The Easy Digger gets a big thumbs up from Mike McGroarty!
I first came across this handy gardening tool a number of years ago, then my Easy Digger somehow went missing as often happens with gardening tools. At least my tools often go missing!
Anyway, I really, really like the easy digger. It is by far my favorite tool for planting and I do a lot of planting of small plants etc.
The Easy Digger
The Easy Digger is one of the best tools that I’ve ever used for planting small plants. Instead of using a stabbing motion like you do with a regular garden trowel the Easy Digger has a very unique design that works like a plow on the back of a tractor. As you pull the Easy Digger toward you it digs itself into the soil and rolls the soil out of the way.
Mike McGroarty’s Favorite Planting Tool
In short, I really like using this handy tool when I’m planting small plants in the nursery. It’s much easier on my wrist because the angle in which you use your hand on this tool compared to a trowel is just more comfortable and the impact is less.
What you think?
Hope you can continue to post to youtube more frequently. Thanks.
Rick,
I hope so too, we need to do more videos.
Mike, Read your ‘good stuff’ every week. Save everything and use it. Never stop!
I live on a 40 ac. ranch in TX and growing many items you talk about is a challenge. You have ‘real dirt’ in Ohio (where I was born) but we try.
Thanks for all that you do and say.
Thanks Gary. You need to know we have members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, that do really well in Texas.
Dear Mike,
You are absolutely correct about the Easy Digger tool! Because it blends so well into the garden and I have had to search around to find it, being an artist I painted the handle in bright colors and patterns that are impossible not to see! Now I have an excellent tool and am less likely to lose it!
I couldn’t find these on Amazon in the U.K., but discovered a small company that sells a variety of these tools in both short and long-handled versions.
http://www.blackberrylane.co.uk/homi.html
The Mi-Ho could only be better if they made the handle out of screaming yellow or orange plastic (yeah, guess who’s spent too much time trying to remember where I left it)…AND if they made a version for left-handers.. For Righties, it’s the single most useful tool for “small” digging, and only around $15-$18 (several seed catalogs, PineTree, Stokes,…).
This looks like a Korean hoe which has been used for several hundred years and have been using this garden tool for years. You will get it from Korean supermarket. It is a very handy tool to use almost at the garden.
I visited China 5 years ago. While there, we visited local farms. I saw many of those diggers there. In fact, practically every local farmer was carrying a digger. It certainly is not a recently made tool. It has been in existence for many, many years.
Mike,
Been using these for years. My wife is from south Korea. They call them Homey.
This may not be spelled right as I am spelling it like it sounds in Korean.
Bought mine at the local Oriental market/grocery store.
Inexpensive very good tool.
I feel lucky I have some space to watch .The Bluebirds start nesting early.When the Hummingbirds arrive,I start filling the feeders. All this goes on in or around my container garden,cucumbers,eggplants, brusselsprouts, tomatos, peppers, beans etc. Squirrels and doves bluffing eachother out for seeds under the seed feeders.A lowlevel flyby by a small flock of geese is fun and if I can keep the deer on the otherside of the fence I will be lucky. I like to watch the fawns growup. Yep I like my garden. Not big but productive.
is elocon a steroid cream bbedkaedkecg
With this tool I could move a small mountain. It is the most practical and useful gardening tool I have , next to my tractor.
Jo Etta,
I agree, the Easy Digger really is a handy tool to have around.
Looks like a great tool. I’ll put it on my wish list.
thanks
As a kid back in the 1950’s, I watched my grandmother use a hoe – at an angle – to prepare her garden rows! Seemed to do the job perfectly.
Hi Mike – I would like to get one of these Easy Diggers simply for the fact that you said it is easy on the wrists! I went to Amazon and found several but I want to make sure I get the right one! From your video and picture, it looks like the handle on yours is straight and some of the ones on Amazon have a curved handle. The one I think is correct is the Hand Plow Ho-Mi EZ Digger 11 inches for $29.95. Can you verify that I am ordering the right one?
Thanks, Lynne 🙂
Very nice indeed. I might be interested in buying one.
