The Cultivator Broadfork was born from the requests of farmers and gardeners like you for a broadfork that is designed to aid in finer tilthing and the harvest of root crops. You asked for it, and you got it - a high strength, lightweight broadfork that will smoothly till up your soil and make "lite" work of harvesting your deep root crops. Click here to watch some of our harvest videos and see for yourself how gentle the Treadlite Broadfork is on your crops.
The 20" wide step tube makes The Cultivator Broadfork a highly maneuverable tool in any size bed. The Cultivator Broadfork tines cultivate a true 12" deep into the soil.
Strengths of this model include:
Harvesting crops
Finer tilthing
Prepping and turning over beds
Soil aeration
Great for use in already established beds or cultivated soil
Technical Specs:
Width: 20" wide round step tube
Tines: 5 tines at a true 12" length from the step tube
Weight: 12 lbs with wood handles, 15 lbs with steel handles
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Choose your desired handle style from our ash wood, alloy steel or the deluxe combo set to use both styles interchangeably in your Treadlite Broadfork.
HANDLE RECOMMENDATION: The wood handles are preferred with The Cultivator broadfork to keep it as lightweight and maneuverable as possible. We know you will love the natural feel of our ash wood handles!
*If you plan to use your broadfork for breaking new ground, a commercial application, on a market farm, or will be used by multiple users over large spaces the steel handles will be a better fit.
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Please see our FAQ page for more info on our coating options and our shipping policies.
Shipping
Standard Shipping: Order ships within 3-5 business days from purchase
I didn’t realize just how much I needed this tool or how much I would love it. We have terrible soil, with so much clay. Each year I work hard to break it and amend with compost, peat moss and other things. It’s a ton of work and I don’t really get far into the dirt. With multiple boxes to amend it takes forever and I’m always disappointed.
I couldn’t believe just how quickly I was able to break up the soil in a single box. I’m so happy with the results!
Consideration: It’s heavier than I realized! I didn’t notice it right away. Of course the first time lifting and getting it into the ground you can feel it’s heavy. But it was easy to keep using. I was so excited about the progress the first day that I overdid it and my shoulder and arms paid the price.
Concern: Within a week of owning it the end cap on the handle came off. I shoved it back into the handle but I don’t know how long that will last. I was lucky to notice it fall. This is my reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5.
I did put the cardboard to good use as suggested in the packaging. The edges of my boxes were lined with the cardboard and then wood chips added.
Very high quality tool. The product looks like it will last a really long time. it makes tilting my heavy clay backyard garden a lot easier. I also used it to harvest my root produces, digging up trees etc. I’m a small woman and had no issues using it to work my 1000sft garden in an afternoon. Definitely highly recommend it for any serious gardeners. The tool is sharp, it’s advisable to wear steeled toed shoes/boots to make sure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself
I sent you a video on instagram.... I'm a 125* petite older woman with back and knee injuries and I show how I use it without pain or strain in my clay heavy soil beds before adding compost. I have lots of big rocks that keep moving to the surface and have bent my pitchfork more than once while trying to get them out. I'm thinking this thing isn't going to bend or twist! It's not as light as I would've imagined but I'm getting the hang of it as I prep more beds. I'm really glad I got it! I no longer have to ask my very busy husband to help me prep the beds. Thank you!
Works great! Very well built! I have tried doing this with a tiller before, and you spend more time removing vines and such from the tiller. I have about 4 acres of bottom land in North Georgia, that was wet and flooded all the time. New bridge made the field dry out, so now I am removing weeds and wildflowers, by hand with my new Treadlite Broadfork. Thanks so much. Suggestion... build one with 3 tines and one handle... a SPADING FORK...
Store owner replied:
Looks like a job well done! or as a garden is, in progress! Thanks for the suggestion James. We are working a set of new tools and your suggestion is in the hopper!
Was super excited to see this was made in Appleton, WI, not only USA made, but my home state!!
