Our Tool Share Program is all about connecting people with tools!

Collecting food from our backyard is easy, but it does a require some equipment. Wildsight’s Tool Share is an expanding cooperative resource that gives access to the tools needed to preserve the food you grow. The library includes apple presses, a dehydrator, canning stove, a smoker, tree pruners and more. Why buy your own when using Wildsight’s equipment is so easy and convenient!

Don’t forget that our Tool Share is constantly growing and evolving so please do check back frequently to see what is new! We are also very happy for your suggestions for what we should add. Think we need some rakes? Let us know! Could you benefit from an apple sauce maker? Shoot us an email!

You can visit our ‘virtual tool shed’ to create an account and check it out. Below is a list of what we currently have available. This program is funded by your generous donations. Thank you!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TOOLS!
Tool Share Inventory

1 – push mower
1 – pasta maker
3 – apple presses
2 – apple picker poles and bags
5 – recycle stands for events
1 – food smoker
2 – large beverage containers (18L)
1- 40 cup coffee percolator
1 – backyard canning stove
5 – dehydrators
1 – watering can
10 – groundbreaking shovels
1 – apple corers/peelers
1 – curved pruning saw
1 – pole pruner (complete pruning kit)
1 – canning pot
1 – event kit (assorted dishes, cutlery, glasses)
4 – tiki torches
7 – solar path lights for events
1 – Sauce Maker

Not too sure how to use the tools? We are always happy to help but here is a bit on the more commonly used tools:

Apple Picker
Picking apples is no easy task. Awkward leaning ladders and arms that are just a bit too short to reach that perfect apple can often result in damaged limbs and bruised fruit. Safety first people! The fruit picker is a basket affixed to the end of a standard broom handle with a cotton bag to catch fruit to give you a few extra feet advantage.

Apple press
What did people drink before bottled beverages? Apple Cider! Making fresh apple cider is easy and fun, all you need is a few fruit bearing trees and an apple press. An apple press is used to crush apples that produces an unfiltered juice that is referred to as cider. Whole apples are ground up by a hand propelled grinder. From there the apple pieces (stems, cores and all) are put into a cheesecloth (porous) bag and transferred into a wooden cylinder. Once in the cylinder the bag gets squeezed by a piston and the juice is forced from the solids. Often this process requires a few friends with a lot of tenacity. Watch for wasps!!

Dehydrator
Have you made enough juice and are looking for other options for your harvest? Dehydrators are a device that removes moisture from food to aid in preservation. It uses a heat source and air flow to reduce the water content of foods. Removing moisture restrains various bacteria from growing and spoiling food and its whole lot easier to take hiking!

Canning Stove
So you have made all the cider and want to save it for the upcoming months. Can it! Most canning water baths don’t fit well on the conventional stove. This canning stove has 3 burners so a couple water baths can be on the go at once. The stove requires propane that you will need to provide.

Smoker
So, you have all your dehydrated apples packed up for your pack trip, but you can’t survive on only that. Smoked meat and fish! Smoking is the process of flavouring, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to smoke from smouldering material, most often wood. Wildsight’s smoker is an electric front loader that is easy to use.

Push Mower
This machine utilizes and is powered by your muscle as you push it. One or more revolving cutting blades are connected to the wheels that spin as as you push leaving a beautifully evenly sheared lawn. No need to hit the gym on these days!

Recycle Bins
Don’t forget how easy recycling is at your next event. Borrow our collapsible recycle bins. They are easy to pack up and move to location.

Questions? elkvalley@wildsight.ca