Grow Your Own Magazine

I can't lift most traditional barrows, far too heavy and difficult to steer, and I can't store one. I think I want a folding wheelbarrow for Xmas... anyone got one/used one? Any ideas? Pros and cons?

something like this:
Tchibo - Folding Wheelbarrow

or this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Folding-whee.../dp/B000TXPDMS

Well, here's an update, now I've started using the thing. It is fine for very light jobs, such as moving grass clippings around. However, with a bit of weight in it (compost) it is utterly useless. It tips over sideways, it won't go up bumps without collapsing, you can't tip the contents out because if you start tipping it, it folds itself up. What a heap of carp. Don't buy one!

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Never used one, but they sound really good - unless of course you are using a fork to load/unload and stick it through the fabric.

My OH was on about them for ages 'cos she said the metal barrow was too heavy so I bought one from Machine Mart. That was two years ago and I don't think she's used it once! I use it occasionaly in the Summer for weeding and it's handy for unloading sacks of animal food from the car, it's strong enough to take one sack at a time but I do find it a little more awkward to handle than a normal barrow because it carries the load a little too high. Why not try a lightweight plastic model (I think B and Q sell them). I tried one a few weeks ago and it felt quite light to use.

I have one that I bought cheap at the GW show about 5 years ago. It's no good as an alternative to a conventional wheelbarrow if you want to transport anything heavy but I find it useful for plants. Also, I take the fabric bit off the frame to put in the boot of my car if I'm off to the garden centre for plants and then can lift the lot out together and wheel them to where I want them easily - keeps the boot clean too.

Re handling, I don't find it a problem at all although I do hit my shins on one of the bars but think that could just be me being clumsy!

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Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Well, I got one.
Not enough time to research them thoroughly, cos they were on half price at the garden centre, so we grabbed one.
I did see one they'd been using for themselves, and the plastic fabric bit had degraded and the screws gone rusty outside. Still, if I keep it in my shed when not in use I reckon it will last okay.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Sorry, a bit faddy for me! I usually just use the first thing that comes to hand, a plastic bucket, 'Humpadumpa' (taupaulinn) or a cardboard box for instance! The only thing I use my wheelbarrow for is muckspreading and those flimsy looking things don't look like they would ' cut the mustard'! Now where does that saying come from? I will eventually have to cut my mustard green manure when I dig it in.................could that be it?

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I bought one similar to the Amazon one, what a load of rubbish the back legs to long catch on everything wheel to small, now stood in the corner of my plot rusting away.

I can't ... the grass clippings, shredded bark and manure is all 100 yards from my plot, and I'm not strong enough to lift buckets. It's got to be wheels! Please don't rain on my parade, I am loving my new foldy barrer

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I'm glad you got one you're happy with!

I wouldn't thank anyone for calling me 'the little woman' but it's a fact of life that when you're not much over 5 feet tall and have occasional/ongoing problems with bits of your body going on strike, you can't always lump stuff around like some great big chap can!

Even if the one you got doesn't last forever, so what? It was half price (so only needs last half as long!) and will be well worth the money just because it's useable and not sitting idly in the shed!

Claire

Where's your inginuity? TS! An old pram or buggy,a bogie, even an abandoned shopping trolley would cost you nowt and probably last longer than your new toy!

Good luck with it though and I hope it does everything required of it!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Two Sheds
I had one, got because I thought it would take up less shed room as well as being lighter to use but gave it away in the end. I'm miles from the main path way and found it hard to manouvre and useless for heavy stuff.
Sorry...
Sue

yes, but I haven't found any. Also, I still have nowhere to store them. My neighbour uses an old pushchair, which is good for taking produce home in carrier bags, but is no good for moving grass clippings etc...
I wanted a barrow, but something light, manouverable and storable. I'll let you know how I get on when it arrives next weekend.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Good luck with it. Don't let the negative comments put you off, different products suit different people.

What a wonderful invention they are, and so very useful!

Seriously Two Sheds, it would be interesting to hear your comments after you've used it for a season!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Basically I think one of the main problems with these is that they're marketed a bit like they can do the same job as a substantial heavy weight wheel barrow. If you expect that then you will be disappointed but I've found mine pretty useful and it certainly stops me having to walk backwards and forwards when I need to carry light weight stuff.

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I was looking at getting one of these too so would be interested to see how you get on Two Sheds. I don't have anywhere to store a barrow on the plot (no shed and would be afraid of it wheeling itself away if left loose). So I have to bring everything in the boot of the car everytime I go up, and a proper barrow wouldn't fit in mine (might in OH's but he'd laugh too much at me).

At the moment, I use a plastic bucket/trug thing (it's quite flexible so it's a round bucket on the ground but the handles come together when you are holding it). Which is ok for weeding, but not great for getting water (a long way from our plot), manure (that's usually piled a fair bit away too) or bringing lots of stuff from the car (looooong walk involved). So I was thinking of getting one over the winter for when next season arrives.

Must say I find my foldy barrow to be a right pain - it is just too unstable! If you get the load even a little off to one side or the other or even too far forward or back from the mid point the contraption is inclined to twist over or fold itself - highly annoying.

The answer, of course, is stop trying to put too much in.....

Yeah, right!

If you hadn't already bought one you could have had mine!

Terry, 5'6", 40 with atheritis in both hands and a duff leg - why don't the fit garden?

I've unpacked it now and ... not such a bargain. Was supplied with a flat tyre, so have to go out and buy a pump now. Grrrr!

(I did try and use it flat, but everything fell out all over the place)

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Can't you take it back two sheds? Even if it was a sale item it should still be fit for purpose. How annoying for you.

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

I agree with you there Lainey Lou, yo ushould be able to take it back TwoSheds. Even though it's a sale item, it still needs to be 'fit for purpose'

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter