More than 20 years ago we were working as gardeners on a private estate in West Cork. Our new boss had bought a 100 acre estate and was developing a walled garden, ornamental woodlands and a productive vegetable garden. We were fresh out of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, where we had both trained, and were full of energy and enthusiasm for gardening.
One of the tools that we bought ourselves at this time was a Sneeboer stainless steel trowel. It was expensive for us at the time, but it was strong, sturdy and lovely to use. It was used often and used hard, planting out hundreds of seedlings, countless bulbs, and pulling out an infinite number of weeds. We ran a busy garden design and planting business, and this was one of our essential tools. Twenty four years it's still going strong. It's a little worn around the edges through years of work, but it still has another couple of decades of hard work left in it. It's a testament to quality, and pretty much sums up the 'philosophy' behind what our shops exemplify: buy better and less often.
We are now very happy to stock Sneeboer tools in our two Dublin shops. They are not for everyone, because not everyone wants or needs tools of this quality. They're also expensive. On the other hand, a quality tool will outlast multiple inferior ones, making it better value in the long run. They are also beautiful and efficient to use.
Everything about Sneeber tools is aimed at longevity. From the European hardwood handles to the hand forged stainless steel, it is all made in Bovenkarspel in the Netherlands. They sum up their ethos as follows:
We can do our part in making the world a better place by creating these long lasting products. We truly believe that decreasing consumerism is key to creating a healthy earth and a sustainable lifestyle.
Our 24 year old Sneeboer transplanting trowel
