Garlic Planter
2022 Innovation Challenge Highlighted Applicant
A small scale three point hitch ride-on style pull behind garlic planter.
Problem solved: saves time and the lower back
Skills/tools needed: basic welding and fabrication skills. Iron, steel tubing, bars, pipe.
Cost: $100
Best suited for: garlic rows
INNOVATOR PROFILE
As a hobby farmer, Paul can now plant 2000 garlic in well tilled soil in under 50 minutes.
INNOVATION
This garlic planter plants on a 24 inch row. The unit has 4 removable spiked planting wheels that punch holes in tilled ground for planting garlic or any bulbous seed. With the 4 spiked wheels installed, plant spacing is 6 inches in width by 6 inches in length.
PROBLEM SOLVED
This garlic planter allows thousands of bulbs to get in the ground without strain on the body while maximizing time efficiency.
HOW TO BUILD IT & WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
The material (iron) is readily available. The main frame is made from 3” x 3” square steel tubing, 3” x 3/8” steel flat bar and 1” x 2” square steel tubing.
Each wheel is hand formed from 3” x 1/8” steel flat bar with 1/4” steel rod spokes welded to 3/4” id. black pipe hub. The wheels rotate on a removable 3/4” cold rolled steel rod axle. The seat is a standard eBay stamped steel tractor seat. They use a small 30 HP tractor.
About this resource:
CAFF’s Small Farm Tech Hub produced a booklet highlighting selected winners from the annual Small Farm Innovation Challenge.
Innovations were submitted by farmers in the category of “Do It Yourself” or DIY. This booklet only highlights a handful of total applicants to the Challenge. These innovations exemplify how simple DIY innovations can lead to significant improvements in the farm and offer blueprints that can be adapted, improved upon, and implemented by other farmers.
As applicants of the Innovation Challenge, their contribution to agricultural technology showcases the power of practical, scalable solutions in transforming the small farm landscape. The Innovation Challenge invites farmers, entrepreneurs, students, hackers and any ingenious, farm-loving thinkers to propose tech-based innovations that will help small scale agriculture compete, survive and thrive. All ideas, big or small, in any phase of development, will be accepted for the Innovation Challenge. Learn more by visiting www.caff.org/innovation.
A printable booklet can be viewed here.
Check out our other highlighted innovators:
