olidasedfgas: 2012

Saturday, 1 December 2012

Essential Japanese Gardening Tools

Essential Japanese Gardening Tools
By Joshua M. Smith, Ph.D.

There are four Essential Japanese Gardening Tools needed to create a serene space. Every gardener who understands that lifelong quality tools are better than cheaper tools that will need to be replaced every couple of years will appreciate using the quality and affordability of Japanese tools.

Japan has a centuries old tradition of blending nature, beauty, and creativity. In order to create these living works of art, the perfect tools have been sought after and developed as well.

Here is a short list of essential Japanese garden tools:

Japanese Hand Pruners

These razor sharp blades are used in world famous gardens. In Japan, these hand pruners are probably the most used tool in a gardener's repertoire. These reliable hand pruners are some of the strongest clippers on the market, and they also retain their clean cutting edge for years. Japanese hand pruners, such as the Okatsune brand, compete with other familiar brands such as Felco. They are professional quality, life-long garden companions, and an affordable price.

Japanese Shears

These shears are probably the second most important tool in order to create the beautiful tamamono mounds and hedges found in Japanese gardens. These blades smooth and swift and allow you to prune for hours because of their lightweight.

Often when people think of gardens in Japan they have an image of a large bonsai-like sculpted pine tree. However, when you truly look at a garden you will notice that although specimen trees are appreciated, they only fit into the scene smoothly because of the finely sheared background trees and tamamono blob-shaped bushes. You can even have a beautiful and natural Japanese-style garden without specimen trees, but you can't have one without the sheared background mounds. Don't neglect the importance of Japanese hedge shears.

Essential Japanese Garden Tools, Pt. 2 is a continuation of an earlier blog written about the some of the basic tools needed in the Japanese Garden. We are continuing this because one of our most often questions is "What type of tools are needed for Japanese gardening, and are they any different from western tools?"

The latter part of that question can be summed up with a big YES, they are different. Japanese gardens have been around for centuries and the development of the perfect tools to create these works of art has also been an ongoing process that surpasses most western tools. The average tool sold at the hardware store and big-box store has been dumbed down because of the average brute force used with many garden tools.

The beauty of Japanese gardens lies in the precision and detail given to the pruning and maintenance of the gardens. The following are often overlooked Essential Japanese Garden Tools:

Japanese Hand Saws

From my experience in gardening in Japan I have found that these straight-handled Japanese hand saws work best for me. This is mostly do to the fact that I often have to climb up in the trees and prune. With a fixed blade I can reach for it, unbutton it from its wooden sheath, and use it with only one hand, allowing me to keep one hand for balancing in the tree. The folding saws are also well-made made and more compact. You also have to take into consideration that, yes, you will look like a cowboy with the fixed blade style strapped to your waist!

One of the main reasons that these are essential Japanese garden tools though is that unlike western made hand saws they work on the pull, not the push. It takes a few times to get use to, but you will find that more technique is involved with the pulling stroke, as opposed to the forceful push stroke.

The Sickle, or Kama in Japanese

Believe it or not Japanese gardens do not use weed barriers or plastic liners. Even though they are often weedless with a perfectly smooth cover of moss or in a rock garden, artificial environmentally unfriendly products such as chemical sprays and plastic liners are not used. These gardens are weeded.

Japanese sickles, or Kamas, are used to weed the gardens and again, work on the pull. Technique triumphs over strength and a soft pull inward is all that is needed. Many times home gardens are weeded almost daily and you never get the build up of strong weeds. The garden needs to become a part of your life. If 5 minutes a day were given to light weeding and exploring your garden, you would be both weed free and have a new healthy routine to add to your lifestyle.

Although these Kamas may be more popular as being part of a Karate demonstration, they were originally intended to be used as everyday weeding and harvesting tools. Because they were a common everyday item used by gardeners and farmers, a natural method of self-defense was devised using them. Make the Japanese sickle a part of your everyday experience.

We use them daily, as people have for centuries, so we can attest to their durability, ease of use, and affordability. Whether you are maintaining a Japanese garden or an English garden, superior quality is superior quality.

Sunday, 19 February 2012

Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

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Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives


Marque:	Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives
Composition:	Textile et synth้tique
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Description du Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

La The Oracle est un mod่le con็u pour la pratique du basketball. - Tige mi-montante en synth้tique et textile pour allier l้g่ret้ et respirabilit้. - Renfort lat้raux pour am้liorer la stabilit้. - Semelle ext้rieure en caoutchouc pour assurer la traction. Tige : synth้tique et textile. Doublure et semelle int้rieure : textile. Semelle ext้rieure : caoutchouc.

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

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Saturday, 1 December 2012

Sunday, 19 February 2012

Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

Description du Gepotex Magnetic Knife Block "The Wall" Pear Tree+ 6 Kai Shun Damascus Knives

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Description du Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Description du Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Anaerobic Bacteria Treatment Keep Septic System Clean Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit BOD

Anaerobic Bacteria Treatment Keep Septic System Clean Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit BOD

Anaerobic Bacteria Treatment Keep Septic System Clean Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit BOD

Description du Anaerobic Bacteria Treatment Keep Septic System Clean Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit BOD

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Description du Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Drain Solution Cleaner Septic Tanks Odour Remover Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Drain Solution Cleaner Septic Tanks Odour Remover Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Drain Solution Cleaner Septic Tanks Odour Remover Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

Description du Drain Solution Cleaner Septic Tanks Odour Remover Hydra Septo Air Commercial Kit For BOD

100 x Deluxe Shaped Solid Beech Wood Chunky Suit hangers with Bulbous Ends & Non Slip Trouser Bar 45cm wide

100 x Deluxe Shaped Solid Beech Wood Chunky Suit hangers with Bulbous Ends & Non Slip Trouser Bar 45cm wide

100 x Deluxe Shaped Solid Beech Wood Chunky Suit hangers with Bulbous Ends & Non Slip Trouser Bar 45cm wide

Description du 100 x Deluxe Shaped Solid Beech Wood Chunky Suit hangers with Bulbous Ends & Non Slip Trouser Bar 45cm wide

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Description du Fracino Piccino in colour Domestic Espresso Coffee Machine

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

'A' Frame Nickel Shelving Unit

'A' Frame Nickel Shelving Unit

'A' Frame Nickel Shelving Unit

Description du 'A' Frame Nickel Shelving Unit

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Dovedale Solid Oak Welsh Dresser

Dovedale Solid Oak Welsh Dresser

Description du Dovedale Solid Oak Welsh Dresser

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Description du Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For

Hydra Septo Air Domestic Kit For