Leaps of Consciousness

Charles Dowding created the No Dig movement in Somerset, UK, which is a refined version of organic farming. He runs popular day courses on no-dig vegetable gardening and has written several books based on his experiences as No Dig works on all soils, including heavy clay.

He’s a fan of copper gardening tools as explained in his book below;

“My favourite tools are made of copper, or to be precise, they are 95 per cent copper and 5 per cent tin … the metal is strong, not magnetic and does not rust. This is a keen advantage for trowels, hoes and spades where smooth, sharp blades make for effortless use, and there is no need for regular cleaning or oiling to protect the metal.

“Although the copper alloy is a little less hard than iron and might suffer in soils with flint or large amounts of stone, the tools are designed to endure. I have found copper trowels last better than ones made of hard stainless steel, which often snap after a year or two at a weak point near the handle.”