I have had mine for 30+ years … I got my original one in a Korean Supermarket in Philly for maybe $3. it had a crude wooden handle.
wouldn’t weed without it! it’s tiny point just gets in and under the roots, easy to pull the whole weed out.
They sell them at Korean grocery stores for a great deal less. It’s been a long time since I bought one, but I think less than $10. And be careful, they are sharp!
I’ve always thought that their sharpness is why hardware stores don’t carry them. But that’s also what makes them such a great tool.
I was introduced to them by a Korean neighbor who saw me out working in the yard and offered the use of this tool. It made the weeding sooo much easier.
Thanks for sharing! i always watch the videos you make for us!
Genaro
Have you tried “Grandpa’s Digger?One of my favorite tools.
Cleo,
I’ll have to check it out.
hey folks, we have a wonderful tool made right here on vancouver island.
i don’t have a pic to send, but imagine a garden trowel, but the handle has a
downward bend and a vertical handle on top to aid in many ways, as a 2 handed tool or to give more lifting power if digging out small plants. i’ll see if i can get you a photo or wait till the “seed savers sale” in march and send you a brochure.
My grandmother use to have one very similar to this one. You are right it is a really great tool which i had forgotten about. I will have to find one now that i have been reminded. Thanks Mike
Very nice and practical tool
I love mine, in fact I’ve bought extras for future needs and gifts. I have seen them on sale at my local extension office plant sales.
From the internet
Thank you, i will see if my Home Depot will get them or i will get one or 5 five
Hi Mike, this tool has been sold at Lowe’s for as long as I can remember. The long handled one is available as well. Thanks for your help always!
My favorite tool might be a root hook. They are easy to lose and not too difficult to make, say from an old screwdriver. Invaluable in transplanting potted plants or even in planting annuals.
What does it look like?
One of my easiest and handy planting tools and deweeding tools is discarded kitchen knives purchased cheap at yard sales and estate sales just make sure bed is worked up and amended well! Easy. The Mantis tiller is a very good investment(Thank You).
It’s a Korean tool…”ho-my”…I know I’m not spelling that correctly. It’s sold here in Canada at Lee Valley Tools. I bought some for my Korean workers but they were the only ones that ever liked them….maybe I will have to try a shift with one.
Where can we get one?
Just do a google search for Easy Digger and I’m sure you’ll find several sources.
I googled
I googled & I googled again.
Now, I just GIGGLE ???.
Some place on the internet is an easy digger.
Long Handle EZ-Digger @ Amazon.com $29.79
JAPANESE WEEDING SICKLE Duluth Trading Co. $25.95
Wow, that looks like the tool that I always dreamed about inventing. I am going to look the easy digger up. You have the greatest tips ever. Thank You so very much. Sincerely Jeanne Davis
I know that tool as a Korean Ho-Mi (Little Ground Spear) I have used one for years. The handle did eventually work loose. My solution was to weld a large screw to the end of the shaft and screw it back into the handle.
These folks carry a range of these tools
http://www.allsun.com.au/HoMi.html
Lee valley tools in Canada sells the short and long handled model. http://www.leevalley.com/us/garden/page.aspx?p=10519&cat=2,2300,44823&ap=1
Mike,
I have written to you about this before.
Please stop saying you are sorry about the wind noise and get a $25 wind screen for your microphone. It will make a night and day difference in the quality of your recorded audio.
I get mine from Gig Wig Windscreens in Tennessee.
Contact:
Shirley Earley
Gig Wig Windscreens
709 Blaylock Store Road
McKenzie, Tennessee 38201
http://www.gigwigwindscreens.com/gigwigwindscreens.com/Home.html
Tell Shirley I sent you.
Terry Thomas
Cinematographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
Ouch! I’m being scolded. Terry, I hear you. I looked at the link you sent me. Didn’t see a windscreen for the camera that we use. We do have a wireless microphone, but rarely use it because . . . to be quite frankly I forget to bring it with me. You’re right. I hate it when our audio is pour, but I am not a cinematographer like you are. I’m a farmer. I promise to try and do a better job in the future. But the wireless mic is really tiny and does help with wind a lot. The mic on the camera is built in and not easily covered. Spontaneous. That’s how we do it. Little preparation. But I’ll try and do better.
