Toolmaking Art

I prefer to avoid pesticides, at times however I want crops and plants I love are being destroyed. One of the safer pesticides to use is soap.
Additionally I would rather add potassium to my crops, than sodium.    Most soap these days is made from Sodium Hydroxide, it is cheaper and makes a harder [...]

Here is a bowl of goop.  Below it  is a blade I used the goop on.  The blade was painted with the stuff, and then heated to a nice cherry red for about 15 minutes. Then it was quenched  in safflower oil.

I had to put a cover on the oil, the oil caught [...]

I garden a bit differently than most. Most of my garden is in pots. I do this primarily to conserve water. It also allows for easy weeding, plant isolation, and soil experimentation. Gardening in pots allows me to garden under trees. In my area, willow shade will reduce the brunt [...]

Here is my tomato pyramid.

It was made from willow saplings, and was treated with milk paint and borax.  After that it has been out in the garden holding up tomatoes and other vines.  It is about 11 feet tall and has done quite well.  Light, sturdy, rustic and in it’s own way charming. 
Sadly as I [...]

Here is a photo of the Froe Mallet I made.

Even though I had not used one on a froe, the motive for the design is obvious. A rough surface will absorb some of the womp, so you want a smooth hard wood surface. But you are going to be pounding on a 1/4″ blade [...]