Miracle Garden Tiller

Miracle garden tiller CULTIVATORS Cultivators (58C) 14-3-29 "It's the best tool ever invented for patching bare spots in lawns and for working up garden seedbeds," says Gene Hochlan of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who got the idea for his new "miracle" garden tool while using a hoe to prepare a seedbed in a spaded garden. "I figured there had to be a better way to break up clods and create a smooth, level seedbed for planting," he says. After building and testing prototypes, he patented the "Hawk Tiller" which he says replaces both hoe and rake in seedbed preparation, and is the only tool needed for patching lawns. The Hawk Tiller has nine zinc-coated steel tines. It works like a tamper. A spring-loaded plate retracts to let the blades sink into the soil, then pops back out again over the tines as the tiller is lifted, cleaning all debris from the tines. "It's easy on the back because you don't have to bend over. You just lift it 10 to 12 in. off the ground and then let its own weight drive the tines into the ground. The spring-loaded plate holds soil in place while tines dig it up," says Hochlan, noting that, the tines dig down to a depth of 4 1/4 in. After patenting the tiller, Hochlan remortgaged his house to open a small manufacturing facility. He hired several part-time employees to produce the tillers. He's sold 700, mostly by word of mouth. The tiller will soon be included in several nationwide stores and mail order catalogs. Sells for $29.95 (plus $3 shipping). Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Hochlan, Jr., Hawk Enterprises, Inc., 1100 South 20thSt.,P.O.Box 366,CouncilBluffs, Iowa 51502 (ph 712 322-0802).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.