A Worthy Investment + a giveaway
I learned long ago that cheap gardens tools don’t cut it. My first garden tools were purchased inexpensively at the local hardware store, most of them have already broken or desperately need to be replaced. My mom has a wonderful collection of old garden tools, most of them were left in their first home. They’re quality tools, the kind I want to spend my hard earned money on.
I love the old tools, they’re sturdy and well made, but it can be tough to find them when you need them. As a result, I’ve been looking around for good quality garden tools to buy. I know these will last me for the rest of my gardening career. After much searching, I found Clarington Forge tools and added them to my wish list hoping I might receive one for Christmas.
Why did I choose Clarington Forge? Because they are still hand made in England, just like they have been since 1780 (that’s a LONG time). Each handle is made of ash, which is strong, beautiful, and very comfortable to use. Each spade and fork head is forged from a single piece of steel. I know investing a few extra dollars in these tools will result in a lifetime of use rather than just a few years like my previous ones. When you pick up one of these tools you know it’s made to last!
Imagine my delight when cClarington Forge contacted me about a new their affiliate program and offered to give a beautiful garden tool to one of my lucky readers!
I’m more than happy to recommend a wonderful product that I’m willing to spend my own money on. It’s even better when they offer an affiliate program that helps me pay the bills associated with this blog. If you’re looking to upgrade any of your tools or need a fabulous gift for that gardener on your list, consider investing in a tool that will last a lifetime. I know I’d be delighted to find a new spade or potato fork under the Christmas tree on December 24th! Whenever you want to buy new garden tools, click through the link in my sidebar, it helps keeps my hosting bills paid each month!
Comment below, tell me which garden tool you use most and which tool from Clarington Forge you’d like find in your garden shed should you win.
Emily K from Dirt, Dishes and Design is our winner – congrats Emily!!!
If you’d like see other ways to support this blog check out my Support Page, every little bit helps keep this blog up & running.
That Dutch Hoe looks promising. Thanks for the link.
to Maybelline's comment
OH what lovely tools. I agree, buy quality and you only have to buy it once. While the Spring Planting Collection is gorgeous, if I had to pick one tool to start with it would be the potato fork. Thanks for this great giveaway.
to Gayle's comment
The tools are reasonably priced, considering some of them have a lifetime warranty. That’s hard to find these days.
I could use a decent set of pruners. The Bypass Pruners for smaller hands would be a wonderful start to a quality tool collection.
Hope you get just what you wish for under your tree this year!
to daisy's comment
Fred’s Onion Hoe looks wonderful, I’ve never seen one before. Actually all of their garden tools look wonderful. I have saved their site for future reference and dreaming :)
to Liz J's comment
The tool I use the most is a standard hoe but I have been reading about using a hoe that resembles the dutch hoe on the website. Would love to try one in my everexpanding garden next spring.
to Megan's comment
Oh man. Me on that site is like a kid in a candy store.
I’m sort of intrigued by the spades, though I don’t know how well a non-pointed shovel would work in our horrible wet clay soil.
Also intrigued by the children’s garden tool set, though not sure it would be worth it, since kid’s stuff tends to get mistreated (i.e. turned into swords and hammers, no matter what it is) or lost pretty easily in my experience. Or maybe that’s just my son.
Also, that garden trug–a word I have never before heard, but love–is pretty awesome.
Yeah. I guess I’d have to go with the long-handled spade. Or maybe another spade they would recommend based on soil. Sounds like the kind of company that could provide real information and recommendations for real gardeners.
Off to drool some more . . .
to kristin @ going country's comment
I’ll have one of each, please. How to choose just one? We are in need of a compost fork. We have been turning our compost with a shovel and it is a real chore. I imagine a fork would just glide into that pile without a struggle.
to Heidi's comment
Since I have broken my last two garden forks that I purchased from my local nursery,I would have to say I would love to try a Clarington Forge garden fork. I have also been wanting a compost fork to make aerating my pile a little easier.They sure do look like quality garden tools!
to Kathi Cook's comment
What an offer! I’d definately go with the Garden Fork with Long “D” Handle. I have their spade already and wish it had the long handle. I saw on their site that you can buy one!
