A New Tiller

[AlittleSalt]

For those who don't know, I'm turning 50 this year, and have been disabled with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy type 2 and Fibromyalgia since 1995. The only reason I just wrote that is to show where I'm coming from - which adds to my choice of tillers in the following.

Back when I was younger and healthy, I used this huge monster of a gas tiller to till my Grandfather's garden, Father's Garden, and whomever asked. I was big and strong, and it made me feel good to help out others. Besides, I had some respect for that gas fume belching tiller, After all, it wanted to chew up the world just like I did.

Things change as health and age warrants. For the past 4 years, we have taken shovels-to-dirt and created garden soil. Garden soil that is so friable that our 2 year old grandchild leaves deep footprints.

This year, I thought I could do the digging in leaves by myself. Most of those who have helped in past years have moved on in their lives and moved away, started families, etc... I can't ask them to help now. After all, the soil is loose and extremely easy to turn. However, I was wrong. I cannot turn that soil with a shovel. Nerve disease s... is intolerable.

So, after weeks of searching, we bought a tiller that everyone here is excited about using. My wife wouldn't let me help assemble it, and my brother is going to help pay for it, and help plant onions tomorrow.
The tiller is an "Earthwise" tiller. It is electric, 11" cutting width, 8" cutting depth. Model TC70001. A site with reviews: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Earthwise...0001/202678372

I'm hoping for the best from this small tiller. If it works out well - I'll give it a shout out.

That looks like a good easy tool to use. I am an 80 year old woman who has been digging dirt for the past 40+ years, and have tried a lot of equipment to garden with. Since my gardens are all raised beds I don't have any heavy digging, but I am constantly adding amendments to them. My love is a Black & Decker cultivator- I have most of the series of garden tools which all use 18volt battery. I have the string weeder, blower, hedge trimmer & cultivator. they are very reasonably priced and so easy to use for anyone even disabled people. I am anxious for gardening time-- I sowed my tomato seeds today- my peppers were done 2 weeks ago.

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by JoParrott

That looks like a good easy tool to use. I am an 80 year old woman who has been digging dirt for the past 40+ years, and have tried a lot of equipment to garden with. Since my gardens are all raised beds I don't have any heavy digging, but I am constantly adding amendments to them. My love is a Black & Decker cultivator- I have most of the series of garden tools which all use 18volt battery. I have the string weeder, blower, hedge trimmer & cultivator. they are very reasonably priced and so easy to use for anyone even disabled people. I am anxious for gardening time-- I sowed my tomato seeds today- my peppers were done 2 weeks ago.

People like you are why I joined Tomatoville.

[Tormato]

Just don't over do it with your plans this year. I started with 5 plants many, many years ago. Then 5X that the next year to 25. That was easy. Then 5X that the next year to 125. Not so easy.

[Irv Wiseguy]

I don't know a lot about electric tillers but that one has a lot of good reviews so it must be decent.

I have a little Mantis tiller. I only use it once a year so it's initially hard to start. Also, bigger rocks get caught in the tines so I have to stop every few minutes to get a rock unstuck. I think it might be because the tines are on the small side, but really don't know for sure. Anyway, it's easier than using a pitch fork!

Irv

[Worth1]

Salt I had to look up your disorders on line to see what you had.
I cant imagine having something like that.
I am 56 and have to climb tall vertical fixed ladders and run up and down stairs all day.
I have on my own decision refused to go back to work in an office.
For me I feel I will be better off health wise working as long as I can.
So far it has paid off.

I wish you all the best with your new tiller.
Hand in there friend.

Worth

[Misfit]

More power to you Sir... anything that assists in quality of life is a blessing!

-Jimmy

[AlittleSalt]

Thanks guys,

I now know why the handle is shaped the way it is. The tiller is easy to use and fast. It does till up to 8 inches deep. Where I tilled is sandy loam with the rocks already removed. We will be trying the tiller out in red clay, but that will be another day.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Irv Wiseguy

I don't know a lot about electric tillers but that one has a lot of good reviews so it must be decent.

I have a little Mantis tiller. I only use it once a year so it's initially hard to start. Also, bigger rocks get caught in the tines so I have to stop every few minutes to get a rock unstuck. I think it might be because the tines are on the small side, but really don't know for sure. Anyway, it's easier than using a pitch fork!

Irv

Irv, after I moved back home from Denver in 1982 I bought a Mantis tiller the next year and it's still going strong.

When I moved back East I now had all the room I needed at the farm where I was raised to grow whatever I wanted to and the closest fieled to the house and water was about 250 ft X 90 ft and while I started growing veggies in a side garden, that fieled was then used for all my tomatoes, squash, melons, cabbage, broccoli, peppers, you name it.

I had about 10 250 ft rows of tomatoes.

I used it as a mechanical hoe and quickly learned to NEVER use it before OR after I ate for a few hours since yes, small rocks would make it bounce and my stomach took the blows.

A few things had to be replaced can't remember what, my brother was in charge of that, but I moved it up here with me and it's in the toolshed attached to my home. My brother and family lived up here at the time and he would borrow it for use at his place and also used it each Spring to break up the soil in the one large raised bed that was here when I moved here. And I grew only veggies then, but then converted it to a wonderful perennial bed.

Now I remember that one time the pull rope broke, had to replace spark plugs and some filters.

So here we are, I'm 75 and still alive and that Mantis tiller is about 32 yo and still alive and functional, last it was used.

Carolyn

[peppero]

Carolyn those tillers have used Kioritz engines from Japan as have Echo chain saws. They are probably the toughest, most reliable small engines ever built. They just keep on running and running and running.

jon

[saltmarsh]

Just got back from the store. The only one they had was the display, but it was up off the floor so it hadn't been handled by the customers. Because it was a display they knocked the price down to $120 and then gave a 10% veterans discount on top of that. I'm happy. Claud

[b54red]

I love the little Mantis tillers. I prefer the new one with the 4 stroke engine even though it weights a little more it is actually easier to use since it doesn't tend to bounce as much and it is quieter. They work really well on soft soil but can take some time on hard packed soil.

The biggest drawback with the Mantis is when you have to till a fairly large area it can take a really long time since it only tills a swath about 8 to 10 inches wide. When you reverse the tines it is perfect for mixing in fertilizer or compost into the top few inches of soil and will do it about as fast as you can walk.

Bill

An interesting choice for a tiller. Please let us know how it works out.

[Worth1]

Not to put down the tiller as it seems this is the catch word these days with anything electric.

Earthwise TC70001 Tiller Cultivar is the clean air choice. Zero emission tool, durable tines and compact profile, the Earthwise Tiller cultivator is perfect for new gardens, tilling in narrow rows and raised beds or along fences. 11 in. cutting wide and a tilling depth of 8.5 in. with 4 steel tines.

This electricity has to come from somewhere.
That somewhere is the power plant up the road from me.
It runs on fuel oil turbines with a steam turbine using the waste heat.
Then there is the huge coal burning power plant farther up the road.

Just saying.

Worth

[Fusion_power]

Hand in there friend.

Yep, keep your "hand" in. In the dirt that is!

I have a Troybilt Horse tiller to work my garden. I also have a 5 HP Tillsmith front tine tiller to cultivate with. I'm 55 and can still use them several hours per day, but can tell it takes more out of me than it did 25 years ago.