Nejiri Kama, Japanese Sickle
ByIt doesn't look too sharp, but it is one of the sharpest blades for the garden that you will ever need. |
Right now I'm going to tell you why I love the Nejiri Kama too! This tool is multi purpose to the extreme. You have to be careful with it, because the blade is sharp. This tool makes weeding a breeze, but it can also be used to dig furrows in the garden and uproot young weeds before they become a mangled mess of roots. The blade is not as large as a regular sickle that farmers would have used, but it is just as impressive when it is used to wipe out an area that has become overgrown, or just needs major tidying up.
The blade drawn against the top layer of soil will cut off anything growing that shouldn't be and because the blade is only about 5 inches long, there is no danger of removing a limb. That gives the gardener in question a more focused swath when weeding. Care still needs to be used whenever sharp tools are being handled, and this one is no exception to that rule.
The other part I love about this tool, is that using the tip, you can weed quite nicely around bedded plants without disturbing their root structure. The sickle being fashioned from one piece of metal will not break at the bend and with a little care, can be sharpened as you would any other tool in your arsenal of gardening weapons. The wooden handle is comfortable in your grip, and even with arthritic hands, holding this tool will not cause strain or pain in your joints.
The description here speaks about weeding raised beds, and I agree that it is great for that, but I would also say that you can use it in a regular garden bed too! It will require that you bend a little, but that can be good exercise too! Give this tool a try, and I'm sure that it will soon become one of your favorite tools too!
Another wonderful tool for the garden. |
The Tomita is also handy.
This is my Hori, Hori and I love it! |
I love the way this tool is able to do many things, from weeding to aerating the ground around your plants to top dressing your garden.....all with one tool.....
You can read more about Grammie Olivia's Gardening at her website: www.grammieknowshow.com
What a great list of gardening tools! You always introduce me to the most interesting tools Olivia. I have my snippers, my bush trimmers, my bulb planter and my little shovel, but I can see that gardening would be easier if I added a few more tools to my collection of garden tools.
ReplyDeleteWish I'd had that Nejiri Kama sickle years ago when I had a very large backyard with flower beds and fences to weed around. Looks like a very handy tool.
ReplyDeleteMiss Mouse and Miss Elf, the Hori Hori is great in flower pots too as is the Kerijama. Treat yourself, Mother's Day is coming up soon....
ReplyDeleteTerrific tool tips for the garden, thank you! I'll be pinning this for my own future reference - had no idea about a few of these!
ReplyDeleteWould this work to clear a path in very tall weeds? Does this come with instructions as to technique? Have you considered posting a video of it being used? Or do you just swing it? I've got knee-high weeds on our property and I can't bend my right knee at the present time.
ReplyDelete