This week, I sat down to look at my budget and decide what tools need to be replaced this year and I decided to put it into an extra email this week in case other folks are in the same mindset.
Each spring I take stock of my tools and decide where to invest, what to get rid of, and what I might be missing. This is a list of some of the homesteading tools I’ve upgraded over the last few years, with some suggestions - you can find links to the tools online or you can of course shop locally.
Links in this post may be affiliate links - this costs the same for you but helps support the Backyard Farming Connection.
Two rules when buying tools: buy the best you can afford, and when starting out, don’t blow your whole budget at once until you know what you really need and like.
Prioritize a few quality pieces and upgrade the rest over time. I started with a few good tools and got some old tools at our town swap shop and I’ve been upgrading things one at a time.
Garden & Soil The broadfork is the single most important tool for established beds, it aerates without destroying your soil’s fungal networks. Pair it with a stirrup hoe for between-row weeding, a collinear hoe for within rows, a quality hand trowel (forged, not stamped), and garden shears for clean cuts that keep plants healthy.
Fencing & Infrastructure A post driver, fence stretcher, and hori hori knife are my go tos. The hori hori especially earns its keep it transplants, divides, harvests, and cuts twine.
Workshop A chainsaw, draw knife, and cordless drill handle the wood and structural work a property demands.
Food Preservation A pressure canner is non-negotiable for low-acid foods. Add a grain mill, vacuum sealer, and fermentation crock and you’ve covered long-term food security from every angle.
Animal Care & Land A stock tank de-icer pays for itself in the first winter. A properly fitted scythe handles grass and weeds quietly, with no fuel required.
The One to Skip: The Rototiller (for established beds) Regular tilling destroys the soil structure it took years to build. A broadfork does the job better. If you ever need a tiller for breaking new ground, rent one for the day!
You can see more details on some of these tool over at the Backyard Farming Connection website.
The right tool makes hard work easy. The wrong one makes easy work expensive.
Happy Homesteading,
Gretchen