to Dave V's comment
Thanks for the great offer! I’ve never owned a garden fork so that’s what I would choose.
to Monica's comment
I would choose a hoe. My partner keeps repairing mine for me, he says I am too strong for the hoe. I love good quality tools and I love things that can still be repaired… Thanks Susy!
to Sophia's comment
My most used tool is a hoe with a long narrow blade that is pointed at both ends. I’ve not seen it anywhere I’ve looked for tools. I’d choose the garden knife for edging beds.
to Grannie M's comment
I could use a really decent shovel! Got a lot of digging coming up over the next year! Your ducklings are getting so big! I love this stage– they are so cute!
to Melissa's comment
I agree, I have a collection of newer broken tools, but my favorite garden tools from my grandmother are still going strong. I would love a good quality hand trowel!
to pam's comment
I’ve always drooled over the Clarington Forge tools – I’ve seen them in England. But always balked at the price. Maybe I should put one on my wish list! In the meantime, that potato fork would be sooooo useful!
to Deborah's comment
Ooo that garden fork with the d handle is exactly what I’ve been looking for!
to Leanne's comment
I probably get the most use out of my regular old garden hoe (which I bought at an auction for like $6 years ago). Choosing which item I would most like to have is difficult! I’ve drooled over all these tools when you have mentioned them before. Lol. I’ve never owned an actual potato fork, but I bet it would be nice to have one!
to Beth K's comment
I desperately need a new garden fork. I have a cheap hardware store model and a much nicer model ordered online that I thought would last. Both are currently broken. Clarington Forge has been on my list of tool brands to try next.
to Melissa's comment
Love those tools. even with mostly raised beds I could use a Dutch Hoe. Or one of those forks to fluff up the bedding in the chicken coop!!
to Ann's comment
I probably use basic hoe most! If I won I would love one of the d-handled garden forks or the dutch hoe.
Amazing how long they have been in business!
to angie h's comment
The Compost Fork for sure!!! All of the tools are gorgeous but I am in the market for a good fork to turn my ever building compost pile. Thanks for sharing this lovely company with us!
to Julia's comment
definitely a hoe! I use mine all the time and a really good one would be awesome (I’ve definitely broken a few from vigorous use)
to annie's comment
A compost fork for sure! Between my home compost bins and the ones at work when I’m teaching children what composting is, a good garden/compost fork is definitely needed. Those piles get mighty heavy and sadly, I have snapped at least one cheap fork already.
to Kat's comment
I use my hands more than anything else, but otherwise I would love the Clarington Border Fork!
to Lizzie's comment
What beautiful tools. Picking one is a problem but I think the compost fork would be my choice if I had the opportunity to own one.
to jennifer fisk's comment
I love quality tools like this. I could use a treaded spade. I just had to replace my boots because they had a hole clean through to my socks where my foot contacts my old spade.
to Matt's comment
I definitely use my hoe most of all. Bought from the amish 30 years ago it has lasted a lifetime and served me well. If I had a choice their garden rake looks like a quality one.
to Canned Quilter's comment
I think I use my hand trowel the most, but I like a good hoe for quickly weeding in the raised beds.
to Julie's comment
I would choose a hand trowel since I’ve broken several cheap ones. Or maybe a children’s tool since I’m always encouraging my kids to help with yard work and gardening. What a neat company!
to Kirsten Obert's comment
Definitely a hoe is what I use most. I’ve worn off the points off mine.
to John's comment
The garden tools we have were also left by the previous homeowner, which was excellent as we were coming from an apartment into our first home. I’d LOVE to have the Spring Planting Collection, but if I had to pick just one, I’d go for the Long Handled Shrubbery Spade – it looks the most versatile!
to kirsten's comment
These tools look wonderful! I would truly enjoy a garden spade, as I think it would be the most useful tool to have. Thank you for offering!
to Clare's comment
oooh… or the compost fork! i just saw that one!
to kirsten's comment
Wow, what lovely products! I think I would probably use the long-handled digging fork the most. I use my pitchfork more than all my other long handled tools. I’m actually surprised, these aren’t that much more expensive than the “good” brand at the hardware store!
to Songbirdtiff's comment
It’s always good to have quality gardening tools. Definitely a must! I am in desperate need of a new spade!
to Kaytee's comment
Right now, I’m using mostly my compost fork for spreading leaves. I just bought a Clarington rubber rake and can vouch for the quality of the tools. (Next time I’ll use your link to buy.) We’re using it all the time on our patio now that the leaves are falling. The tool I’d like to get is Fred’s Onion Hoe.
to Mary W's comment
Here in florida …a shovel and a rake pretty much does it…haha
to sharon's comment
Beautiful tools.. In my engineering world.. we’d say “sexy!”
