Even in this age of relentless automation, there is still the need for the odd bit of physical labour. And while switching over the TV, unlocking the car and opening a tin can have all been automated, there are other household “chores” that remain stubbornly mechanical.
Take the garden. This is a place where mechanisation seems to have reached a plateau with the petrol-driven mower and the electric hedge trimmer – though the concept of a greenhouse with automatic doors is quite appealing. Last month, we wrote about a planting machine that automatically deposits 20 brassica seedlings into the ground every second – but such technology is not likely to filter down to the home gardener.
Something that features in every gardener’s armoury is the spade. Its uses are many and varied: turning over soil, shovelling snow, burying recently departed pets. Its design has remained much the same for centuries – if not Millennia. And this is despite countless strained backs, aching muscles and (occasional) lopped-off toes.
The Challenge
Our challenge this month is to come up with a way of improving the design of the humble spade. Ideas can address any aspect of the spade that are seen to be lacking – be it the sheer unwieldiness or the difficulty of digging straight lines with its slightly curved blade.
While rotavators can also help to break up soil, there is a feeling that this is ‘cheating’ – and the whole point of home-grown vegetables is to produce them in the ancient way. For this reason, ideas should not rely on any ‘modern’ technology – so adding ground-wave radar to detect buried stones is definitely out.
One suggestion (see below) addresses the problem very cleverly. In fact, it is almost so simple that it is a wonder that no actual product exists on the market.
We are ready to receive your suggestions on the problem too.
CTC answer
This month’s answer on an alternative spade design comes from the US, and Michigan-based Dennis Havlena. He spends his time building musical instruments, but applies this craftsmanship to other areas – such as garden implements.
“I came up with this idea while digging a drainage trench,” he says. “Without exaggeration, this trick makes it at least twice as easy to dig.”
His idea is to add a supporting handle to the shaft of the spade, making it easier to lift when weighed down with soil. He threaded a 4-inch long handle of 1-inch dowling (drilling a hole lengthwise through it first) onto a loop of steel-core clothesline then attached the loop to the business end of the shovel.
An alternative design dispenses with the loop, and instead attaches the two ends of the wire to the spade blade.
The new handle can be pulled slightly sideways – while pushing the main handle in this same direction – to scoop up the dirt quite easily.
“It also does away with the need to bend way over while shovelling,” he concludes.
Dennis Havlena (www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/)
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