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT TOOL,…BUT TO AVOID BEING ON A PERSONS KNEES AND STRESS TO THE WRISTS OF OLDER PEOPLE,…IT WOULD BE NICE IF NOT DOWN RIGHT IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE BLADE ON A LONG HANDLE SIMMILAR TO A HOE WHERE THERE IS MORE LEVERAGE AND A PERSON IS STANDING NOT BENT OVER KNEELING.
Home Hardware in Canada has along handle triangular hoe which is a delight to use.
Mike I like the idea of having a long handle tool also, I wonder if on is on the market or maybe I’ll get myself a hoe handle and make my own.
I have a home made one that I have been using for several years. Only difference mine has a long handle. Guess I should have gotten a patent on the thing. Any way I love the gadget.
Hi! I have one too and I love it!!! Well, I left it out for my husband to drive over with the lawn mower – yikes I really got heck that day. After that the shape of the tool was a bit different… but it still works. The riding mower needed sharpening but it’s fine now. Anyway these tools are called “Ho-Mi” and is an ancient Korean design, as I heard. Thanks Mike!! Bonnie
This tool looks good but I REALLY love my cobra weeder. Check it out!
Love my Cobra tools too. They are the best ever
It looks like a trowel that’s been heated and bent to me. I think I’ll get my husband to make me one.It does look like it would work better than a trowel for planting.
Thanks,
Wish I had on of those. Would make my planting so much easier. Tanks for sharing.
Thanks Mike, I just ordered one for me and one for my sister. Looks like this will be a very helpful tool.
I have a similar tool, but you can’t have
enough tools, because you put it somewhere
and when you start to plant you don’t want to spend to much time looking
for tools.
Mike,
You should sign up for an affiliate program through Amazon or other major group like that because I would gladly use a link that you put up to buy this tool through a link that you put on your site (you get a small commission). I wouldn’t have known about the tool otherwise. Be well, bud. – Jay
Jay, we do have an amazon affiliate program, but I rarely take the time to get the link etc.
Looks pretty cool and easy on the wrist – very ergonomic! I will look to see where to get one. Thanks Mike!
I HAVE HAD ONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IT DOES PRETTY GOOD.
HANS
This looks awesome. I have trouble using my right arm and I am not a lefty. This looks like something that will save me some pain and still allow me to really pursue my garden.
Thanks Mike!
I have a similar if not identical tool that I purchaed at Lee Valley Tools several years ago. It is an indispensable garden aid, but then again, so are all of the other garden tools you can get there.
Mike, I love the soil you have, it seems so easy to work with. Congratulations.
Jeff, my soil is very easy to work with, and very difficult to keep things moist in. A trade off I guess.
Hey, where did you get that Mike? Those are manufactured in the Far East, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc. I am retired military and the only place I can get them locally is at one of the Oriental Stores. I have two…and yes they work great. Surprised to see them on a web site.
Ken, just google Easy Digger. There are a number of suppliers, Amazon I think.
Looks a winner to me. Now to find out where to get one.
Brenda, just Google Easy Digger.
Search Amazon for EZ-DIGGER and they also list a 54″ model as well.
Hey, that would be really great if we could put a longer handle on it. Wouldn’t that be the stuff!!!
Judy,
I’m pretty sure they make a stand up model with a long handle.
http://www.shopping.com/EZ-DIGGER/products and you’ll see various designs/$$$s
One of my favorites is a straight nail puller hammer!!
The tool is very practical. It’s an off shoot of an Indian kadallah. I used a kadallah in India 68 years ago in India, courtesy US Govt.
Hi, That would be a great tool to try. Looks sharp. I just bought a Japanese sickle for my Day Lily plants. Can’t wait to try it too.
