tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18618266113739761822024-03-14T04:54:21.356+00:00The Blackberry Lane BlogThis blog runs alongside our Blackberry Lane website, mainly to keep you informed about changes that happen between our periodic updates on the main site, and also to give you an opportunity to give feedback.Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-22490471105242837712022-02-24T17:22:00.002+00:002022-03-02T15:05:59.172+00:00Blackberry Lane Tools is Changing Hands !<p> <span style="font-family: Arial;"> We started selling specialist garden tools in 2004 and have greatly
enjoyed our role in supplying quality tools to gardeners of all
descriptions – from hesitant beginners to experienced market
gardeners and everyone in between! In these 17/18 years, we
have witnessed an exciting growth in the number of people
starting out with small vegetable growing enterprises, and have
felt privileged to be able to provide some of the equipment
which they need. Blackberry Lane Tools has grown beyond our
wildest expectations, and has left us less time to spend on our
own small market garden.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Faced with having too
much to do and not enough time to do it all, plus the fact
that we are </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">both well past 'retirement
age' and have many other demands on our time and energies</span>,
the logical thing might have been to give up the physical work
in the garden and concentrate on the tools. But then we thought about it: "If we need to either give up the tools and
work in the market garden, or give up the market garden and
work on the tools, which would we be most sorry to give up?" We love both of them, but working on the land is closer to our heart, so it was the tools that needed to go!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> So, for the last couple of years, we have
been looking for someone to take on the tools sales business.
It has not been easy to find the right person!<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> We have now agreed with Dave Maine, of
ReAg Tools in Somerset, that he will take on our complete range
of tools with immediate effect. Dave is a keen market
gardener himself, and already sells a selection of tools via his
website at <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="https://reagtools.co.uk/?sca_ref=1674442.rnt94zK7O4" target="_blank">www.reagtools.co.uk</a> .
Interestingly, quite a number of these are tools which our
customers have asked us about in the past, so it makes a lot of
sense to combine the two ranges.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Our Blackberry Lane Tools website will
continue to operate for the time being, but it will re-direct
customers on to Dave's website and he will handle all the tools
sales. He may decide to take on the Blackberry Lane site at a
later stage.<br />
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> We shall also continue with this blog, but it will concentrate much more on the 'growing' side of things. Somehow, though, I think that some future references to tools are bound to creep in – old habits die hard !</span><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> As we 'bow out' of the gardening tools
business, we should like to say 'thank you' to all our
customers, large and small, recent and long-established. It has
been a real pleasure to be part of your gardening and growing
life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> With our very best wishes,</span></span><br />
<span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><br />
<span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Dave & Val Taylor</span></span></span></p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-48565520464812433492021-10-02T11:34:00.002+01:002021-10-02T11:45:36.359+01:00Cucumber Relish Back in Stock !<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTC3TflaWb35YguNXqU8fbp6FtbWmMhigQkV0Y4HyTLpOyuytzxltQ2epmaS7Qyt1w-lOMmboV1MCuKfBtmee00Xq-_uZA7nbUb6wON2eglIK68mRorqL0bQeGuqTjFcujAEIuh3DOel8/s763/BG-CucumberRelish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="763" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTC3TflaWb35YguNXqU8fbp6FtbWmMhigQkV0Y4HyTLpOyuytzxltQ2epmaS7Qyt1w-lOMmboV1MCuKfBtmee00Xq-_uZA7nbUb6wON2eglIK68mRorqL0bQeGuqTjFcujAEIuh3DOel8/w400-h236/BG-CucumberRelish.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the top favourites on our shelves of jars has always been <b>Sweet and Sour Cucumber Relish.</b> Every year, we try to make more than we did the previous year, but every year we sell out, so we have been disappointing some customer for several weeks now, ever since we sold the last of the 2020 jars.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, our cucumbers have been doing well again this year, though a little later that usual (it HAS been a strange season!), and we made our first 2021 batch of Relish at the end of August.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Frustratingly, it needs to mature for at least a month, so we have not been able to sell any (or eat any ourselves) until just a few days ago, but now the first batch is ready.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Don't worry, we have gone on making more batches right through September, so we don't expect to sell out just yet! So far, we have produced 70 jars and the cucumbers are still flourishing in the polytunnel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The Back Story . . .</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>In 2015, we tried growing cucumbers a little more seriously, trying to find a variety we really liked and which grew well for us. We had grown them before, of course, but there were lots of different varieties. We had grown 'Burpless Tasty Green' with some success, but we were beginning to move away from F1 varieties and tried a few others as well.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>And then we had a problem! We had so many cucumbers that we couldn't sell them all – or eat them ourselves! We needed a recipe to 'do something' with cucumbers, and found it in <b><a href="https://www.booksetc.co.uk/books/view/-9781848991576?affn=WKB2WG6NG4&affc=EFZ5M1ILDP" target="_blank">'Preserving' by Emma Macdonald,</a></b> a book that was already sitting on our kitchen bookshelf.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>We made the relish and liked it, so we tried it on our customers – and they liked it, too!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>So, now we have a different 'problem' – not really a problem at all. The relish is so popular that we need to make sure to grow LOTS of cucumbers every year! We seem to grow more each year, and still the relish sells out before the next batch is ready.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>And the cucumber variety we finally settled on? <b>'Tamra'</b> , a short and sweet cucumber, not bitter like so many can be. Very popular with our customers – and it makes excellent relish!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>'Tamra'</b> is available from <a href="https://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html" target="_blank"><b>The Real Seed Company</b></a>, along with many other non-hybrid seeds. As this is a true variety and not a hybrid, we can save our own seed, and have been doing so for a few years.</i></span></p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-43295151872089465222021-09-27T18:27:00.000+01:002021-09-27T18:27:23.131+01:00Better Than The EarthWay Seeder ? We Think So!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsrVkwDdM3C4cOPwjFNGq7gFcYdxjbrl7LI6wyCYSbpEZB5XPMbLuAyTmMKzq1TOeC00Fuev6_ZMn8155gLWkUfNnU8hqzcdg5QFxDHyQQyji7o2nOmpcr3ylBcX5F_PofJYV-ogwyubx/s2048/CrescoSRS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsrVkwDdM3C4cOPwjFNGq7gFcYdxjbrl7LI6wyCYSbpEZB5XPMbLuAyTmMKzq1TOeC00Fuev6_ZMn8155gLWkUfNnU8hqzcdg5QFxDHyQQyji7o2nOmpcr3ylBcX5F_PofJYV-ogwyubx/s320/CrescoSRS.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">We have been stocking EarthWay Seeders from the very early days of our Blackberry Lane Online Toolshop. Why? Because we had already been using our own EarthWay for several years and were very pleased with it. It was saving us so much time – and seed!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since then, we have developed an ongoing relationship with the company that has been importing EarthWay products from the USA for the UK and European market.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Earlier this year, we heard of their plans to develop their own replacement for the EarthWay and of course we were very interested.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, the Cresco SRS (Single Row Seeder) is now in production and will very soon be released for sale in the UK. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As you can see, it looks VERY similar to the EarthWay Seeder and in practice it is a straight replacement, with some small but significant improvements.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It comes with its own set of 10 seed discs and – GOOD NEWS – these discs are compatible with the EarthWay and vice versa.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because the Cresco SRS will be selling at a significantly lower price than the EarthWay, we have decided to stop selling both the EarthWay Seeder and the cheaper all-plastic Easy Sower from Denmark in order to concentrate on the Cresco.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We shall continue to sell seed plates and other spares for the EarthWay as long as the importers hold stocks of them, but we expect to gradually move over completely to the Cresco.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are just waiting for 2 things now:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> 1) A price for the Cresco SRS and</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span> 2) Some Crescos to sell !!