pm

There's a Home Depot here, yes. I looked recently but didn't see anything similar to the one Rabbithutch purchased.

**sanderson** 3/15/2014, 3:32 pm

Call and ask them if they got the Ames bedding fork in. That will be a hint. Did you see my photo above?

**llama momma** 3/15/2014, 3:57 pm

Sanderson

Congratulations. That's a terrific looking fork you got there. I am going to order one now and count this as an early Mother's Day gift. I still have issues from injuring my hip last Spring while composting the labor intensive Berkeley method. It was much too much work with a four tine garden fork.
Thanks for the inspiration!
LM

**donnainzone5** 3/15/2014, 4:02 pm

Sanderson,

Thanks for the tip.

Yes, Home Depot carries this item, which has a 48" handle, rather than 54". Do you think 48" is long enough? I'm 5'-5".

**sanderson** 3/16/2014, 2:51 am

Donna, I will look at and measure it tomorrow and give you my thoughts.

**sanderson** 3/16/2014, 2:52 am

LM, Hope it works better for you. I think it will be able to take thinner (lighter) layers.

**jimmy cee** 3/16/2014, 8:53 am

I would tend to think a shorter fork would work best with a short user, and a long fork for a tall user.
I am 6 foot, a short fork would be making me work harder, a longer one would suit me better.

Goosegirl 3/16/2014, 9:56 am

donnainzone10 wrote:Sanderson,

Thanks for the tip.

Yes, Home Depot carries this item, which has a 48" handle, rather than 54". Do you think 48" is long enough? I'm 5'-5".

That should be about right. I am 4'11" and my fork is a total of 48", handle and fork together, and is just a wee bit short for me, but better than the full-sized 'adult' tools!

GG

**donnainzone5** 3/16/2014, 12:18 pm

GG,

So, since I'm 6" taller than you, I should probably get the one with the 54" handle.

Goosegirl 3/16/2014, 12:23 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:GG,

So, since I'm 6" taller than you, I should probably get the one with the 54" handle.

Mine is not a 48" handle, it is 48" total length (one of the stubby handles with a D-shaped grip on the end), so the 48" handle would probably do you pretty well.

GG

**sanderson** 3/16/2014, 1:49 pm

I just measured the handle (metal and wood part) and it is 48." I'm now 5'3" (the other 3/4" disappeared). Hope this helps.

**donnainzone5** 3/16/2014, 2:02 pm

I'm going with the 48" handle. Thanks, everyone!

Goosegirl 3/16/2014, 3:59 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:I'm going with the 48" handle. Thanks, everyone!

**llama momma** 3/16/2014, 5:33 pm

Sanderson
Turns out I didn't have to order the fork online since the local HD had it available. Looks just like yours. Can't wait to break it in this week. Need to separate the leaf mold layer from leaves if its not frozen.. Then condense leaves from one corral to the other. Then finally empty bags from Autumns collection. The temps are warming into the 50's and 60's this week, my kind of enjoyable outdoor weather.
Thanks for the inspiration Sanderson.

Sponsored content


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.