Very well built and good customer service. Already used the fork to open spots for my new cherry trees. I expect that it'll be a helpful tool in my battle against quack grass in my orchard. Shared my excitement on my Facebook and Instagram as well 😁
I needed to dig a 2-foot trench around a large fenced garden (30 x 40), and the plow broadfork has proven invaluable for cutting through the turf and loosening the soil for digging. It's a heck of a job (with Connecticut rocky soil), but the broadfork has been a lifesaver. You can use your bodyweight to speed the process. The broadfork itself is extremely sturdy (though I'd suggest opting for steel handles as I did if you're putting it to the test).
I do regenerative soil work in Southern California and landscape design, focusing on permaculture principles. I love my broad fork! So much so that my husband replaced the one I lost in the devastating Palisades fire this past January with a new one for Valentine's Day :)
The fork weighs a bit more than I thought, but it is very manageable. Especially it's good right now for breaking new ground.
Very well made.
Easy to put together.
This is a strong tool a very durable, it will last for a very long time. The only thing that I was disappointed with it was the shipping. I paid for expedite and I got my Broad fork 9 days later after shipping. Othe than that waiting for the weather to cool down and the clay soild to soften it before using it.
I decided to purchase the 20” 5 tine Broadfork with both sets of handles, metal and wood. Mind you I’ve always used a rototiller but we’d like to try a new way of gardening. This tool is so easy to use, set it where you want to start your row then step on it, went in all the way. I knew I made good decision, WOW! Looking forward to the 2027 growing season. No more wrestling the rototiller around!!! Thanks Treadlite for a great tool for our garden!
I was really excited to get my Broadfork but was worried I wouldn’t be strong enough to use it and would have to get my husband to at least get me started. But it was fine! It took a few passes to work a new patch but the Broadfork did exactly what I was hoping and I did it myself! I can’t wait to make rows for our new garden area!
Bought this for my husband as he is an avid gardner and saw this on line and wanted one. So he got this for Fathers Day and was very excited to try it out! Success!! He loves it! Has already used it in the garden and is now starting on a patch of grass that needs reseeded.
I love the product!
I have owned three roto-tillers, and I have had problems with each of them. I eventually got rid of all of them, and have been looking for an alternative to tilling my garden. I thought that if there was just something like a large pitchfork that was square on the top that I could stand on and turn over the earth ...
And then last year when we were in Pennsylvania visiting our Amish and Mennonite friends, I saw one of these in a house garden. I knew that it was just what I was looking for.
This year I bought the 20" model and used it soon after receiving it. It worked better than I expected. And the best thing about it is that there's no moving parts. Just a good sturdy design of ash and steel. In this instance, I supply the moving parts. As my garden had laid fallow for two years, it was a physical challenge to break through some initially tough soil, but I just chalked it up to a day of good cardio.
My only regret is that I hadn't seen the broadfork earlier. I would have never purchased a roto-tiller if I had known about the broadfork. Yet here it is now, sitting in my shed, taking up minimal space, and ready to do it's job at the potential of the operator.
So from a grateful customer thanks for putting such a quality product on the market
Gratefully,
Frederick Davis
This has been amazing in our garden!! I absolutely love it and look forward to getting out to the garden to work with this tool. Very well made and will last a lifetime. Highly recommend!
I’m happy with the quality of the product and am happy that I paid extra for the metal handles. I did have to file down one side pole to get it to slide all the way in to the sleeve it bolts into.
First effort, a little early to tell. It took a while learning to balance upon, pierce through and lift 8" of pebbly garden soil raised beds interlaced with a network of pencil thick tree roots atop decades-old rototiller induced hard pan 8" down. But with high hopes I look forward to healthier soil, and a better garden this season; and perhaps, a not so "hard" pan to pierce deeper after.
Great tool for prepping our garden area without destroying the natural biome. It take some work to use, but is not difficult and the 20" width we chose is perfect for our needs. Also choosing the wood handles was the way to go.