</span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>We will update our website as soon as we have them in stock but, if you would like us to tell you when they are in, please <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com" target="_blank">drop us an email</a>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOxXm3vIYIN7Un_H5HkJmocWpt9HuIllCDjWVoofC2p0R4OgFs4p9NGbRUUhZD64P6Tg-TPeMJ3-4koxg4dC6qd2QDxJZHABieVUMMnL85WgBvTMYPLBrlqFmrBOFCETbI4CE-klT9oui/s1280/WebSVGLOGO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="1280" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOxXm3vIYIN7Un_H5HkJmocWpt9HuIllCDjWVoofC2p0R4OgFs4p9NGbRUUhZD64P6Tg-TPeMJ3-4koxg4dC6qd2QDxJZHABieVUMMnL85WgBvTMYPLBrlqFmrBOFCETbI4CE-klT9oui/s320/WebSVGLOGO.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-46461301576008212612021-06-20T22:21:00.000+01:002021-06-20T22:21:24.676+01:00Multi-Row Seeders – Discussion invited!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqei4t0RkdYNcYHoHt3xjLp3b35r1WSGxiPkESawd2le4Gnha6Z8C8_lO2Av_iT2aOJKGAxEJz7u3stkods6q1_1b8rgSoCiEFdVr6ZjaeL5qaTQ-0ayav4BUuKOS7ZQO8ByF6gUK25x9/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="387" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqei4t0RkdYNcYHoHt3xjLp3b35r1WSGxiPkESawd2le4Gnha6Z8C8_lO2Av_iT2aOJKGAxEJz7u3stkods6q1_1b8rgSoCiEFdVr6ZjaeL5qaTQ-0ayav4BUuKOS7ZQO8ByF6gUK25x9/" width="240" /></a></div><br />One of the items that we get asked about quite often is the <a href="https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seeders/six-row/six-row-seeder-second-edition-6758.html?cgid=six-row" target="_blank">Johnnys Seeds 6-Row Seeder</a> from the USA. It seems excellent but it is expensive, especially to import to the UK. This one is pushed forwards.<p></p><p>A few years ago, one of our customers seemed confident that he was going to be able to get something very similar produced for the UK market, but unfortunately that came to nothing.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis45GFfxNLtLTGzaDIzS8XKP0xfqS9keM_fOdI6zUA40r0RyGM8NYtUOsxKvGX-PaUzZY8MmwR4v2zWUgu9cwYal4zAia4tCXZ79NphSgND40PsQGZf9Og9DQCyeUNUwa4_rqgojGBaLOZ/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="807" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis45GFfxNLtLTGzaDIzS8XKP0xfqS9keM_fOdI6zUA40r0RyGM8NYtUOsxKvGX-PaUzZY8MmwR4v2zWUgu9cwYal4zAia4tCXZ79NphSgND40PsQGZf9Og9DQCyeUNUwa4_rqgojGBaLOZ/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>More recently, I have become aware of the <a href="https://www.sembdner.com/en/growing-of-vegetables#small-seed-drill-k4" target="_blank">Sembdner 4-Row Seeder</a> from Germany and have enquired about importing to the UK. Cost about £150, plus any Customs charges and/or import VAT. Seems to be the same as Johnnys Seeds sell as a <a href="https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seeders/pinpoint/four-row-pinpoint-seeder-9285.html#q=pinpoint%2Bseeder&lang=en_US&start=1" target="_blank">4-Row Pinpoint Seeder</a>. Some slightly negative reviews on YouTube, mainly related to the axle being a little stiff. This one is pulled backwards.</p><p><br /></p><p>Both the 6-Row and 4-Row Seeders above have a selection of dimples in their axles, and the correct size of dimple for the seed you are sowing is selected by sliding the axles from side to side.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DUDz0kLkKiFo4KV4n-XS_JeNVO2_myOvy_0JNnNQMJ7NufILcuKL-NY3xg_VjK0rimi4mZAmPEuVzxUIquwHQoT9YwLeSKJo6hx_0TkiORz04wUGFs-xvjs9HP37XSYWph88Fv2o3e2H/" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="370" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DUDz0kLkKiFo4KV4n-XS_JeNVO2_myOvy_0JNnNQMJ7NufILcuKL-NY3xg_VjK0rimi4mZAmPEuVzxUIquwHQoT9YwLeSKJo6hx_0TkiORz04wUGFs-xvjs9HP37XSYWph88Fv2o3e2H/" width="320" /></a></p><p><br />Another one of interest is the <a href="https://varomorus.com/collections/manual-seeders" target="_blank">Varomorus</a> (also under different names) which is sold through eBay and seems to get some positive reviews on YouTube. The 5-Row version is shown, but the same chassis is also available in 2-, 3- or 4-Row versions. The hopper/seeder units are removable and movable. This one has its dimples on removable sleeves, so more work needed to change over seed sizes. Also pulled backwards. Cost around £110 delivered, plus any Customs and/or import VAT.</p><p><b>I have not yet used any of these, but you may have done! If so, it seems that there is a demand for multi-row seeders and there may be many other growers who would value your feedback.</b></p><p><b>PLEASE submit your comments and I will very quickly OK them for publication on this blog.</b></p><p><br /></p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-32834260656643174912021-06-02T17:48:00.000+01:002021-06-02T17:48:39.020+01:00Row Marker on Special Offer !<p>Looking for a Glaser Row Marker? Here's an offer to think about!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRzRvXoqydeXShqmHWyVL4FTvliOlIQbM1Acs8IonMLIJWM3NiPFSBNhadOpWnRDnWASkYAlKx3TFIoTrzIoxjo7XIn87cRpJVRsqNNJMX2d4b3YPszVRU8i6cSDqzUOibK2RPMN9Z9K4/s629/438+RowMarker1%25262BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="629" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRzRvXoqydeXShqmHWyVL4FTvliOlIQbM1Acs8IonMLIJWM3NiPFSBNhadOpWnRDnWASkYAlKx3TFIoTrzIoxjo7XIn87cRpJVRsqNNJMX2d4b3YPszVRU8i6cSDqzUOibK2RPMN9Z9K4/w317-h197/438+RowMarker1%25262BL.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />Earlier this year, some customers bought one of the larger, 1.2m Row Markers from us but found that they 'just didn't get on with it'. So they came back to us and asked "Do you take returns?"<p></p><p>Not a question we have been asked before, but it seemed reasonable, so we said yes.</p><p>Obviously, it has been used and so is not gleaming in 'straight from the showroom' condition but, quite honestly, a new one is going to look the same after just a little use.</p><p>So, here is your opportunity to get the larger Glaser Row Marker for £93.00 (including UK mainland postage) instead of £118.00, a saving of £25.00</p><p>The picture shows the larger 1.2m Row Marker and the smaller 750mm Row Marker. The one on offer is the larger model on the left.</p><p>Please email us if you are interested and we'll send you a payment link.</p><p>ONLY ONE AVAILABLE WHEN IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE !!</p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-69054857689085915512021-03-08T16:02:00.000+00:002021-03-08T16:02:16.064+00:00EarthWay Seeders for Grain Crops – ?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">One of our customers is starting some experiments with small-scale grain growing, using his EarthWay Precision Garden Seeder to sow the seed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are his comments so far:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It looks like the following plates are going to work best:</span></p>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wheat, rye + barley - radish plate or popcorn plate. The radish one
won't accept the larger seeds (often picks them up but drops them back
in the hopper as they won't entirely fit through the hole) but does
surprisingly well, the popcorn plate has a tendency
to pick up a couple instead of just one but with the wider spacing that
might be fine anyway.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
Emmer wheat (much bigger seeds) - small peas plate works really well,
occasionally getting 2 seeds. The chard plate also works pretty well
but drops larger seeds back or drops them if it picks them up sideways.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br />
</div>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oats - it seems to have the most trouble with these as they're quite
long thin seeds. Best option seems to be the chard plate but it
alternates between picking up several and missing them fairly
frequently.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you have been trying any experiments like this and have some advice to offer, please email us and we will pass on your thoughts. We can also put you in direct contact with our customer if you would like to compare notes.</span></p>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-21090438782392188792020-06-16T11:58:00.000+01:002020-06-16T11:58:14.306+01:00Ash Handles Back in Stock !<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a quick note to give you some good news . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We now have a good stock of ash handles, including the longer 1.5m (5ft) handles for BroadForks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll find the BroadForks at </span><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/broadfork.html">http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/broadfork.html</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the rest of the handles at</span> <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/handles.html">http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/handles.html</a>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-5984347194861490412020-05-25T00:28:00.000+01:002020-05-25T00:28:54.810+01:00New Tools – New Prices !<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glaser Tools in Switzerland have increased their range again, so we now have some new tools on our website.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a summary:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/toolshop2.html">2 New Sizes of Stirrup Hoe</a></b> – 100 mm and 150 mm – to add to the existing range of 125 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm, 225 mm, 250 mm, 275 mm, 300 mm, 325 mm and 350 mm.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/toolshop1.html">2 New Sizes of Oscillating Hoe</a></b> – 100 mm and 150 mm, along with the 200 mm model which arrived last year. The 85 mm, 125 mm and 175 mm models have been top favourites for years!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/toolshop1.html">The Weed Sweeper</a></b> – a new tool, rather like a hybrid between the Collinear Hoe and the Wireweeder. With a sharp replaceable blade for precision weeding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/rakes.html">The Roll Cultivator</a></b> – to roll over dry, lumpy soil to crumble it into a finer tilth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/page23.html">The Multi-Head Weeder</a></b> – a new mini-system, based on a single holder to which different sizes of wire weeder and collinear hoe can be attached, as well as a torsion weeder. Simple, robust and effective.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The downside is that we have needed to raise our prices for all the Glaser range. Glasers themselves have not increased their prices, but the double whammy of Brexit uncertainty and the Covid-19 crisis has knocked the £ exchange rate down, so we have to pay more for the same value in Swiss Francs. We have been 'carrying' some of this increase for a little while, so the increases are significant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, we will be glad to reduce our prices again if and when the exchange rate gets better</span></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-54730646188959508582020-03-26T21:08:00.002+00:002020-07-21T10:01:26.482+01:00Corona Virus – Running Out Of Stocks!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the results of the Corona Virus and the general UK 'lock-down' seems to have been that more people started spending more time in their gardens and some of them came to our website to buy more garden tools. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We became exceptionally busy as soon as the 'lock-down' started</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, but started to run into a few difficulties as some of our suppliers temporarily stopped production. Fortunately, everyone now seems to be getting back into action again! (Updated 23rd June)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>BroadForks</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BroadForks in stock and now have a good supply of handles again.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Updated 16th June)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Soil Blockers</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ladbrooke Soil Blockers re-started production and our long-awaited order arrived in late May. All models now in stock, except the Mini 5, which has sold out. We have another other pending</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Updated 30th June)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Wooden Handles</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>GOOD NEWS ! </b>Our long-awaited order arrived on Tuesday 16th June. We only have a couple of the 1.35m (4ft 6in) handles left and are not planning to get any more of those in, as everyone seems to prefer the 1.5m (5ft) version. (Updated 16th June)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Glaser Tools</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another stock order </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from Switzerland </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">just came on 23rd June, so we now have stocks of the Glaser 'Berg' 500 and 600 Wheel Hoes again</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Updated 23rd June)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Ho-Mi</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have literally hundreds of Large Ho-Mis, so we are not expecting to run out of these! But we did run out of the Small Ho-Mis and so had to order some more from South Korea. They arrived here on 21st July, so now they are 'live' again on our website.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ( </span><a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html">http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Updated 21st July)</span></div>
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<br />Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-70029090960128549442020-01-10T01:22:00.000+00:002020-01-10T01:22:16.748+00:00Secondhand Glaser Wheelhoe for sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR05cHy16vX5JthdAIO7soXMQ9Ba92nuEDG_1SRu5EMwKXBWx4dVwevJd9SJzZ-siw1wHE5zi-O3EF7-0eHdvvFSDtA5lFE8-H2MhN9Z_-awNZH8CpVBpZ1GjSFAqaxOOBMTBY2014yDEL/s1600/P1020687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR05cHy16vX5JthdAIO7soXMQ9Ba92nuEDG_1SRu5EMwKXBWx4dVwevJd9SJzZ-siw1wHE5zi-O3EF7-0eHdvvFSDtA5lFE8-H2MhN9Z_-awNZH8CpVBpZ1GjSFAqaxOOBMTBY2014yDEL/s320/P1020687.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have been contacted by one of our customers who has a <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/wheelhoes.html" target="_blank">Glaser 'Berg 500' wheelhoe </a>which he bought from us but no longer uses. He plans to get a smaller 'Pico 700' to replace it, which will probably be easier to use in his restricted working space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We haven't seen this 'Berg 500' ourselves, but the photos show that it has not had much wear and seems to have been looked after. He is selling it complete with a <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/toolshop2.html" target="_blank">275mm Glaser Stirrup Hoe</a>, which again has not been used very much. The spring steel blade had rusted, but he has treated it with rust remover which has turned the surface black. This surface colour will wear off as the hoe is used but it protects the blade in the meanwhile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you were to buy a Glaser 'Berg 500' from our website, it would cost you £389.80 without any attachments. A 275mm Stirrup Hoe would cost £119.40 on its own, but we would sell the two together for £479.20. All prices include postage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our customer is offering his Berg 500, complete with the 275mm Stirrup Hoe, for </span><b style="font-family: Arial;">£354.70 (including UK postage) –
or near offer.</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are trying to help him out with this sale but will get nothing from it except selling him a new 'Pico 700', so obviously we can make no guarantees to either buyer or seller.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you might be interested in taking advantage of this, please <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a> with your offer price and we will pass it on to our customer. If your offer is accepted, he will then contact you to proceed with the sale, which will be a private matter between you and him. We will not be involved any further, having done our bit to act as a 'shop window' for him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70mIByexxSmjFH5wwo0a9JvOlGo3mCBvv_PiHW3Dqc9DEtUaaIkC4I3Bpbyir6jkus1z2QXwRzlKdQcD7rlO5sWBWzaHgDQwUIV4VZ7dPP_H2RmmC5fRQ9xbYIcLJIAwoMtkXZ0EYmRol/s1600/P1020695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70mIByexxSmjFH5wwo0a9JvOlGo3mCBvv_PiHW3Dqc9DEtUaaIkC4I3Bpbyir6jkus1z2QXwRzlKdQcD7rlO5sWBWzaHgDQwUIV4VZ7dPP_H2RmmC5fRQ9xbYIcLJIAwoMtkXZ0EYmRol/s320/P1020695.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzWLcVO8G905yCjzE00s94svDVQWSVybsmZ8BZMsgdwZO64_jJXxvGQVx7C-5FgQy2speAr8vNnxnpzKT8hiB7FRNwJTj5EhkR17TF15-5aDsEbnIJhEaXgqNu6vJnVJqnf4maRZ9gSbt/s1600/P1020694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzWLcVO8G905yCjzE00s94svDVQWSVybsmZ8BZMsgdwZO64_jJXxvGQVx7C-5FgQy2speAr8vNnxnpzKT8hiB7FRNwJTj5EhkR17TF15-5aDsEbnIJhEaXgqNu6vJnVJqnf4maRZ9gSbt/s320/P1020694.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-81684520296947368192020-01-09T10:19:00.000+00:002020-01-09T10:19:22.699+00:00Website Back Online Again !<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a quick note to confirm that our site is back online after a few days of problems linked to our 'hosting' arrangements. Looks like that is all sorted out nicely and we should not have any more problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to all those who made contact to check, especially those who persisted in finding ways to place their orders – in spite of the website!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best wishes to all for a productive 2020 . . .</span>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-33770616736338523142019-03-21T21:23:00.001+00:002019-03-21T21:23:16.803+00:00Rock Dust and 'Food Unwrapped'Channel 4's 'Food Unwrapped' will soon be running a feature on 'Grow Your Own', which is due to include references to increasing the carbon content of the soil and the role that volcanic rock dust can play in helping to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.<br />
<br />
This double benefit, removing harmful CO2 from the air and locking it into the soil to improve fertility, is the subject of ongoing experiments by the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation (LC3M). Follow links from our website 'Rock Dust Page' at <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/rockdust.html">http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/rockdust.html</a> or go direct to <a href="http://lc3m.org/">http://lc3m.org/</a> They call the process of applying volcanic rock dust to soil 'enhanced weathering'.<br />
<br />
