How to Make a Garden Plow

Garden plows can be pushed or pulled. Pushing is the least effective way to use one, however. The human shoulder girdle and arms are not as strong as the human legs and pelvis. Pushing the plow requires a tight grip, leading to hand fatigue and blistering. In this adaptation based on a wheelbarrow, we will turn the blade to face away from the wheel to create a more effective and safter pulled plow.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Medium wheelbarrow with a wooden frame
• 2-inch by 2-inch stock lumber
• 2 pieces of 2-inch by 2-inch angle iron
• Plow blade
• 10 feet of 2-inch wide web belt
• Plastic hook-and-loop fabric (Velcro®)
• Power drill, 1/4-inch diameter bit
• 3/8-inch diameter bit
• Countersink bit
• Box of 3/8-inch diameter, 1-inch long bolts
• Box of 3/8-inch diameter hole fender washers
• Box of 3/8-inch diameter hole lock washers
• Box of 3/8-inch diameter acorn nuts
• Box of 3/8-inch diameter, 2 1/2-inch long bolts

1. 

   Turn the wheelbarrow upside down. Check the crossbar that runs between the handles near the wheel. If it is metal, proceed to Step 2. If the crossbar is wooden, measure the distance across the handles. Cut a piece of 2-inch wide metal bar to fit across the underside of the handles. Drill 3/8-inch pilot holes through the wheelbarrow handles and into the new metal crossbar you just cut. Countersink the holes. Slide a fender washer onto 3/8-inch diameter bolts that are at least 1/2-inch longer than the thickness of the wooden crossbar. Slide bolts through the wood and the metal bar. Slip on a second fender washer and a lock washer and secure with acorn nuts.

2. 

   Place two 2-inch by 2-inch pieces of angle iron back to back, one inch apart, centered on the crossbar. Drill 3/8-inch holes through the angle iron and crossbar. Attach with 3/8-inch diameter, 1-inch-long bolts.

3. 

   Slide the end of the plow blade between the two pieces of back-to-back angle iron. Secure with 3/8-inch diameter, 2 1/2-inch long bolts.

4. Cut a 10-feet long piece of 2-inch wide webbing. Attach a square of plastic hook-and-loop to each side of each end of the webbing. Wrap both ends of the webbing around the crossbar, about six inches apart.

5. Step into the webbing loop and drop it around your waist. Bring the loop up until it is across your chest, under your armpits. Pull the loop out and back over your head to rest behind your neck. This will help keep the weight of the plow distributed evenly across your back and keep you from straining your neck, shoulder and back muscles.

6. Pull the plow through one row of your garden. Adjust the blade position as needed, so that the plow point digs into the soil without jerking your body.

Resources

• Pushing Versus Pulling