Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
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A Museum of Early American Tools…AITA-Farm-Style!

A recent article in The Inquirer (“They Dig Garden Tools” – 11/20/09) featured Harold Sweetman, Director of The Jenkins Arboretum, who is also a collector of “horticultural antiques.” Stated more simply, an interesting fellow who collects crazy old garden tools and shares his collection at a popular lecture, entitled “Cutting Edge Gardening.”

A quote from Sandy Levins, president of the Camden County Historical Society, really got me thinking. Levins says:

I was struck by the value our ancestors placed on garden tools. Unlike today, when we drive to our nearest garden center or home improvement megastore to replace a rusty pruner or grab a new plastic watering can.

In 18th-century America, a largely agrarian society, well-crafted garden tools prepared, planted, and cultivated gardens that fed entire families.

In some corners of the world (like this one in New Hampshire), people still use the old standbys and they certainly still cultivate gardens that feed entire families that were not begun as a new trendy move, or sparked from a growing concern over climate change. This article inspired me to root through the sheds and barns to discover…we’ve got our own “museum” of “antique” tools right over in the shed! And some, certainly not all, I have used in the past 3 months for gardening and other projects…

L to R: Ice saws for harvesting ice blocks from a pond behind the farm, The Tack Room in the Hay Barn

The last remaining anvils of what was a fully outfitted blacksmithing operation in The Shop

Wooden drawers full of goodies. I have used the chisels fairly extensively lately to remove old cabinetry.

Chisels, from Eric Sloane’s Museum of Early American Tools

Top: The can graphics are just awesome, and I needed to share.
Bottom: 3 broken-in leather gloves for the 3-handed monster who lives in the woods. (Kidding!)

Two fascinating gardening tools. I have used the spade/pick on the left to clear the grout between bricks in the walkway. I believe the tool on the right digs holes for planting.

Trowel, hand axe, rake, pitchfork, edgers – Have used all but the hand axe to plant new flowers, rake out newly tilled soil, turn my kitchen compost heap, and neaten up the borders of the gardens.

L to R: A wonky and wonderfully carved wooden handle to a spade, What to do when the washer goes kaput

The scythe, my personal fave. Haven’t found a use for it, unfortunately. Some things (like mass haying efforts) are perhaps best left to men driving machines while saving countless backs.

Rakes & Scythes, from Eric Sloane’s Museum of Early American Tools