We have been using rock dust for several years, simply to improve the quality of our soil. The possibility of doing a little to reduce the effects of global warming at the same time is an extra bonus!Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-53204580461091273452019-03-12T00:28:00.000+00:002019-03-12T00:28:40.494+00:00Prices rising 25th March !<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a little advance warning: We shall be increasing our retail prices with effect from 25th March, when the new UK postal rates come into force.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, this year, there are only very small increases on small parcels and no increase at all on the larger Parcelforce ones, so that is very welcome <b>GOOD NEWS !</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the downside, though, is the continuing uncertainty over exchange rates, which directly affects all our Glaser tools, the EarthWay range and the Ho-Mis from South Korea. If and when the exchange rates stabilise in favour of the £ Sterling, then rest assured that we shall be able to adjust our prices <b>downwards</b> again, as we have done before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the first time in several years, Glasers in Switzerland have needed to increase their prices because of the upward trend of global steel prices, and BroadFork prices have suffered from the same effect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our margins remain pretty tight but we shall endeavour to keep them that way in order to keep prices as reasonable as we can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We expect to change the prices on our website overnight on 24th / 25th March, so please plan ahead and save by ordering before then. If we get a last-minute rush, then we shall honour the lower prices but will need some time to catch up, so it will help us to help you if you are able to order before the deadline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-39221380285877542972019-02-09T21:31:00.000+00:002019-02-09T21:31:30.558+00:00BroadFork Feedback<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueDyhLx-MvzNEfA-F05sl-H_26ey7z0ax8UliD_I60Wc0n2HCyabTp5Igz4BusjTUlGPaqxXQ7IRS8MYmSq3EuimOoz12SuOYiWZhKZQK3psJAJrhKHMPcGYxIMl8xE09xfY9gDV4sKVB/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueDyhLx-MvzNEfA-F05sl-H_26ey7z0ax8UliD_I60Wc0n2HCyabTp5Igz4BusjTUlGPaqxXQ7IRS8MYmSq3EuimOoz12SuOYiWZhKZQK3psJAJrhKHMPcGYxIMl8xE09xfY9gDV4sKVB/s320/IMG_1683.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://theblackberrylaneblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/broadforking-genuine-benefits.html" target="_blank">Pete Dollimore's glowing review</a> from December 2016 has a page of its own, but we thought it would be good to start a page of shorter comments from other customers who have been using their BroadForks, so here it is!<br />
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We continue to be amazed by the nearly world-wide reach of these simple and effective tools. Apart from the UK, we have sent BroadForks to:– Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, France, Ireland, Spain, Chile, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Czech Republic, South Africa, Italy, Austria and Portugal – so far!!<br />
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When, back in 2009, Phil (above) went to Malcolm, his local blacksmith, to ask him to make a BroadFork for him, taking the specification out of Eliot Coleman's <i>The New Organic Grower</i>, he can have had no idea how successful they would be. Many, many thanks to Phil, and all credit to Malcolm for producing such a sturdy piece of kit!<br />
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Some of these enquiries have come straight from simple web searches but an increasing number seem to come from recommendations. Certainly, we have found the real benefits of using our own BroadFork and would still be recommending them even if we weren't selling them!<br />
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So, here are the first comments. If you have some BroadFork experience you would like us to share on this page, please just <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a>.<br />
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David Horton (February 2019) says: "<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know I've said this before, your broad fork is a
brilliant tool. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I'm making a new veg patch, compacted ground. Broad fork
followed by devon spade is so much easier than just the
spade. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you, it is not a tool that I use a lot, but it is a very
effective bit of kit. "Right tool for the right job" where it
makes a hard job a lot easier."</span>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-34044889805758396672018-11-07T17:58:00.002+00:002018-11-07T17:58:50.556+00:00EarthWay Seeder / Spreader EVS2750<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLMzR-AvwSa2xbxgbtmIbMKiTud8oWOrnNyMuFiUI5F460iaUQ9kuOzExXqmGxk3tmvuIGmnjKWFzbaPrv3bENBxOG8PYKUlmG41iqp0t74be6fBKiX7Syi8MzrFll-ppQyhUCyFTjcb6/s1600/EVS2750-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLMzR-AvwSa2xbxgbtmIbMKiTud8oWOrnNyMuFiUI5F460iaUQ9kuOzExXqmGxk3tmvuIGmnjKWFzbaPrv3bENBxOG8PYKUlmG41iqp0t74be6fBKiX7Syi8MzrFll-ppQyhUCyFTjcb6/s1600/EVS2750-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Several times over the last couple of years, customers have asked us whether we supply these broadcast seeders as well as the EarthWay 1001-B Precision Garden Seeder.</div>
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We have been able to supply them by having the seeder sent from the UK importers, but inevitably there has been a little delay while this is arranged.</div>
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Now we have decided to have a few in stock, so that we can supply without that delay.</div>
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They will be on our website soon and our price is competitive: <b><span style="color: red;"> £70.40 including UK postage.</span></b></div>
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This is a really versatile broadcast seeder which can also be used for spreading – whether that is granular fertiliser, etc., or salt/grit to de-ice paths and other hard surfaces.</div>
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For more information, see the EVS2750 page on the <a href="https://earthway.com/product/2750-nylon-bag-seeder-spreader.ashx" target="_blank">EarthWay website</a> .</div>
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If you can't wait for us to get this on our website, just <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com" target="_blank">email us</a> and we can arrange to send you a payment link. </div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-82489664361821593212018-09-10T13:57:00.001+01:002018-09-10T13:57:26.670+01:00Website security<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you use the Google Chrome internet browser (as we do) you will have noticed that the URL address bar now shows 'secure' or 'not secure' (near the top left hand corner of your screen).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially, the 'not secure' warnings only showed if the website had no security protection and there were 'fields' on the website which requested input like passwords or other personal details.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More recently, however, the warnings have started appearing on ALL unprotected sites, even if there are no fields which request input.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our own website is unprotected, but <b>this does not mean that your information is at risk.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simply because <b>our site does not ask you for any information at all.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you choose to buy any item from our site, you are taken to the PayPal website, which IS secure. PayPal takes your payment details and processes them, then notifies us of your name, email address, phone number and delivery address, plus (of course) details of what you have bought. <b>NO OTHER information is passed to us.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So, please do not worry about visiting our site (or any other) which shows 'not secure'. Just make very certain that you <u>are</u> on a secure site whenever you are asked to input any personal information, especially regarding credit cards or other financial details.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. 07792 592068 <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com">blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com</a></span></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-70372608928652346272018-07-29T20:58:00.000+01:002018-08-06T15:04:57.283+01:00LEFT - HANDED Ho-Mis are here!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqSeesuMc2hujIEiF6dxeMdHXfzan2Y6kTQuJJ1Yi6iQGeZ4sDEZXOPd4M-XRt1XI-hBMOyjHNMjLpHPPQOm6XRMh3N5VROQr08cWch51w4bPOOf5LWkjHCNaWUpkFltbLyaYcoxtXexl/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqSeesuMc2hujIEiF6dxeMdHXfzan2Y6kTQuJJ1Yi6iQGeZ4sDEZXOPd4M-XRt1XI-hBMOyjHNMjLpHPPQOm6XRMh3N5VROQr08cWch51w4bPOOf5LWkjHCNaWUpkFltbLyaYcoxtXexl/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the left-handed one on the left . . .</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few months ago, one of our customers asked us whether there was a left-handed version of the Ho-Mi. As a left-hander himself, Nick had found that the balance of the ordinary Large Ho-Mi didn't quite seem right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't know the answer, so we emailed the manufacturer in South Korea. Yes, he said, they DO make a left-handed version, but only in small numbers and only to order. The price would be a little higher as a result.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, a little later, he sent us a free sample of the left-handed Large Ho-Mi. So what did we do with it? Sent it to Nick, of course!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nick's immediate response was "Initial impressions - weighting of the tool makes a lot more
sense, as it has a kind of twist to it that doesn't translate
when using in your off-hand." Sounds good to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, we went ahead and ordered some and they arrived a few days ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So now, all of you right-handers who have been enjoying using your Large Ho-Mis and trying (maybe unsuccessfully) to get your left-handed friends to try them, you can point them to <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html" target="_blank"><b>our Ho-Mi page</b></a> where they can get one for themselves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we told Nick about the new shipment of Left-Handed Ho-Mis, and that we had already had an enquiry from Germany, this was his response: </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thanks Dave, </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Just to reiterate; the weighting of the tool makes this a pleasure to
use, particularly in raised beds - for those of us who like getting "up
close and personal" with things.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Definitely a perfect gift for the left-handed gardener who's fed-up of
using tools upside-down! Experiment with the grip to find the most
comfortable point - that's the best angle. </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Glad to hear you've already had some interest. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nick</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">"</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S. Ironically, when we first started selling Ho-Mis, we were living on our narrowboat and so had no garden to try them out, so we gave one to some 'land-lubber' gardening friends to see how they liked it. Their response was a little lukewarm and we didn't understand why. We only found out later, once we had realised that Ho-Mis are 'handed', that both those friends are left-handed! Oops!</span></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-54710003438717253752018-07-26T16:31:00.000+01:002020-06-30T22:21:00.453+01:00Glaser Stirrup Hoes - fixing bolts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXH0bWXv4AbLuSQuLBdu6L0ozGb4K49caxZBziN6gQsK0RoVylIGEc3cYcSNnsn43uktU7DzJAu-x_2FJGk092qB0iGrkTKci81rI1RVzMYQBk4VmqQjnmKiU4APysS-sbFMqAqwp42Sh/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXH0bWXv4AbLuSQuLBdu6L0ozGb4K49caxZBziN6gQsK0RoVylIGEc3cYcSNnsn43uktU7DzJAu-x_2FJGk092qB0iGrkTKci81rI1RVzMYQBk4VmqQjnmKiU4APysS-sbFMqAqwp42Sh/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the last year or so, we seem to have had rather more customers contacting us about their Glaser stirrup Hoes, because the 10mm headless bolt has snapped that fixes the Oscillating Block of the Stirrup Hoe to the Wheel Hoe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this photo, you can see the 10mm bolt and the hexagonal socket for a 5mm Allen key is in the top.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first thing to say about these bolts snapping is that <b>USUALLY</b> it seems to be caused by sudden stress on the bolt, which often results when the fixing nut has worked loose. So, first thing to do is to make sure that you tighten the nut every time you start to use the hoe. I often take a spanner with me if I am going to be doing quite a lot of heavy wheel-hoeing, just to make sure that I can keep it tight. Maybe a 'Nyloc' nut will help (see below). If you don't expect to change your wheelhoe attachments very often, you may like to put a drop of thread-locking compound on the thread. Don't use superglue!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj5uEUywUOSPq_MIXstWrPIZjK0hRnh1r0zrG-j3WYSVHeA0ZNKpkzPCaHkEXd3d4B6C0wLJxflEv1mFEmX1wZ7tSTU8jvlbfFs5Ct4-6Q9lCeXprwsWPcyGraBgHhWoGjV3nrdORlNaw/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj5uEUywUOSPq_MIXstWrPIZjK0hRnh1r0zrG-j3WYSVHeA0ZNKpkzPCaHkEXd3d4B6C0wLJxflEv1mFEmX1wZ7tSTU8jvlbfFs5Ct4-6Q9lCeXprwsWPcyGraBgHhWoGjV3nrdORlNaw/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, the worst happens and the bolt breaks! No worries, we have a stock of replacement headless bolts here or you may be able to get them locally: ask for M10, 30mm long in high-tensile steel. On our website, they are on the <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/blades.html" target="_blank">'Spare Blades' page</a> and we have simply called them '</span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">M10 bolt + ‘nyloc’ nut + washer’. We started by just stocking the headless bolts, but now we include a washer and a ‘Nyloc’ nut, which hopefully will not come loose so easily! (Updated 30th June 2020)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next problem is getting out the stub of the broken bolt. Quite tricky if it has broken just inside the block! Try removing the block from the hoe and drilling from the bottom, perhaps adding a drop of oil to help it move.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, there is another solution, shown to us by Henry, who lives not far away from us in Devon. The fixing bolt on his Stirrup Hoe broke, but he found that the headless bolt had been fitted the other way up, with the Allen key socket downwards, so he was able to simply screw out the broken stub by inserting the Allen key from the bottom. Magic! Of course, a drop of oil could be useful here too, especially if your Stirrup Hoe has been in use for a long time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtOuzR63qQgUw2_6tfAG8ItaL5q0VKjvieCWgAqwD3eM50nzSROQKnTnEPhD0_6CObnagcL5najtZGvrYAJTLWwojkMRrZmitPG-I7-Nk47NuFkfselX6FxXbwjmQInlgiIJJYhSgT8Vf/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtOuzR63qQgUw2_6tfAG8ItaL5q0VKjvieCWgAqwD3eM50nzSROQKnTnEPhD0_6CObnagcL5najtZGvrYAJTLWwojkMRrZmitPG-I7-Nk47NuFkfselX6FxXbwjmQInlgiIJJYhSgT8Vf/s320/IMG_0521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here is my suggestion to make it easier for you if your fixing bolt breaks in the future: reverse the bolt <b>NOW</b> so that the Allen key socket is reached from below.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>First</b>, loosen the large nut and the bolt, using a spanner and an Allen key.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Second,</b> remove the Oscillating Block from the Stirrup Hoe by unscrewing the 'axle' bolt.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Third</b>, remove the M10 bolt and reverse it in its hole.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxODJnpjKLS2t7sCkRGrNNBNKjPLdiU6qG-eVz32fxyEh5VV2wRFVH506XkbvHYPsUqSvSyeAHukdAfarn237Nqw2zNgdNWhEvRPnzEYZBaAAIUznnQpZkcSBvKCx6yoDdinKknEzPsQL/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxODJnpjKLS2t7sCkRGrNNBNKjPLdiU6qG-eVz32fxyEh5VV2wRFVH506XkbvHYPsUqSvSyeAHukdAfarn237Nqw2zNgdNWhEvRPnzEYZBaAAIUznnQpZkcSBvKCx6yoDdinKknEzPsQL/s320/IMG_0523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Fourth</b>, tighten the bolt by inserting the Allen key from below and turning it anti-clockwise.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Fifth</b>, replace the washer and nut.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMDRK8uC4jmTn0KldvRD8k-0VKwx7EWT5fM1oJspjTrWoDAXi7zJ5sodvxJNPCah1tTjCOfhghirt0kOU-Ipu8ZbQZZmplmJEACabReu9jMBOyXx9PBDK_oARAsFeZsZI53AlRvMD8Soc/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMDRK8uC4jmTn0KldvRD8k-0VKwx7EWT5fM1oJspjTrWoDAXi7zJ5sodvxJNPCah1tTjCOfhghirt0kOU-Ipu8ZbQZZmplmJEACabReu9jMBOyXx9PBDK_oARAsFeZsZI53AlRvMD8Soc/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Sixth</b>, refit the Oscillating Block to the Stirrup Hoe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It looks exactly the same, except that the Allen key socket is now hidden inside the Oscillating Block, making it easier if you ever need to remove a snapped bolt.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since this useful conversation with Henry, we have checked our stock of Oscillating Blocks and some of the Stirrup Hoes. Some of the most recent stock already have the bolts reversed – looks like Glasers in Switzerland have come to the same conclusion !</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope this helps a little. Thanks again to Henry for finding this useful piece of information.</span></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-35629463755577890052018-01-19T22:33:00.001+00:002021-03-06T10:03:30.058+00:00Ho-Mi Prices Down AGAIN !<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were delighted to be able to reduce the prices for our Korean Ho-Mis back in October, after we had been able to substantially reduce our import costs.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2hx5m3i0OP-3X8xc3_OG25Z7Wte6rKmbY8WjS-d9GYXSCDFlMMB17Rj9wrU7wsDkqYQoDNiMIIGoZD_NlnoLRMJX8S45eR3yUyp8OjoDTmfckXtwAheYmJr5wofLfRZdRHMDRKm-kCeM/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2hx5m3i0OP-3X8xc3_OG25Z7Wte6rKmbY8WjS-d9GYXSCDFlMMB17Rj9wrU7wsDkqYQoDNiMIIGoZD_NlnoLRMJX8S45eR3yUyp8OjoDTmfckXtwAheYmJr5wofLfRZdRHMDRKm-kCeM/s320/IMG_5812.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Now we have another reduction to announce, but only on the Large and Small Ho-Mis. Other Ho-Mi models remain at the same prices as in October – they are still very good value!</div>
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It happened like this . . .<br />
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Years ago, another importer used to sell Ho-Mis in the UK. He stopped selling them before we started, and in fact it was BECAUSE he had stopped that the South Korean manufacturer started looking for someone else to handle them. Our Australian contacts at <a href="http://www.allsun.com.au/index.html" target="_blank">Allsun Farm / Gundaroo Tiller</a> were kind enough to suggest us, and we have been selling Ho-Mis ever since!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEplj_xAQEsAVE4yzlOxJBDY5WwH7pMtADP27XRf0lZUqlXyQTj6H1I1WABU12oykaf5C-Yhg3oSiTF0dtQZ_VSP1DCwdVXE60_UTSGnxTfpmKFyewPLt1c296uY0d63-H1UfBk0ZeY0DW/s1600/IMG_5807.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEplj_xAQEsAVE4yzlOxJBDY5WwH7pMtADP27XRf0lZUqlXyQTj6H1I1WABU12oykaf5C-Yhg3oSiTF0dtQZ_VSP1DCwdVXE60_UTSGnxTfpmKFyewPLt1c296uY0d63-H1UfBk0ZeY0DW/s320/IMG_5807.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just a few weeks ago, the former importer's son found himself with some stock of Large and Small Ho-Mis that he wanted to move on and (again through contact with Joyce at Allsun Farm) he came to us and offered them to us at a favourable price. Seems that his father had imported large numbers and so had been able to make even better savings on the import costs.</div>
