A couple of months ago, I read a very interesting question; what do you have in your pockets when your doing your everyday tasks (or something like that). My question is:

What are the three tools you use on your homestead that you would hate to be left without?

-- Julio R. Guerra (aka j.r. guerra) (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 19, 2001

Answers

They're all handy, or they wouldn't be there. The ones I seem to use the most are: The "Bigfoot" red wagon, my Buck-lite knife that goes on my belt EVERY time I put on my pants, and a good, heavy mattock.

-- Dan G. (stagecoach@hotmail.com), July 19, 2001.

Guess it would depend on what I was doing on the homestead.

A few things I have to have. Good pocket knife Cordless drill A good hammer.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), July 19, 2001.

Chainsaw,rototiller, and pump shotgun. Daryll

-- Daryll (twincrk@hotmail.com), July 19, 2001.

5 gal plastic pail, gerber commando/w scabbard, hand trowel shovel.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 19, 2001.

ATM card, Visa card, cash!! Actually its proabibly my ole Ford 4wd beater, leatherman utility tool, and my trained cow dogs.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), July 19, 2001.

Gotta be " My three hoe's" :-))

-- James (jamesj1592@about.com), July 19, 2001.

Gerber multi-tool, fencing tool and 9N Ford.

-- Robert (STBARB@usa.net), July 19, 2001.

The fire rake (for gardening), cheap plastic snap knife that has extendable blades, and the heavy hatchet, which can also be used as a hammer.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), July 19, 2001.

Mattock, mattock, mattock!!! Can ya tell I use my mattock alot? After it, a hoe and heavy rake. When we moved I left my tools at our old home for a month or so, when I finally got them here, I felt like I was at home again. Nothing as good as a well worn tool.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 19, 2001.

hammer, saw, 5-gallon plastic bucket

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 19, 2001.

My wife, My oldest son(18), My youngest son (4), the girls when I can coax them into it.

-- sm4farm (dshans@hotmail.com), July 19, 2001.

Getting my wife 3 new tools! No I think the tools we use the most around here are our Kemp Shreader, Sears Suburban and Custom Tractors with there attachments and a Heavy Duty Lawn cart for the tractors.

-- Wes (wswiii@worldnet.att.net), July 19, 2001.

Spading fork, Japanese pruning saw, variable speed drill

-- seraphima (seraphima@ak.net), July 19, 2001.

DUCT TAPE, DeWalt cordless drill, DR Trimmer/mower

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 19, 2001.

Duct tape is my number 1 favorite tool to have around, baler twine is a close second, I guess the third would be a tie between funnels (lots of different sizes), and a cordless drill. Buckets are another thing I find very handy.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), July 19, 2001.

Hey j.r., what's your 3 favorites?

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), July 19, 2001.

Hand trowel, 1-gal bucket, and a pair of aviation snips.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), July 19, 2001.

For working around property it would have to be my cordless drill, my carpenter's hammer and my Porter-Cable circular saw with the motor to the right of the blade where it's out the sight line of a rightie like me (All the others are built 'wrong.' Think about it next time you cut.) ;o)

For my business (not that you asked) it would have to be, my HP color fax/color copier/color scanner/color printer (if they were separates, I'd just take the fax), my PC and my Palm Pilot.

One thing I'll mention for all of you duct tape fans out there (OK, for all of you OTHER duct tape fans out there). Check out a TV show on PBS (of all places) called 'The Red Green Show.' It's really funny with a hilarious "How To" segment that always ends with the line "Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), July 19, 2001.

At feeding time, wheelbarrow, sidecuts, and scrub brush. Other times, Stihl chainsaw, Eastwing hammer, and cordless drill. Gary, have you seen the episode of Red Green explaining how to use other tools when you can't find the proper ones? When he uses the level as a hammer, I can't help but cringe, but man, is it funny!

-- Judy C. Vaughan (whileaway3@cs. com), July 20, 2001.

AC-DC welder, angle grinder, chop saw. With a welder and scrap material to work with I can cobble up or repair just about anything I need including many hand tools like a mattock, garden cart, etc.

-- Hermit John (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), July 20, 2001.

Okay, I'm not a homesteader yet, still a "gonna-be", but a good light pocket knife, a big handkerchief (gotta keep the sweat out of my eyes, man I hate that), and a COMFORTABLE pair of boots would make me happy.

-- j. r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 20, 2001.

Okay, I'm not a homesteader yet, still a "gonna-be", but I can't see being outside without a good pocket knife, a big handkerchief (can't stand to let sweat run into my eyes), and a COMFORTABLE pair of boots.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 20, 2001.

and a fourth thing: get some computer skills J.R. Sorry, how'd I do that?

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), July 20, 2001.

Swiss Army knife, DR Powerwagon, 12 gauge shotgun!

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), July 20, 2001.

Gary....Red also calls duct tape "the handymans secret weapon". Did you see the episode where he turned his van into a snow plow? Glad you like this Canadian show. Its a total hoot! Tool...my big utility trailer, buckets buckets and more buckets, baler twine.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), July 20, 2001.

As they say on the Red Green Show, "Any tool can be the right tool."

When I went to Russia, I was wishing for a good sharp kitchen knife and any kind of washing device to clean diapers other than a scrub board. I was grateful for my multipurpose tool and duct tape.

At home I love my Felcos and hammer....the cordless drill is nice when I can get it from my husband.....and I couldn't live without Duct tape either. For general preparedness for emergencies/storms, we always make sure we have extra matches, roll plastic and duct tape.

I guess my handiest tools are my.....hands!

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), July 22, 2001.

Hooftrimmers, gas weedeater and bungee cords! I use my hooftrimmers for sheep hooves, cutting hay bales, trimming bushes, etc.Always have at least one pair in my pocket. The weed eater is indespensible for keeping the bottom wires of our hi-tensile electric fence clear. And the bungee cords have lots of uses here: rigging together temporary pens, runways, sorting chutes and holding water buckets to walls. My hubbys list: gas water pump, portable rubbermaid water troughs and his chain saw.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), July 24, 2001.