I won't be buying one of those OR Great garden unnecessaries

[alan refail]

As "grow-your-own" sets its sights increasingly on the well-heeled and impressionable, I notice ever more gardening "necessities" on the market. As a traditional grow-it-in-a-level-bed-either-outdoors-or-in-the-polytunnel sort of gardener, I have never paid most of them much attention.

However, while googling for something totally unrelated, I came across this gem.

Docomo-Garden-Sensor-1.jpg (22 KiB) Viewed 3866 times

You simply place these tiny sensor sticks into your garden soil and they will measure moisture and sunlight levels, then send the data wirelessly to DoCoMo, where gardening experts will give their advice on nurturing your crop.

So those of you without a green thumb can now produce perfect crops, with the aid of a little remote advice sent to your cellphone or email.Docomo's new Garden Sensor will ensure that your veggies turn out picture perfect. The sensors, tentatively priced between $20-$30, will be deployed on a trial basis in Japan until 2011.

What's your favourite "don't need" garden equipment you've seen advertised recently?

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Alan, not so much seen advertised, as being bought.

A hand fork and a little rake thingy, with funny angled handles and prongs that were nearly an inch square.

So i imagine you would struggle to get them in the ground, and if you did, they would block with the dampest of soil.

But i suppose they looked fashionable.

[KGAdmin]

will be deployed on a trial basis in Japan

Will it detect radiation levels too?


KGAdmin


(Sorry I couldn't resist)

[Geoff]

Pity it doesn't do temperature, save taking the trousers down.

[oldherbaceous]

I've just taken my supper back into the kitchen, untouched.

[peter]

I've just taken my supper back into the kitchen, untouched.

What, need to reheat it?

Just ask Geoff to do it......

[alan refail]

Or how about fun compost making for £155?


http://www.rolypig.com/view_product.php ... id=&p_id=1

[Nature's Babe]

I mostly only use one tool it's a second hand slim trowel with depth markings and the most sensible and comfortable wooden handle I have ever
seen on a trowel, the handle fits into the metal so is strongly backed and the smooth wooden top has a comfortable indent where my thumb fits nicely, made by a craftsman I would think and I would be bereft without it. My partner has more tools a hedge cutter and mower. but in the veg garden all I need is my trowel for my no-dig mulched garden. Oh and I do have a foam kneeler which I made myself. My fork only gets used if I turn the compost and the spade is used if we plant a tree. For me there are so many unnecessaries. The retailers don't get much trade from me, even the greenhouse is homemade, and my mini cloches are bootsale bargains.

[JohnT]

Or how about fun compost making for £155?
http://www.rolypig.com/view_product.php ... id=&p_id=1

Certainly not a 'must-have' for me; but there has been one of these (named 'Alys') at Yalding Organic Gardens for years. Always a great favourite with the kids; and a fantastic introduction for them to composting - especially when they are given a box of veg 'waste' from the cafe kitchen, to 'feed' her.

[Nature's Babe]

The Rolymoley wormery is even more expensive at £310, the worms find their way into my big compost bays without spending all that money!