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Now we have taken delivery and have a very large stock of Large and Small Ho-Mis at unrepeatable prices:–</div>
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<b>Large Ho-Mis at £8.40 each (previously £11.60)</b><br />
<b>Small Ho-Mis at £9.80 each (previously £11.50)</b><br />
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Yes, we know that looks odd! The Small Ho-Mis have always been cheaper than the Large ones, but this fresh stock is about 95% Large Ho-Mis, so we have made bigger savings on them.</div>
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When we eventually need to re-order from South Korea, the Large ones will be pricier than the Small but, until then, now is the opportunity to buy at LOVELY LOW PRICES !</div>
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Find them on our website at <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html">http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html</a><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>UPDATE : March 2021: </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2020, we sold out of the Small Ho-Mis from this old stock and so had to order some more from Korea, which meant that we had to put the price for Small Ho-Mis up a bit more, but still just less than £11.50. Postage price rises since then have nudged up the prices of both Large and Small Ho-Mis, but the Large ones are still a real bargain and we still have quite a lot left.</div><div><br /></div>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-78167138334985897842018-01-03T22:05:00.001+00:002021-03-09T15:26:54.207+00:00Special Offers – Soil Blockers and SAALET SeedersYour opportunity to get a Soil Blocker at reduced price!<br />
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Once again, we have a few damaged or shop-soiled Soil Blockers on offer. <b>These all work perfectly</b>, but have either suffered some damage in transit or (in one case) been mistreated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkWfw7_otQ-sZArMcDcEEDunwQf1ztblgDx_khqMrBo5_uaPHYY967djXPRq831P1tbfB-wA28K9cDSieCiP4oyt_yP4tx30eksMaa6iq3THWbELn5GbXvO1pjGaMc2pL5Ma2kBaOTsxG/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkWfw7_otQ-sZArMcDcEEDunwQf1ztblgDx_khqMrBo5_uaPHYY967djXPRq831P1tbfB-wA28K9cDSieCiP4oyt_yP4tx30eksMaa6iq3THWbELn5GbXvO1pjGaMc2pL5Ma2kBaOTsxG/s320/IMG_0419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First of all, one that has NOT been damaged at all! This is a Mini 4, finished in a dark green protective paint coating. Ladbrooke made some of these before they introduced the resin-coated option. It's a good buy at a slightly lower price than a standard Mini 4, and comes complete with 4 long ('dowel') seed pins as well as the standard short pins.</div>
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Normal price for the new-style Mini 4 is £19.60</div>
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<strike>This one: <b>£17.50 including UK postage</b></strike></div>
<b><strike>Email to buy</strike> </b><b><span style="color: red;">SOLD</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADTxxbfERTUESxdFxYKiUNMTCwFFBC9qSXbdG9Xx3ccMQ4zqMjXHPb5d1XSTU_91C1Ns9W4tR9rAgZCFGc6ec-b0V1nJjmtdXKSKOOUi0oOrXeMkWS2eoU_NW6yLbOOocLUy6NIIrEtr8/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADTxxbfERTUESxdFxYKiUNMTCwFFBC9qSXbdG9Xx3ccMQ4zqMjXHPb5d1XSTU_91C1Ns9W4tR9rAgZCFGc6ec-b0V1nJjmtdXKSKOOUi0oOrXeMkWS2eoU_NW6yLbOOocLUy6NIIrEtr8/s320/IMG_0420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Number 2 is a standard new-style Mini 4 which suffered a slight dent in transit. The dent has been straightened, but you will still be able to see the 'scar'! Again, supplied with 4 long ('dowel') seed pins as well as the standard short pins.</div>
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<b><strike>£14.50 including UK postage</strike> SOLD</b><br />
<input name="add" type="hidden" value="1" /><b style="text-align: start;"><strike>Email to buy</strike></b><br />
<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_cart" /><br />
<input name="business" type="hidden" value="blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com" /><br />
<input name="item_name" type="hidden" value="Mini 4 Soil Blocker - damaged & repaired" /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z0uVTDILfAkQADyUu1CWjGrF-QCW-TuhCB89Q-Xyv8AOPpFl7AlKJlor7SgUDEHbNX9wkObf7u9AqnR0yzl9_hhpyPAGH_KQ66Xqk07JMUMp9KA6pdITaepl4G8DyQRUeiwgNShAQ9Av/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z0uVTDILfAkQADyUu1CWjGrF-QCW-TuhCB89Q-Xyv8AOPpFl7AlKJlor7SgUDEHbNX9wkObf7u9AqnR0yzl9_hhpyPAGH_KQ66Xqk07JMUMp9KA6pdITaepl4G8DyQRUeiwgNShAQ9Av/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: justify;">This third one is a real bargain! It's an old-style Mini 4 (the different handle is really the only difference). A customer managed to break it and then had the cheek to ask for a replacement! We were too trusting in those days and sent him one, but at least he returned the damaged one. Restored to full working condition with a little TLC, this will give you years of good service, but it is a little battle-scarred!</span><br />
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The price of these old-style Mini 4s was about £16.00, but</div>
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this one is <b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;">£10.00 including UK postage </b><b style="text-align: start;"><strike>Email to buy</strike> SOLD</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd4423ve9XXLjtCWh_9je7WIsSFyUVggCvhrY9D8Bn-8BZYslWL6LKbIlMjH17f68kHmQZ6wGwIQ8-3D3sPa9Q7j_jNx4f44Hc8q9TsH0n7K_nGnSr7LJcUxrvFvQK_Cqjt2XiPELOGzW/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd4423ve9XXLjtCWh_9je7WIsSFyUVggCvhrY9D8Bn-8BZYslWL6LKbIlMjH17f68kHmQZ6wGwIQ8-3D3sPa9Q7j_jNx4f44Hc8q9TsH0n7K_nGnSr7LJcUxrvFvQK_Cqjt2XiPELOGzW/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
And then, a couple of Mini 5s that got a little bent in transit but have now been 'unbent' and work perfectly.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos11HJsXwsu4lyhzDDbBwXVWN2NYSs1NTo2SQpagNvE03cZWxirqiLeMf0P5OZMUZJCuQUSZmbabituSXq19gLzXWMK8y0TvmOaqGRSw9Isc0Wd6bl4mi-c3MuQbiUh2YP-qia-P_57jj/s1600/IMG_0423.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos11HJsXwsu4lyhzDDbBwXVWN2NYSs1NTo2SQpagNvE03cZWxirqiLeMf0P5OZMUZJCuQUSZmbabituSXq19gLzXWMK8y0TvmOaqGRSw9Isc0Wd6bl4mi-c3MuQbiUh2YP-qia-P_57jj/s320/IMG_0423.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Normal Price £17.00<br />
These ones <b>£13.00 each, including UK postage</b><br />
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<b>SOLD</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><strike>Email to buy</strike></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_cart" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><input name="item_name" type="hidden" value="Ladbrooke's Mini 5 damaged & repaired" /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><input name="item_number" type="hidden" value="Mini 5" /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><input name="amount" type="hidden" value="13.00" /></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmg9mia9qqTAv1nf2ZzziWZK3P55bHgDhMhGs3SjgJfPTXNNQKT0nSXOx5kVUQPh4NH6KpNQgUwZQ-Pj2VVcqKulZRcTjSlOzvu-YmJJN69dgHYdLu0dKUqsQqMldZER78o-Xo8htWLZh/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmg9mia9qqTAv1nf2ZzziWZK3P55bHgDhMhGs3SjgJfPTXNNQKT0nSXOx5kVUQPh4NH6KpNQgUwZQ-Pj2VVcqKulZRcTjSlOzvu-YmJJN69dgHYdLu0dKUqsQqMldZER78o-Xo8htWLZh/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Last of these bargain Soil Blockers is a Micro 20 with spots on the zinc-plated finish. Perfect in every other respect.<br />
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Normal price £15.10<br />
This one: <b><strike>£12.50 including UK postage</strike></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; text-decoration-line: line-through;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><input name="return" type="hidden" value="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/thankyou.html" /></span></span><b><strike>Email to buy</strike> SOLD</b><br />
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NOT ILLUSTRATED, we have a few SAALET Easy Sowers with damaged cardboard boxes. These got a little wet on the outside, but there is no damage to the Seeders. Normal price £19.45, these are reduced at <b>£16.00 each, including UK postage <span style="color: red;"> SOLD</span></b><br />
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<b>Email us to buy any of these specials . . . When they're gone, they're gone!</b><br />
We will update this page as soon as any of these are sold.<br />
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Please email us with any questions, on <a href="mailto:blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com">blackberrylane.co.uk@gmail.com</a><br />
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<br />Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-27102653167438210502017-12-09T17:19:00.000+00:002020-02-05T12:26:59.828+00:00Fork Handles!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaJo8an0EP96-7CYlE5rR8pA8BFxC4MQVuuEi6EzQRBJZ4UCmfpS7LxyhtTYH80UNSkLdEVJSakSSb7TFmwOh3IHLwBBjpvRV7EKnqbNgMory5iHMfjZ-8kx_kGzQcUZUBxWTS_suoey4/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaJo8an0EP96-7CYlE5rR8pA8BFxC4MQVuuEi6EzQRBJZ4UCmfpS7LxyhtTYH80UNSkLdEVJSakSSb7TFmwOh3IHLwBBjpvRV7EKnqbNgMory5iHMfjZ-8kx_kGzQcUZUBxWTS_suoey4/s320/IMG_3879.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our First BroadFork - February 2010</td></tr>