We’re tool geeks.. what can I say? ;)
If I had to choose just one… I’d choose the Strapped Garden Fork… although the Potato Fork is lovely too..
I had a super heavy duty garden fork that an Old Man Myers across the street from me made and gave me when I moved away.. He was a surrogate grandfather to me & my kids & taught me a lot about gardening & we shared many of our days in our gardens together.. When I moved to Ohio, it got left behind at my house there, and now its lost.. I can lose the fork but never the memories..
to KimH's comment
Oh….. To hard to decide. Perhaps I’ll see if I am fortunate enough to get to decide
Wendy
to Wendy's comment
I use a basic fork for most of my garden work, and I totally hear you out when it comes to using cheap tools – I’ve bent the tines on two different forks in the past two years! The most recent one I’ve purchased still works well, but I don’t know how long it will last in my heavy clay soil. When it bites the dust, I’ll definitely save my pennies for a higher quality fork next time!
I would love to have a little weeding hand trowel in my collection as well – I have many years worth of dandelion roots that have built up in my garden and this would be great for digging them up without hurting the other plants growing nearby!
to Johanna's comment
…Oh dear. Those aren’t gardening tools, they’re works of art! Wow! *swoons* :o)
…I do believe if I was lucky enough to win I would hang it in my house. Seriously. Oh, and by “it”, I mean their Rabbiting Spade. Again, *swoons*… ;o)
…Thank you for the chance to win!
…Oh, and Mr. Chiots? Just in case you’re one of “those guys” (which I’m certain you are not :o), that wouldn’t know a hint from their lovely wife if it were boinkin’ ’em in the head – I believe this sentence written from dear Susy above was one:
“After much searching, I found Clarington Forge tools and added them to my wish list hoping I might receive one for Christmas.” ;o)
…Have a lovely day you two!
…Blessings :o)
to tj's comment
…I wanna be notified of your new posts via email, I submitted my comment before I had a chance to check the lil’ box.
…Thanks! :o)
to tj's comment
I would say my favorite tool is the trusty shovel. Thanks for sharing.
to cynthia's comment
I use my hand shovel all the time- so it’s my favorite tool- use it for planting, weeding and everything in between.
to allegra's comment
I use my old shovel and rake and you are so right, invest in the good tools and they will last and make gardening so much more enjoyable!
to cyndi's comment
I use my pulaski and shovel more than any other tools, and I would love to try their compost fork.
to maggiewann's comment
The Spring Planting Collection looks like a dream! If I had to pick a tool to start with, I’d pick a garden spade. It’s good to know of this company – thanks!
to Melanie's comment
Wow, what beautiful tools! Good idea to put a few on my Christmas wish list…and for Mother’s Day too, closer to planting season! The Transplanting Hand Trowel looks great, I always end up using the regular hand trowel and I end up either taking too much soil or clearing too much soil because the trowel is much bigger than a transplanting trowel. Thanks for the recomendation on tools Susy!
to MountainMisty's comment
For me it’s a toss up. I use a hoe a lot. But I find my spade equally as useful :digging lines for electric to the chicken coop, transporting larger herbs and taking care of the latest cat’s prey just to name a few.
I do not own a Dutch Hoe but hoe, but have been eyeing something like this for a year or more now.
to Mike's comment
i use my hand trowel the most these days- i love to break up the soil by hand (we have a very small garden :] ) and use the trowel to assist in crunching up the bigger, harder clumps! :) i would love a children’s rake for my son- he loves helping in the yard!! (for myself i would love a compost fork!! it would make turning the compost sooo much easier!!)
thanks! :)
to beth c's comment