It used to pain me, the way my parents and grandparents
labelled us the ‘throw away’ generation.
“It’s not worth replacing, it’ll cost almost as much as
buying new,” I would argue. Or “Don’t blame us, were the consumers not the manufacturers.”
But now as a parent myself, a little older and slightly more
responsible (!), I now discover myself agreeing with them to a certain degree,
but don’t let on.
Now I’m not saying every product built today is inferior to
those of yesteryear, that would be ridiculous, although quite why advancements
in technology and our so called increased intelligence do not allow the smartphone devices we urgently rely upon today to last longer than a couple of
years annoys me, but I guess that’s the point, intelligence has taught us that
we need to replace items frequently to maintain positive economical sustainment.
Confusing isn’t it?
Whilst I do find myself reluctantly accepting of shorter
product lifecycles, I am also instinctively becoming more attracted to older
and solidly made items particularly with interior and exterior furniture and
now more recently garden tools.
A fairly large 10 foot+ high privet hedge borders one side of my property, and unable to maintain it myself satisfactorily I employed
a local gardener to do the job, a sole trader of 30 years, the ‘knows his
onions’ experienced type as opposed to the new ‘landscaping and garden design
company’ leaf blowing variety.
“Only time I can do is 7.30am on Saturday.”
“Fine I’ll see you then.”
“Bit harsh on the neighbours to fire up the garden machinery
that early, don’t you think?” my wife quite rightly comments later.
“It’ll be fine; it’s the only time he could do.” I respond
resolutely.
7.28am said gardener appears and begins unloading his tools,
and to my neighbours unknowing delight there’s not a powered hedge trimmer in
sight.
“You could be here a while.” I jokingly suggest.
“Nah, it’s not a big job, I’ll get through it pretty quickly
and you’ll have a much better finish with these,” he replies holding hand
shears that wouldn't look out of place in a British Garden
Tool Museum .
(Is there one? If not there should be.)
Further discussion uncovers his enthusiasm for using older
tools. Yes, of course he equips himself with faster power tools for certain
larger jobs, unfortunately for him as with all of us now ‘time is money’. But
generally his tool collection was sourced from car boot sales and ‘his little
grinding and sharpening man’ round the corner.
“Just look out for the Sheffield steel variety, all wooden handles
can be easily replaced if needed, and a quick service will provide you with a
tool unrivaled by most on the market today at a fraction of the price.” He
informs me.
As I trial his long arm lawn-edge shears, I can’t fault his
logic, the weight and solidness of the design all add the effectiveness and
ease of their function. I fail to show or indeed mention my not long acquired, made
in SE Asia , cheap, ergonomically handled and
light weight variety that honestly struggles with the same task, tucked away in
my shed.
So when you’re next perusing the tool aisles of your local
garden center being seduced by the overwhelming and technology advanced
varieties available, and unsure whether to invest in a new well made (yes, they
do exist) dearer model or taking the cheaper option, bear a thought to the 30 years
experience of my new garden savvy friend and take a visit to your local car
boot, check eBay (some lovely vintage examples on garden tools, auction only
listing, at time of writing) or seek out an independent tool servicing business
to source well made items at agreeable prices.
Your new found frugalness may be counter-intuitive to the
frequently preached and encouraged public spending policies that exist to defy
the global recession, but remember with an annual service of these tools you
are still investing your hard earned coffers in the service industry and combining
that with extremely effective recycling.
Loving your work Seb....leave FB to the pleb majority and empty your thoughts into something constructive and informative, well done, warms me cockles it does...."I've got a sniffle :o((((( and off for my elevensies :o)
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