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Right back in 2010, when Malcolm first contacted us about possibly selling <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/broadfork.html" target="_blank">BroadForks</a>, one of the first hurdles was to find suitable handles for them. We started by recommending the 1.5m (5ft) handles made for a particular type of 'Post Hole Digger'. They fitted OK, but straight away there seemed to be a big problem with availability, so we looked around for alternative sources.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Soon we found that we couldn't easily get 5ft ash poles of the right diameter, so we had to settle for 1.2m (4ft) and then spent quite a bit of time shaping the ends of these to fit the BroadForks. Along the way, we also changed suppliers!</div>
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After a little while, the new supplier in Wales offered to make a handle that was shaped to fit the BroadForks, and was also a little bit 'contoured' – and so our 'Shaped' BroadFork handles appeared in September 2016.<br />
<b>Update, February 2020: </b><i>Unfortunately, our Welsh supplier now seems unable to supply us with these shaped handles. We'll let you know if they become available again.</i></div>
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At the same time, we were looking for ash handles for hand tools in the <b>Glaser</b> range, as more and more customers were telling us how difficult it was to find 28mm diameter handles in ash. Not many years ago, we could just walk into our local hardware/DIY shop and buy ordinary 'broom handles', which were always made of ash wood. Now the only thing we could find were rather poor quality pine handles, which were light and tended to split very easily. We started stocking and selling these, simply because it seemed that nothing else was available.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZTjprZZF3sxhPt_DKZNa8w4Brrjs3aXke1z2YTm5GxM5q66Jj6UUnGea_ZxR8CLAEH83fajLkkRcA0B6kVrEJ1HsVzTKhupeTfxvlqY6UPq8Gf91n_wa1GA6ltJYWq9bz9RNH9QgynLK/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZTjprZZF3sxhPt_DKZNa8w4Brrjs3aXke1z2YTm5GxM5q66Jj6UUnGea_ZxR8CLAEH83fajLkkRcA0B6kVrEJ1HsVzTKhupeTfxvlqY6UPq8Gf91n_wa1GA6ltJYWq9bz9RNH9QgynLK/s320/IMG_0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1.2m BroadFork handles. Top: 'shaped' Bottom: 'plain'</td></tr>
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Eventually, early in 2017, we found a supplier in Yorkshire for good quality ash handles and began offering them on our website, which started a steady trickle of orders which still continues . . .</div>
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High levels of demand for BroadForks, combined with delays in the supply of the shaped handles, led to us asking this new supplier whether he could produce some for us. He could, and quite quickly, so our 'Plain' BroadFork handles soon became available and have now become our standard handles.</div>
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In late 2017, the process seemed to come full circle, as a customer enquired about 5ft handles for his BroadFork. A quick email to our Yorkshire supplier and now <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/broadfork.html" target="_blank">we have a supply of 5ft ash handles for BroadForks!</a> Useful if you are a bit taller, or just want the extra leverage.</div>
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A quest for longer 28mm diameter handles seems to have started as well. In response to a customer request, in July 2017 we bought in a supply of 1.8m (6ft) x 28mm handles. Initially, we did not offer these on the website because of the scary postage costs, but then another customer enquired about them and wanted to order some. He just couldn't find them anywhere else! So, we thought, there may be more folk out there with the same needs – so <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/handles.html" target="_blank">they are on the website</a>, too! Especially useful for a rake or just for longer-reach hoeing.<br />
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The problem with all of these handles is the high cost of sending them by post or carrier, so we always suggest that customers try to find ash handles locally. The increasing number of orders makes us realise, though, that they remain difficult to find <b>anywhere!</b><br />
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So, if you find that you need to order from us, think about ordering more than one to save on the postage costs. If you don't need more handles yourself, how about sharing with a friend?<br />
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<b>UPDATED 5th February 2020</b></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-54488690821496225352017-10-07T21:55:00.001+01:002017-10-07T21:55:37.411+01:00Ho-Mi Price Reductions ! !<b>Great News!</b><br />
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When we ordered some Ho-Mi earlier this year, we were shocked and disappointed to find that the costs of importing them had become ridiculously high. Somehow we felt that we were being asked to pay far too much in fees and handling charges, especially at the UK end of the transaction.<br />
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Sadly, we needed to raise our retail prices to avoid making losses.<br />
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Some careful investigation revealed that we could make use of a much better way of handling the importation process. This has enabled us to reduce the prices by almost a third, bringing them down to about the same as before, in spite of the fact that the UK Pound is still weak compared to the US Dollar.<br />
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Find these new prices at <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html" target="_blank">our Ho-Mi page</a>.<br />
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Happy gardening!Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-11056048707453570682016-12-16T11:57:00.000+00:002016-12-16T11:57:26.015+00:00BroadForking – Genuine Benefits<div style="text-align: justify;">
We are really grateful to Pete Dollimore of <a href="http://hankhamorganics.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hankham Organics</a> for his feedback on using his BroadFork. He very kindly says that he is "happy to promote a crafted product that has such great benefits for soil, food and fitness!"</div>
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Here's his experience so far (15th December 2016):–</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><i>Regarding the broadfork we purchased off you nearly a year ago, it has been far more successful than I imagined. Firstly the task of manually digging our 50m² beds when we're used to using machinery was quite daunting. We have a 1.5 acre glasshouse with 90 such beds, but actually our staff and I enjoyed the work and managed to get around a third of these broadforked this season. Previously we have used a subsoiler and/or spading machine but I have been increasingly concerned that the compaction caused by the tractor was doing more harm than good.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It was obvious that our subsoil needed some attention the moment we stuck the tines in and the results have been clear cut. We experimented with 2 beds of early courgettes, forking one bed and not the other. All other variables such as compost, variety, cultivations and watering were identical. The broadforked bed did much better with healthier plants, better yield and a longer harvest season.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><i>I am embarrassed to admit I didn't take the opportunity to take a picture as proof but, after growing full time for 20 years I am somewhat more embarrassed that I have only just discovered the benefits of this marvellous tool! I would like to re run the experiment next season but am loathe to deny a whole bed the treatment I know will help them grow well. We'll see, but if I do I'll be sure to get the evidence and send it on.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Thanks, Pete!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Anyone else with BroadFork experiences to share? Please get in touch!</span>Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-8412619301191233712016-10-16T17:57:00.004+01:002023-05-08T10:05:44.831+01:00Recovering the PolytunnelYou can read that title in at least two ways, both of which are true . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNZEW85puBXfIJ09JxEEO_AM3YNXLuS7Fu-xVq4qIzvZ8q_daF3t86_oAZOFQIHg6H9Et9YZz-LHGxpomESPcMOxQP9lT07GTtrrTys6Lhwo31i-CbZ8NsxZKjT4Cfl70Zx68XJxGJv9d/s1600/IMG_6470.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNZEW85puBXfIJ09JxEEO_AM3YNXLuS7Fu-xVq4qIzvZ8q_daF3t86_oAZOFQIHg6H9Et9YZz-LHGxpomESPcMOxQP9lT07GTtrrTys6Lhwo31i-CbZ8NsxZKjT4Cfl70Zx68XJxGJv9d/s320/IMG_6470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we told you back in February, our tunnel plastic was so damaged that we resorted to covering the damaged end with heavy-duty black plastic, weighed down with old tyres. Not beautiful, but it got us through the worst of the winter.</div>
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The spring came, then the summer, and we still had not managed to get the new cover on. The tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and other plants went in as normal, but the tunnel was not its normal cosy self. One end was distinctly colder after we took the black plastic off! It was a choice of warm and dark or cooler but light. We settled for the cooler, lighter option and the plants survived – though the tomatoes have really suffered with blight this year. Being tomatoes, though, they soldiered on and have given us quite a good crop anyway. (The potatoes in the field shrivelled and died back all too quickly). </div>
