Digging Purple Yam & a FINAL Farewell to the PRONG Garden Tools

[Mandy Onderwater]

In this video Mark shows off his trusty old 'fork', which has seen it's use and has bent prongs. And the reason why it's bent, is because he didn't have this trusty prong tool. He reckons there would've been no way the purple yams would've budged with his normal garden fork.
We start the video with sad news. Peter Nichol, the creator of the Prong garden tool has sadly passed away earlier this year. Mark had a long working relationship. Peter even used to call Mark 'son'. Mark himself has received two shares in the Prong garden tool, and gave the majority to his best friend who is now the main director of the business. Even on his deathbed Peter was still promoting his beloved Prong garden tools, and before his death he expressed his preference for the business to continue after his passing. Realistically however, the future is not looking good. Mark tries to be as open and honest as he can, explaining that none but Peter himself probably had the time, funding and ability to continue the business. He hopes that someone might be keen on buying the company, or that they might have a change of heart.

The remaining Prong garden tools are being sold at a discounted price of 30%, which continues so long as stock last. If you wish to honour Peter Nichol's memory, and/or have a handy tool, the website is listed down below.

May Peter Nichol rest in peace.



Handy tip! Want to talk to Mark directly? Did you know that there is another way, outside the forum?
Support Mark on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/selfsufficientme (the top tier enables mentoring from Mark via an exclusive VIP email where he will answer your questions etc ASAP).

Tribute to Peter Nichol and his Prong garden tool invention. https://theprong.com/

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I myself have just ordered the yellow Long Prong

 

[Berkeloid]

My one year old "long prong" is going very well for the record. I would say my father has used it so much he's almost worn it out, except aside from the paint having come off the business end, it's as good as new. My land is very rocky so it has been thrust into many rocks while trying to dig up woody weeds but that doesn't seem to have phased it one bit.

Unfortunately having spent most of my career in front of a computer I don't have the strength in my wrists to jam it into the ground the way he can, but I can still wiggle it around to get it under the roots to lever them out. The long prong is also quite heavy so no need to go the gym afterwards!

I wonder whether Mark and co would consider trying to sell (or even donate) the rights to a garden tool company to see if they are interested in producing more and selling them in retail locations?

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I'm hoping to get some use out of it. I've already manually dug up most rocks myself, but there are some bigger ones that I didn't even attempt as the tools I have available to me would make it a nightmare to get out. Even the small rocks (that I could still pick up and carry, even though heavy) were a nightmare, because they had sunken into the ground so much.

I know as much as the video has shown. From the sounds of it, Mark (and the other shareholders) do hope someone wishes to buy the company and continue selling the Prong. So I doubt they are opposed to that. I think it's not very favourable at the moment simply because of the issues Peter Nichol himself has mentioned before. Ever since Covid-19 has hit, costs to make and sell the product have sky-rocketed. Peter himself had stopped the business for a few years, simply as he could not get the supply within reasonable bounds. I think that this might be part of the reason the other shareholders might not be able to continue it.
I am just speculating here, but I assume Peter Nichol was a retired man. Which can mean he had a lot more free time on his hands than any of the other shareholders. Mark is an avid gardener and an online personality, which takes up a lot more time behind the scenes than many think. Between actually growing plants, he also has to video it, edit the videos, get them uploaded, and he does try to communicate with his viewers in comment sections as well. Knowing how busy Mark is already, he could not do The Prong justice, whilst still keeping up with his other obligations. I feel that sometimes it's better to understand something's value and stop, rather than try and keep it going poorly.

 

[Berkeloid]

Totally agree you need to make it your full time job (i.e. be retired) in order to make something like that work. I wasn't thinking so much of Mark and the other owners working with another company, I was thinking more of effectively selling the Prong Company to them, so the existing garden tools company takes over manufacture and distribution of the prongs. Then none of the current owners have to do anything, but Peter's invention is still out there in the world for people to use, especially if it appears on the shelves at places like Bunnings so more people become aware of it.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I reckon they are open to that option. It's whether the other company is willing to do this more than anything.