I had two at my previous home. Left those for the next generation taking in the gardens. When I moved to my new place the need was obvious. It arrived in a week band a week later the badly cared for beds are ready for a new season. THANKS
I love the utility of the broadfork, but unfortunately the ash handles broke after only 1-weeks' worth of use. I don't feel as if I was abusing the tool in any way.
Afterwards, I immediately went on the website to upgrade to steel handles. I see that the replacement warranty only extends to the steel handles - information that would have probably swayed my opinion in buying the wood handles the first go around (I originally bought the wood handles on the insistence they would be tough without being too heavy. Given the life we got out of the wood handles - I would take the extra weight 10X over.)
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Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 267 reviews.
I didn’t realize just how much I needed this tool or how much I would love it. We have terrible soil, with so much clay. Each year I work hard to break it and amend with compost, peat moss and other things. It’s a ton of work and I don’t really get far into the dirt. With multiple boxes to amend it takes forever and I’m always disappointed.
I couldn’t believe just how quickly I was able to break up the soil in a single box. I’m so happy with the results!
Consideration: It’s heavier than I realized! I didn’t notice it right away. Of course the first time lifting and getting it into the ground you can feel it’s heavy. But it was easy to keep using. I was so excited about the progress the first day that I overdid it and my shoulder and arms paid the price.
Concern: Within a week of owning it the end cap on the handle came off. I shoved it back into the handle but I don’t know how long that will last. I was lucky to notice it fall. This is my reason for rating 4 stars instead of 5.
I did put the cardboard to good use as suggested in the packaging. The edges of my boxes were lined with the cardboard and then wood chips added.
Very high quality tool. The product looks like it will last a really long time. it makes tilting my heavy clay backyard garden a lot easier. I also used it to harvest my root produces, digging up trees etc. I’m a small woman and had no issues using it to work my 1000sft garden in an afternoon. Definitely highly recommend it for any serious gardeners. The tool is sharp, it’s advisable to wear steeled toed shoes/boots to make sure you don’t accidentally hurt yourself
I sent you a video on instagram.... I'm a 125* petite older woman with back and knee injuries and I show how I use it without pain or strain in my clay heavy soil beds before adding compost. I have lots of big rocks that keep moving to the surface and have bent my pitchfork more than once while trying to get them out. I'm thinking this thing isn't going to bend or twist! It's not as light as I would've imagined but I'm getting the hang of it as I prep more beds. I'm really glad I got it! I no longer have to ask my very busy husband to help me prep the beds. Thank you!
Works great! Very well built! I have tried doing this with a tiller before, and you spend more time removing vines and such from the tiller. I have about 4 acres of bottom land in North Georgia, that was wet and flooded all the time. New bridge made the field dry out, so now I am removing weeds and wildflowers, by hand with my new Treadlite Broadfork. Thanks so much. Suggestion... build one with 3 tines and one handle... a SPADING FORK...
Store owner replied:
Looks like a job well done! or as a garden is, in progress! Thanks for the suggestion James. We are working a set of new tools and your suggestion is in the hopper!
Was super excited to see this was made in Appleton, WI, not only USA made, but my home state!!
Very well built and good customer service. Already used the fork to open spots for my new cherry trees. I expect that it'll be a helpful tool in my battle against quack grass in my orchard. Shared my excitement on my Facebook and Instagram as well 😁
I needed to dig a 2-foot trench around a large fenced garden (30 x 40), and the plow broadfork has proven invaluable for cutting through the turf and loosening the soil for digging. It's a heck of a job (with Connecticut rocky soil), but the broadfork has been a lifesaver. You can use your bodyweight to speed the process. The broadfork itself is extremely sturdy (though I'd suggest opting for steel handles as I did if you're putting it to the test).
