frequently asked questions

A: In its pure form, copper would be too soft a metal for garden tools. However, our tools are made of a range of copper alloys. The blades of all of the tools are bronze, containing between 92% to 94% copper, depending on the tool. The remaining 6% to 8% is tin. Bronze is a hardwearing alloy of copper. The collars of Sirius and Sculptor are aluminium bronze, with aluminium instead of tin. Hydra and Pegasus also have parts of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. The collars of Phoenix, Polux and Lyra are pure copper.

Q: How do you sharpen the tools?

A: There are two ways. Either file the blade with a fine metal file, or put it on a block of wood and hammer it.

Q: Won't the copper go green over time?

A: No. The green is verdigris, which is formed when copper comes into contact with acid. Copper roofs have verdigris because rainwater with its absorbed carbon dioxide is naturally slightly acidic. Groundwater is not naturally acidic. Even acid soil is not acidic enough to cause verdigris. Our tools acquire a slight brown patina over time, that is all.

Q: How long should they last?

A: These are long-lasting tools, which should outlast most of us. However, if for any reason you are unhappy with the tool, we offer a no-quibble guarantee. We will refund or replace an unused tool. We will also repair or replace a faulty tool within a reasonable time after purchase. Of course, this excludes normal wear and tear.

Q: Do the handles need any special care?

A: The handles are of untreated European hardwood. As long as they are kept out of the rain, everyday use will seal the wood. Eventually they acquire a burnished shine. Do not wash the handles. Some people oil the handles for protection from the rain. You can also help the wood to seal by sanding it with very fine sandpaper, initially 150 grade, and then even finer.

Q: I have heard that slugs and snails receive an electric shock when they come into contact with copper.

A: We don't subscribe to the electric shock theory, for the following reason. We store our tools in an outside shed. One winter, we noticed a snail's slime trail leading to the head of the rake. It went over the rake and away from the other side. Either that was an exceptional, inert snail, or it did not receive an electric shock. However, it is true that plants cultivated with copper tools are less attractive to slugs and snails. We suspect that this is more because they are attracted to where iron or steel tools have been and not so much because they are repelled by copper. More about this subject on the Slugs and Snails page of this website.

Q: Does copper deter earthworms?

A: Earthworms are annelids, a different family from slugs and snails (molluscs). Annelids have haemoglobin just as we and other mammals do, whereas molluscs such as slugs and snails have haemocyanin, based on copper.

The use of iron or copper tools should have no effect on the earthworm population. Certainly they are there as much as ever in our garden, and we have used exclusively copper tools for several years now.

Q: Why isn't there a garden fork in the range?

A: Garden forks are a legacy from the Victorian tradition of gardening in the UK. In that period, there was a huge movement of people from the countryside to the towns. To differentiate it from its peasant roots, the new pastime of gardening called for new tools. A spade and fork were seen as more genteel than the traditional hoes and shovels. This despite the fact that they are less efficient than the older designs, which have stood the test of time.

Our tools are made in Austria, where garden forks are not part of the tradition. For the Austrian alternative, have a look at the Pegasus Pick page.

Q: Doesn't copper poison the soil? I have been told that hammering a copper nail into a tree can kill it.

A: Copper is a valuable trace element, which is in short supply in many parts of the world, including parts of the U.K. It is contained in many fungicides and plant feeds. It is necessary for plant metabolism, particularly energy transfer. Our tools stay in the ground for a shorter time than a nail hammered into a tree. Regarding the nail in the tree, we have not met anyone who has actually done this. However, too much of a good thing is bad for any living thing, including trees.

Q: Why did the human race move from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age?

A: We suspect the reason was not to do with agriculture, but weapons of war! Iron and steel are harder than bronze, but more brittle. They cause more friction than bronze and do not keep their keen edges so well. And even more importantly, every piece of iron is magnetised to a greater or lesser extent. This may not be particularly relevant for weapons and armour, but is very significant when working with the soil.

Q: Does Implementations have an ethical policy?

A: Yes. Viktor Schauberger, whose work inspired our range of tools, was an honourable man, and we try to run this venture in a similar spirit. Here are some aspects of our ethical policy:

* We aim to make the tools as affordable as possible

* Our leaflets are printed on recycled paper, supplied by Recycled Paper Supplies.

* We use recycled cardboard for our packaging, sourced from local businesses. We use as little plastic as possible.

* We bank with the Cooperative Bank.

* Our telephone account is with the Phone Coop.

If you have a question, please contact us.

Rainbow chard grown from Thomas Etty seeds.

Ready for cooking.