Discounts on Ben's recommended tools
Sign up for my mailing list below to receive discount codes for tools and products I use and recommend. Students in my online course, the Lean Micro Farm Masterclass, receive exclusive discounts on additional products.
Walden Grow Tents: 10% off - use code CLAYBOTTOMFARMS
Ben uses the Greens & Veggies Walden grow tent kit from Active Grow for seed starting, growing microgreens, and small-scale winter growing.
Hoss Tools: 10% discount - use code claybottomfarm10
Over the shoulder harvesting buckets from Hoss make tomato, cucumber, and sugar snap pea harvests easy at Clay Bottom Farm.
Sumi Soaker Max: 10% off - use code leanfarm2026
Check out this video to learn why Ben has switched over his irrigation system to the Sumi Soaker Max system from Modern Grower.
Tilmor - 4% discount
Ben recommends the Tilmor E-Ox electric wheel hoe and implements. Sign up above for Ben's mailing list and receive a 4% discount on Tilmor products.
Terrateck - 5% off
Sign up for the mailing list above to receive a code for 5% off Terrateck tools. Ben uses Terrateck tools as his primary cultivation tools at Clay Bottom Farm.
Lean Micro Farm book - 35% off
Join the email list above for a 35% discount on Ben's latest book, The Lean Micro Farm, from Chelsea Green Publishing.
Save thousands on tools and supplies
When you sign up for the Masterclass, you will receive discount codes for many of these products. Savings from these codes alone can pay for the Masterclass price. Ben works directly with many of these companies as a tool designer and consultant.
Purchasing tools and supplies using these links helps to support our farm.
Tilmor
E-Ox electric wheel hoe - $1750+
Cultivator teeth - $113
Side knife - $133
Light duty flat shank ripper (x2) - $110
Plow set kit
Oscillating hoe
Terrateck
Distributed in the US and Canada through Tilmor
Single wheel hoe and double wheel hoe with implements (Plow/ridger 8”, 3-tine cultivator, torsion weeder, bio discs, Planet Jr Collinear Hoe 275mm)
Nifty weeder hand weeders - N501 and N503
Wheel weeder - 5" and 11”
Torsion weeder hand tool – 90mm and 120mm
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds Connecta tools (Row Pro, Cultivation Kit, Matrix row marker set)
Johnny's Selected Seeds Tilther XT
Bed preparation rake - $109
Narrow collinear hoe - $53
Harvest bucket - $34
Curved grape and tomato shears - $15
Jang seeder - $519
Jang rollers - X-24 (baby Asian greens), LJ-24 (spinach), and F-12 (carrots and baby lettuce) - $31.20 each
Trowel - $22
Modern Grower
Sumi Soaker Max Irrigation Kits for gentle, even irrigation of new seedlings and established crops
Sumi Soaker riser attachment - use with conduit to lift up the Sumi Soaker
Paperpot germination trays - $95/10 pack
Paperpot solid bottom trays - $75/10 pack
BurlapSupply (Fort Wayne, IN) or local landscaping supply store - Burlap row cover/shade cloth, 60”x300’, 10#, make sure it is untreated
FarmRaise provides an easy-to-use platform with affordable pricing to track your farm's finances. Receive 20% off FarmRaise Tracks Premium membership (does not apply to Payroll or Financial Planning add-ons at this time) using the coupon code: CLAYBOTTOM20
Orisha Automation This is the best control system for small farm greenhouses.
Lean Grow Tent Set-up
Active Grow Walden LED Grow Tent Kit We use the “Greens and veggies” version for the best light spectrum for our crops - $1045
Active Grow LED Lights - Sun Light Pro Spectrum, lights only, for those who have their own rack
Active Grow Seed starting lights for racks
Active Grow T5 Lamp upgrades
Active Grow T8 Lamp upgrades (ballast bypass)
4" Inline fan helps with ventilation if doors are kept closed - $21
Inkbird WiFi Digital Temperature Controller if a heater is needed in the grow tent - $50
GHome Smart Plug to control power remotely - $16
Garland tray for bottom watering plug flats - $13
Seedtime calendar Get free early beta access to their farm planning calendar and receive $5 in free seeds
Farmer's Friend
Quick-cut greens harvester - $750
Silage tarp (cut to width of two growing beds) - $233-491
Silage tarp repair tape - $36
Ground cover 6'x300' - $258
Coolbot Pro with WiFi - $419
Paper Pot Planting System from Small Farm Works
Paper chain pots, we use 2", 4", and 6" spacing, hemp and regular - price varies
Extra long 12" paper chain pots and tools
Paper chain pot opening kit - $75
Nursery trays, set of 10 - $52
Single row transplanter - $699
Deeper furrow maker - $139
Dibble for paper chain pots, standard knob - $225
Gravity seeder and inserts (we use 4.0 and 5.0mm) - $395
Hoss Tools
Harvesting bucket - $45
Wheel hoe - $269
Fixed blade sweeps - $60
Gardener's Supply Company
DeWit half moon hoe - $80
Webstaurant Store
6" stainless steel produce knife - $7.50
Choice Prep 5 gallon greens spinner - $95
Irrigation King
Parts for 2 X-cel Wobbler head riser assemblies - $11 ea
Drip tape - $118
Orbit
Orbit 1/2” zinc step spike base - $11 ea (use with 4’ length of ½” steel pipe and Xcel-Wobbler head for farm-built overhead irrigation; see p. 177 of The Lean Micro Farm for more information)
Lee Valley
Clarington Forge digging fork (40") - $72
AM Leonard
Irrigation bag for fruit trees - $25.95
Local hardware store or online retailer
3/4"x100' garden hose - $230
Aluminum scoop shovel - $70
Adjustable-width rake - $35 (best to have one piece handle to avoid breakage)
Amazon
Cotton muslin drawstring produce bags (12”x16”)
Mars Hydro TSL2000 grow light - $260
20,000 BTU weed burner torch for landscape fabric - $40
Inkbird digital temperature controller for germination chamber - $35
50 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank for washing greens - $200
Vermont Compost Supply (or source locally)
Fort Light Potting mix
Uline
Plastic bags for food packaging
Round trip totes for storing and delivering greens and produce
19.8"x13.8"x15.8" - $23
19.8"x13.8"x11.3" - $19
19.9"x14.2"x8.4" - $19
Local thrift store
Used slow cooker for germination chamber - $10
Use local leaves, food scraps, spent grain, etc. to make compost or purchase locally
Starter Hoophouse Options
CT Greenhouse
Tomato Powerhouse Greenhouse Kit (this model is nearly identical to the custom greenhouses we have at Clay Bottom Farm and we recommend this supplier) - contact for pricing
Nolt’s Greenhouse Supplies
Quonset Greenhouse, 12’x48’ - $1400
Farmer’s Friend
Gothic Caterpillar Tunnel, 16’x50’ - $2400
Greenhouse Megastore
1000 Series Hoophouse Frame, 16’x48’ (does not include plastic or baseboard) - $2200
1000 Series Hoophouse Package, 16’x48’ - $3000
Bootstrap Farmer
DIY Greenhouse Kit, 12’x60’ (kit optionally includes a bender for you to bend your own pipe; top rail and wood for hip boards, baseboard, and end walls purchased locally on your own) - $1100
Gardening without plastic supplies
Using burlap as seedbed cover, landscaping fabric, or ground cover - 10oz untreated burlap rolls in varying widths:
https://www.maxkatzbag.com/burlap.html
https://eatonbrothers.com/product/bulk-burlap/
A good scissors for cutting burlap
Using burlap as shade cloth - 7oz untreated burlap rolls in varying widths
Burlap sandbags - For jute bags (14” x 26”) to use as sandbags, see Sandbaggy.com or Central Ohio Bag and Burlap
Using coffee bags as grow bags - For used jute coffee bags (often for free), visit your local coffee roaster.
Staking with sisal twine and bamboo:
For bamboo poles, see Grower’s Solution
For sisal single ply twine, see Central Ohio Bag and Burlap
Using jute trellis netting for vines - 6 ½’ x 150’ netting from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
Selling food without plastic: cotton and jute bags
Cotton bags (12” x 16”) from Amazon
For jute bags (14” x 26”), see Sandbaggy.com or Central Ohio Bag and Burlap