Mike, This is a very handy tool for making rows for seeds, removing small weeds and so many other gardening jobs. It’s almost as handy as the hula hoe!. Thanks for your time and patience with us beginners. Best Wishes, Kendra and Buddy
I do yard work for a living, and this is my favorite and most essential tool. Slides into carpenter’s jeans loop, and I reach for it whenever I see a weed. My motto: weeds tremble at the sound of ann
I have seen these in the stores but never bought one. I think I will try one this spring when I start planting.
I agree with you. I have had one for years and it is marvelous. Bought it at a big garden show – was told the design came from Japan.
I think I would like to have one of these, it would probably work better than a trowel.
Do they have a name and can you still buy them?
Sue, that is the name. Easy Digger!
http://www.amleo.com/search.aspx?sb=RANK&ss=ez+digger+garden&kc=AMADW13&crcat=hand-tools~ez-digge
Call 800-543-8955
EZ1
EZ Digger Garden Tool Forged 7in Blade Short Handle 5 Stars$19.99 3 + $16.99
EZ2
EZ Digger Garden Tool Forged 7in Blade 54in Long Handle 5 Stars$34.49
Amazon.com has 3 varieties of EZ-Digger:
1) Short Handle EZ-Digger — $18.99
2) Long Handle EZ-Digger — $31.69
3) EZ Digger Garden Hand Plow — $22.95
Numbers 1 and 3 look exactly like yours, Mike.
I just ordered number 1!
George
I have one of these and LOVE IT!
yes, i loved these when they first came out, but the metal part always detaches from the wooden handle. if only they could make them all one piece.
One of my favorite tools is a BBQ fork. This is not your standard bends lifting a hot dog fork. The handle is stainless about 18″ long by 5/8″ wide by about 3/16″ thick. The three tines start out at about 1/4″ and taper to points. This was most likely from a restaurant supply company, Hercules Food Service Equipment is stamped into the handle, but I have not been able to find them on the internet.
I have had this one for about 20 years and it is still going strong.
Where do you plug it in at? Lol. Looks like it would work great. I am going to get one.
Nick,
Just plug it in right below your wrist!
Mile you should try out the BGT/tm
The Basic Garden Tool… It does the work of many other Tools including the One you like above.
Be happy to send you a Demo???
Dave.
Dave,
Sure send it along, I’d love to see it.
Mike McGroarty
3738 Portsmouth Cove
Perry, Ohio 44081
If I like it, you’ll see it here!
The “BGT is a tool that “once used”,… is one of those items “you can’t (or won’t) live without”!
BGT KTB: $49.90
Hi Mike ,
About 3 years ago, I bought and now use for the entire planting and growing seasons, an all-important hand tool, from NYGARDENWORLD.com .I don’t remember the name of the tool ( maybe it was under the name Ho-Mi. The Korean tool was used for over 5,000 years ). The reason I chose that particular one is it has satinless steel blades, with one side having a serrated
edge for cutting roots and strings and opening bags, etc , plus the soft rubber handle is filled with a gel substance for wrist and hand comfort . I need it due to arthritis . Your video makes me want winter to end rapidly so that I can play with the sun warmed dirt again.
The ergonomics for this tool make it much better to use than a trowel.
I will try to find one
That looks like a handy tool. Where could one purchase it?
Looks like a great tool. I will keep my eyes open for one.
Although the Easy Digger looks good for planting, I’ve found the best WEEDING tool = Circle Hoe.
Oh my goodness Susan, me too. I can’t live without that tool! I told my father about that tool as he is retired and I wanted him to be kinder to his body. He used to pull weeds by hand in his garden.
What is a Circle Hoe.
I would love to have on of these. I have an old hoe that has a square blade and I never use it. Maybe I could get the sides filed down and bend it to point down. Worth a try. Great letter as usual, Mike!
It is called a short handled Ho-Mi Digger, meaning little ground spear, first made in Korea during the Bronze Age. Can be found in Lee Valley Tool Catalog, price $18.95
Like it.Where can we buy one?
I bought one of these- here’s the problem- you have to be right handed to use it- it would probably work if you were ambidextrous too, but if you are seriously left-handed, it sadly doesn’t work!