I do regenerative soil work in Southern California and landscape design, focusing on permaculture principles. I love my broad fork! So much so that my husband replaced the one I lost in the devastating Palisades fire this past January with a new one for Valentine's Day :)
The fork weighs a bit more than I thought, but it is very manageable. Especially it's good right now for breaking new ground.
Very well made.
Easy to put together.
This is a strong tool a very durable, it will last for a very long time. The only thing that I was disappointed with it was the shipping. I paid for expedite and I got my Broad fork 9 days later after shipping. Othe than that waiting for the weather to cool down and the clay soild to soften it before using it.
I decided to purchase the 20” 5 tine Broadfork with both sets of handles, metal and wood. Mind you I’ve always used a rototiller but we’d like to try a new way of gardening. This tool is so easy to use, set it where you want to start your row then step on it, went in all the way. I knew I made good decision, WOW! Looking forward to the 2027 growing season. No more wrestling the rototiller around!!! Thanks Treadlite for a great tool for our garden!
I was really excited to get my Broadfork but was worried I wouldn’t be strong enough to use it and would have to get my husband to at least get me started. But it was fine! It took a few passes to work a new patch but the Broadfork did exactly what I was hoping and I did it myself! I can’t wait to make rows for our new garden area!
Bought this for my husband as he is an avid gardner and saw this on line and wanted one. So he got this for Fathers Day and was very excited to try it out! Success!! He loves it! Has already used it in the garden and is now starting on a patch of grass that needs reseeded.
I love the product!
I have owned three roto-tillers, and I have had problems with each of them. I eventually got rid of all of them, and have been looking for an alternative to tilling my garden. I thought that if there was just something like a large pitchfork that was square on the top that I could stand on and turn over the earth ...
And then last year when we were in Pennsylvania visiting our Amish and Mennonite friends, I saw one of these in a house garden. I knew that it was just what I was looking for.
This year I bought the 20" model and used it soon after receiving it. It worked better than I expected. And the best thing about it is that there's no moving parts. Just a good sturdy design of ash and steel. In this instance, I supply the moving parts. As my garden had laid fallow for two years, it was a physical challenge to break through some initially tough soil, but I just chalked it up to a day of good cardio.
My only regret is that I hadn't seen the broadfork earlier. I would have never purchased a roto-tiller if I had known about the broadfork. Yet here it is now, sitting in my shed, taking up minimal space, and ready to do it's job at the potential of the operator.
So from a grateful customer thanks for putting such a quality product on the market
Gratefully,
Frederick Davis
This has been amazing in our garden!! I absolutely love it and look forward to getting out to the garden to work with this tool. Very well made and will last a lifetime. Highly recommend!
I’m happy with the quality of the product and am happy that I paid extra for the metal handles. I did have to file down one side pole to get it to slide all the way in to the sleeve it bolts into.
First effort, a little early to tell. It took a while learning to balance upon, pierce through and lift 8" of pebbly garden soil raised beds interlaced with a network of pencil thick tree roots atop decades-old rototiller induced hard pan 8" down. But with high hopes I look forward to healthier soil, and a better garden this season; and perhaps, a not so "hard" pan to pierce deeper after.
Great tool for prepping our garden area without destroying the natural biome. It take some work to use, but is not difficult and the 20" width we chose is perfect for our needs. Also choosing the wood handles was the way to go.
I had two at my previous home. Left those for the next generation taking in the gardens. When I moved to my new place the need was obvious. It arrived in a week band a week later the badly cared for beds are ready for a new season. THANKS
I love the utility of the broadfork, but unfortunately the ash handles broke after only 1-weeks' worth of use. I don't feel as if I was abusing the tool in any way.
Afterwards, I immediately went on the website to upgrade to steel handles. I see that the replacement warranty only extends to the steel handles - information that would have probably swayed my opinion in buying the wood handles the first go around (I originally bought the wood handles on the insistence they would be tough without being too heavy. Given the life we got out of the wood handles - I would take the extra weight 10X over.)