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Perhaps if it had just been a case of putting on some new plastic, we might have done it sooner, but there was more to be done.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG32gYg6JVdI-E4RNbaxlP0iSSZ8lOQvsVU6XbOomPLB8NCNAchPNDUYKK4J7hxu4QVjwfL7KEUPrYBmDARv91Iixo56aMBHd9y5hyphenhyphenXOtuxdO3vR1rOQfHly-jXrWVCvJYqAPar8K1O5cl/s1600/Val_IMG_2220.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG32gYg6JVdI-E4RNbaxlP0iSSZ8lOQvsVU6XbOomPLB8NCNAchPNDUYKK4J7hxu4QVjwfL7KEUPrYBmDARv91Iixo56aMBHd9y5hyphenhyphenXOtuxdO3vR1rOQfHly-jXrWVCvJYqAPar8K1O5cl/s320/Val_IMG_2220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When the tunnel was erected in late 1999, the plastic was buried in trenches along the sides but, as you can see in this picture, we have now fitted 4 x 2 wooden rails all round the tunnel, for two reasons:– 1) To be able to fit metal sheeting below so that we can strim right up to the tunnel with no danger to the plastic and 2) so that we could attach aluminium channel to them for our new method of fixing the plastic – 'Wiggle Wire'.</div>
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Here is the tunnel with all the plastic removed, 20th September 2016, but with the channel in place on the rails and round the doors, ready for the Wiggle Wire to hold the plastic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EPM9_BO-REmEbk_lmw0Bez_4sm7nV1xGFeh4hs5f8BqIMuFil8SUEI2LxXW5aC0NMNA5AM9sAxgA6KJR8VfxXKHOXlm4k-qI-Kw4nF0TLIte08bEYNJypBskA0G5rWW1O3Ibhd7yKpkO/s1600/Val_IMG_2221.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EPM9_BO-REmEbk_lmw0Bez_4sm7nV1xGFeh4hs5f8BqIMuFil8SUEI2LxXW5aC0NMNA5AM9sAxgA6KJR8VfxXKHOXlm4k-qI-Kw4nF0TLIte08bEYNJypBskA0G5rWW1O3Ibhd7yKpkO/s200/Val_IMG_2221.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLfza6qhbHNlYQ-pzdO2PnVgCv5sWeigwaB2loj9BO_VfxGM5kzNkHXZh4SATt-OBtzXCovOAE2uthb4xnvwJtPuGR6wdUxOhwhAxsMhTKrpYcBf1ldDXCVL011C7yOyxD6JT1Q1a0TyZ/s1600/Val_IMG_2222.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLfza6qhbHNlYQ-pzdO2PnVgCv5sWeigwaB2loj9BO_VfxGM5kzNkHXZh4SATt-OBtzXCovOAE2uthb4xnvwJtPuGR6wdUxOhwhAxsMhTKrpYcBf1ldDXCVL011C7yOyxD6JT1Q1a0TyZ/s200/Val_IMG_2222.JPG" width="200" /></a>First, though, the need to remove the disintegrating 'anti-hotspot' tape and attach new tape. After 17 years, the old tape was hardly there but was enough to stop the new tape sticking to the hoops. Scrape and stick – up and down those ladders again and again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInAGOhxL9CIBTqglJm71dBOUCCjb1lEnPomXZ2XbiEOLaQGrZbd20sQ-JvrhOB8XRn20TfTa_J1HXKm5B2AZot0MNy66Cym2IvUEuoYmTJRArx2WGh2mNCCjIHLn1xJ7a4Er9ko9JvjL/s1600/Val_IMG_2223.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInAGOhxL9CIBTqglJm71dBOUCCjb1lEnPomXZ2XbiEOLaQGrZbd20sQ-JvrhOB8XRn20TfTa_J1HXKm5B2AZot0MNy66Cym2IvUEuoYmTJRArx2WGh2mNCCjIHLn1xJ7a4Er9ko9JvjL/s320/Val_IMG_2223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, the moment arrived when we unfolded the new plastic and laid it alongside the tunnel. Would we be able to pull it over the hoops OK? Just the two of us?</div>
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Of course, we can't show you pictures of us pulling it over, because we had our hands full and could not step back to take a photo . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypMWf87AlkCgNeV_zKaNmrOsgnOG1SSmttEsxGu2Qq9-A5rw3bamMK4r_BrNV_dqzHMPni1mrdkap3ZyK7Ikrb2kmPmpgVt1tRBkLOhrFNts9XtH9ld4vmXKo1mCsGnQaonxrpRuRzZKQ/s1600/Val_IMG_2224.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypMWf87AlkCgNeV_zKaNmrOsgnOG1SSmttEsxGu2Qq9-A5rw3bamMK4r_BrNV_dqzHMPni1mrdkap3ZyK7Ikrb2kmPmpgVt1tRBkLOhrFNts9XtH9ld4vmXKo1mCsGnQaonxrpRuRzZKQ/s320/Val_IMG_2224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But we managed it OK, more easily than either of us had expected. That nice new anti-hotspot tape was really slippery and the plastic slid over smoothly.</div>
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By now, it was late in the day, so we just loosely fixed it to stay in place overnight. It WAS a very windless night, fortunately!</div>
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Next day, the task of fixing it properly! First we undid the temporary fixing. Good old Wiggle Wire! It was as easy to remove as it had been to fit, with no damage to the plastic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuJH7S6r91RXU1lFvA-Sc0-p6AFyUin4xGgAFTBAyTCy4YZ0l8FIXd__0FTPYT2WLPDdnK-vRGuv_5qK-qBVCHNuo6EtscyLTcMaey_4KWhyphenhyphenw8hQ8TUl0nzNp2kfFhQiZVWYxGW_uALg/s1600/Val_IMG_2226.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuJH7S6r91RXU1lFvA-Sc0-p6AFyUin4xGgAFTBAyTCy4YZ0l8FIXd__0FTPYT2WLPDdnK-vRGuv_5qK-qBVCHNuo6EtscyLTcMaey_4KWhyphenhyphenw8hQ8TUl0nzNp2kfFhQiZVWYxGW_uALg/s320/Val_IMG_2226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We tensioned it end-to-end first, fixing the plastic to the tops and sides of the door frames. </div>
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You can see the simplicity of the Wiggle Wire system. Not much strength needed to flex the wire into the channel with one hand, while holding the tension of the plastic with the other – and a really positive grip on the plastic, too!</div>
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Then, just a matter of fixing along one side and then tensioning along the other.</div>
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It may not be a 100% professional-looking job, but the result is good and the plastic is drum-tight.</div>
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Just got to finish off by covering the doors and making and fixing new larger automatic thermostatically-operated vents. That is currently 'work in progress' and we will try to update you when it is finished.</div>
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Needless to say, the inside of the polytunnel immediately began to feel like the tropics again, like it should have done all summer. Too late for the tomatoes to recover, but the peppers and chillies have suddenly accelerated and the aubergines are making a valiant effort at flowering, though it may be too late for much (if any) fruit from them.</div>
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Yes, our polytunnel has been re-covered and is now recovering well, just in time for the salads and other overwintering goodies we need to get going in there.<br />
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P.S. (2nd December) By popular demand, here is a link to <a href="https://northernpolytunnels.co.uk/spring-wire" target="_blank">Northern Polytunnels' Wiggle Wire page.</a></div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861826611373976182.post-63393922489934550142016-10-16T15:59:00.000+01:002016-10-16T15:59:43.646+01:00Soil Blocker News - New Looks for Ladbrooke!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some of the Ladbrooke Soil Blockers now have a new look!</div>
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A new light green polyester resin finish is now available for the <b>Micro 20</b> and the <b>Mini 4</b>, in addition to the familiar zinc-plated version we have known for years.<br />
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Both versions of these two models now also have fully-rounded handles – probably going to be a bit more comfortable to use, especially as you apply the pressure to form those lovely little blocks!</div>
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The resin finish is fully rustproof and may look a little more attractive. Perhaps a suitable present with a slightly less utilitarian appearance?</div>
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Two more additions to the range are aimed to cater for the needs of the larger-scale grower who does not want such large soil blocks, but rather wants the maximum number to fit into limited space. </div>
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The <b>Multi 30</b> produces 30 blocks, each 30mm (1⅛ inch) cubes, which means that you can fit 60 of them into a standard UK/European seed tray. Just two 'passes' of the blocker and the tray is full!</div>
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If you are using the larger US standard 1020 seed trays, then the <b>Multi 35</b> enables you to fill each one with 105 blocks (again the 30mm / 1⅛ inch cubes) in just three 'passes'. The 'footprint' of the <b>Multi 35</b> is 224mm (8¾") x 155mm (6¼").</div>
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While we are talking about how many 'passes' fill a seed tray, it's worth noting that all the other '<b>Multi</b>' blockers share the same 'footprint' as the new <b>Multi 30</b> and measure 190mm (7½") x 155mm (6¼") at the base. This means that, in a UK / European standard seed tray, you can fit:</div>
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12 blocks from the <b>Multi 6</b>, 24 blocks from the <b>Multi 12</b> (or from the <b>Mini 4</b>) or 40 blocks from the <b>Multi 20 </b>(or from the <b>Mini 5</b>).</div>
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The less exciting news is that, after several years of keeping their prices unchanged, Ladbrooke Soil Blockers have recently needed to increase their prices. They have done really well to hold them for so long, and the retail price rises that we have had to make over the last few years have all been caused by postage increases.</div>
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More information on our <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/ladbrooke.html" target="_blank">updated Soil Blockers page</a>, with even more detail <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/PDFs/LadbrookeRange.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> as well. If you need a general introduction to using Soil Blocks, <a href="http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/PDFs/SoilBlockers.pdf" target="_blank">this</a> may be useful, too.</div>
Dave and Val Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10915849948015217650noreply@blogger.com0