THE MODERN MINT BLOG

Dec09

Hand Held Hoe

Nunki Gallery Image 2

What is this one?

The question people ask me the most at my talks

It is a good question. What kind of tool could it be? This shiny, beautiful little hoop? Cheekily, we refuse to answer straight away and instead question them back – what do you think it is?

Take a look again…

Pks Bronze Jaetschlinge NUNKI

 

What is it?

We have been told it is:

  1. An avocado de-stoner.
  2. A dog brush.
  3. A boot scraper.
  4. A boiled egg de-sheller. (Big egg…)
  5. A hairbrush for a teddy boy quiff.
  6. A dog lead holder.
  7. A target for practising your golf chip.
  8. A body exfoliating tool.
  9. A nail clipper.
  10. A razor.
  11. A scone or cookie cutter.
  12. A zombie electrifier.
  13. A huge earring…

nunki weeder

Some amazing guesses for this unusual tool for a gardener to use. Not everyone has an idea about what it does…

Shall we tell you?

It is, very simply, a hand held hoe.

This hoe has a sharpened bronze blade, curved so that it can dip into cultivated soil and cut roots as well as drag back to your bucket or pail those blanket-type weeds like chickweed or the clovers.

The handle is beech and oiled with linseed. This hand held hoe not only speeds up weeding and cultivating the soil – just a few quick sweeps across the surface of the flower or vegetable beds should do the trick – but it also has an heirloom quality about it that we love. (So do all of our copper tools, to be fair.)

Our Unusual Hand Held Hoe

We regularly get people taking a chance and buying one of these either as a gift for a friend, or as a little treat for themselves. Often, after trying it out, they come back and buy another one for someone they know will love it. Or we get emails to say how amazing this ‘hand held hoe’ is.

“Thank you for sending me my lovely Nunki a few weeks ago. I have recommended your site to another friend Jane – who will be buying a Nunki from you very soon. Love from Pembrokeshire” Anna

It is a lovely job selling these wonderful and unique weeding tools…

Get Your Nunki Now.

For example, at Salisbury Christmas market we had a lovely lady buy one for her sister, who was a keen gardener. She came back two days later, pushed through the crowd around our stall and said, “my sister is blown away by it, it is brilliant! Absolutely blown away! Thank you. Everybody – buy one!”

I went red in the face, as this kind of praise is amazing and gratifying, but also not something you ask for and was totally unexpected. The lady then walked off back to whatever she was up to that day, and the crowd around our stall laughed and giggled.

And then of course wanted to try this hand held hoe and discover for themselves exactly why she thought it was so blooming great…

It gives us great pleasure to sell this hoe. It gives us great pleasure to earn a reputation for inviting you to try products that are useful as well as beautiful.

We do hope you will give our unusual ‘hand held hoe’ a go. Those who have already tried it suggest you will love it.

Mar16

Modern Topiary, the Book, at Garden Media Guild

My book about topiary, Modern Topiary, has been mentioned on the Garden Media Guild newsletter…. As the screenshot says, the book can be read for free online here. At the bottom of the screenshot, it looks like another Garden Media Guild member has a book out called ‘A Year In A Cottage Garden’…. so if that is where your garden heart lies, check that out too! And at the top of the screenshot, it looks like I was listening to Pelleas et Melisande, by Debussy. What a classy chap I am, listening to classical music as I reply to emails. …

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Mar09

Start of the Whitby Topiary Library

I have been offered a space here in the centre of Whitby, south-facing aspect, with some raised beds in, so that I can make a Topiary Library. In my head, a topiary library is a place to showcase the common (and then not so common) shapes you can make out of topiary. With classical topiary plants, as well as some more unusual pieces. This Topiary Library can act as a reference for people to learn more about pruning and clipping. The space is small but the aspect is great and the beds are deep enough to put some plants in. …

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Mar09

Delivery After Dark – From the Makers of The Amelia Project

Last week I spent most nights stood in cold water streams on the moors of North Yorkshire, helping to film a new project called Delivery After Dark from the makers of the Amelia Project. I worked on the Amelia Project back at the end of 2024, lending my terrible vocal talents to a small part in the episode Didius Julianus. But this project is something new – and exciting! – and thankfully only needed me to be filmed, rather than to actually say anything. But not only did I have to stand in cold moving water at midnight, I also …

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