Alright, alright, let’s talk about them…what do you call ’em…left-handed garden tools. Yeah, them things for workin’ in the garden. I ain’t no fancy writer or nothin’, so I’m just gonna tell it like it is, ya hear?
Now, I’ve been wrestlin’ with this dirt for, oh, I don’t even know how many years. And let me tell ya, usin’ the wrong tools, it’s like tryin’ to milk a cow with your left hand when you’re a righty. Just plain awkward. So, if you’re one of them left-handed folks, listen up.
First off, let’s talk about them clippers, the ones for snappin’ off branches and such. You know, the ones that go “snip-snap”. I heard tell of some fancy ones called “Felco Pruning Shears”. Says they can cut through somethin’ as thick as 8.3 inches. That’s a pretty big branch, I tell ya. Made of somethin’ called “aluminum”, sounds fancy, but I reckon it just means they ain’t gonna rust up on ya too quick.
Then there’s these other clippers, from Germany I think, called “MEPEREZ”. Folks say they make gardenin’ three times easier. Now, I don’t know about that “three times” stuff, sounds like a bunch of hooey, but if you got weak hands or that…what’s it called…arthur-itis, yeah, that thing, then these might be good for ya. They got yellow handles, easy to spot if you drop ’em in the weeds.
- Clippers and Pruners: Look for clippers that fit your hand good. Don’t want no blisters, do ya? And make sure they’re sharp. A dull clipper is about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.
- Shovels and Trowels: Now, shovels, that’s where it gets tricky. Most shovels, they’re made for right-handed folks. But you can find some, they call ’em “left-handed trowels,” that curve the other way. Makes diggin’ a whole lot easier. Less strain on your back too, which is a good thing when you’re old like me…well not old but not that young.
- Hoes: Hoes are another one. You want a hoe that feels right in your hand, not one that makes you twist your wrist all funny. They got these things called “stirrup hoes”, supposed to be good for gettin’ weeds. And there’s left-handed ones too, imagine that! Someone’s finally thinkin’ about us lefties!
- Gloves: Don’t forget gloves! Keep your hands clean and protected. Find some that fit good and ain’t too stiff.
I saw a place, can’t rightly remember the name now, somethin’ like “Lefty’s”, that sells all sorts of stuff for left-handed folks. They got clippers, them left-handed trowels I was talkin’ about, and even left-handed hoes. Who knew they made such things? Must be some smart folks out there.
Now, I ain’t sayin’ you gotta go out and buy all new tools just ’cause you’re left-handed. Sometimes, you can make do with what you got. But let me tell ya, havin’ the right tool for the job, it makes a world of difference. You can work longer, feel better, and get more done. And that’s what it’s all about, ain’t it? Gettin’ them tomatoes growin’ and them flowers bloomin’.
And here’s a little somethin’ I learned over the years. Don’t go buyin’ the cheapest tools you can find. They’ll just break on ya and then you gotta go buy new ones anyway. Spend a little extra, get somethin’ that’ll last. It’s like buyin’ a good pair of shoes. You take care of ’em, they’ll take care of you. I once bought a shovel, it was real pretty, all shiny and new. But that thing bent like a wet noodle the first time I tried to dig up a stubborn weed. Learned my lesson that day, I did.
So, what’s the best way to find these left-handed tools? Well, you can look online, I guess. That “Lefty’s” place, they probably got a website. Or you can go to a good hardware store, one that knows what they’re talkin’ about. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And if they don’t got what you need, ask ’em if they can order it for ya. Most places, they’ll be happy to help ya out.
And one last thing. Don’t let nobody tell ya that bein’ left-handed is wrong. It ain’t. It’s just different. And different ain’t bad. Different is what makes the world interesting. So go out there, get yourself some good left-handed garden tools, and make that garden grow. You got this.
Now, I gotta go check on my beans. Them rabbits been gettin’ at ’em again. Pesky critters.
