What has a dandelion root got to do with Lifestyle Lounge?
If part of your lifestyle includes tilling ground or foraging for roots, have I got the tool for you!
I've been on a quest for labor and back saving gardening tools this year. So far, the Corona Soil Ripper is my favorite of three items I've plunked down money on. Links to my short posts about the other two items, a wheelbarrow and a cold frame, are below.
After agonizing over whether or not to purchase this $35 item, I made the plunge because of this big burly guy's recommendation. If it made a big burly guy's life easier, it was bound to make a little old lady happy too.
Last year I used a pick ax to break and till ground. It was so difficult I could only do one square foot a day, or my back would be very sore the next. This year, I could do quite a bit more with ease because of this little baby.
Although I bought the Corona Soil Ripper to till my veggie patch, I quickly found it to be an excellent tool for harvesting dandelion roots. Here's how.
Find the plant you want
Apply the tool over the crown of the plant
Step down on the footpad, give the tool a couple twists in one direction, then a couple more in the other.
Remove tool
You will have loosened all the soil around the plant you want to a depth of over six inches, having not bent over once. Happy back!!!
Bend over
(but this is the only time you will have to do that) and give your plant a little tug. Out it comes, down to the tip of the root.
I've got my eye on a few types of dock coming up to use this on.
Eradicate garlic mustard from your yard by getting out ALL of the root.
This mullein root was a bit more difficult to get all of, but I did it.
I love this thing!!!
Thanks for reading about it
Other time, and/or back, saving tools
page break by @thekittygirl
All photographs are mine
The ground is so dry here,that I use a similar tool for harvesting roots. Had quite a lot of rain recently though, so be good to harvest while the ground is still wet. Love dandelion root and burdock root xxx
Ha you're on a weed pulling mission!!!! But why are you pulling mullein - or do you have heaps? I'm so jealous as mine are so small, and I can't find them wild!
I will be moving one of these days, and I am certain the next owner is not going to continue to re-wild my little acre here, so I am harvesting a lot of the medicinal plants now - I know they have not been poisoned in the two decades I've been in charge. I needed some mullein root. I got the tiniest little jar of tincture going with this piece.
Nice. Why are you moving, did I miss that story?