Traditional Guernsey Gardening
The Guernsey Wheelbarrow
There was a time, and not so long ago, that most Guernsey people with a garden or piece of land, would have had a Guernsey wheelbarrow.
Nobody seems to know when they first appeared but the traditional Guernsey wheelbarrow's heyday would have been reflected in the success of the horticultural industry on the island.
The barrows are wooden and generally have curved fronts for
ease of tipping and also no backs, for ease of loading. They are quite narrow - this is to be able to get through greenhouse doors.
Originally the barrows had wooden wheels although now have rubber tyres and are almost always painted red and blue.
Years ago, often children would have smaller versions and were a sought after gift for birthdays and Christmas.
The Guernsey Hoe
As with the Guernsey Wheelbarrow, the Guernsey Hoe was also a must have in a Guernsey garden.
The bent wooden handle, which when gripped allowed full force to be exerted in a downwards direction with surprisingly little effort. The hoe has a large flat blade which makes weeding less of a chore.
More recently the Guernsey Hoe has inspired the creation of many modern hoes and other gardening hand tools.
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