He has this thing.  He thinks greed is a particularly bad sin and he would rather undercharge than overcharge.  The irony is that when I had a word processing business for 10 years, I had the same hangup. I always undercharged.   I just didn't want to take advantage of someone. But J really does undercharge.  the going rate for lawn mowing around here is $100 an acre.  J was going to do 3 acres for $50.  A very difficult 3 acres because of all the trees and hills.

I will find a way.  I value good people.

Hatman,

The spade fork is one of the best tools I have ever purchased.  That tool got me to thinking.  I went prowling around all the hardware and home improvement stores in the area and came up with another gem--a hand tiller.  It is like a claw hammer with a narrow hoe on one end rather than the hammer part and a three pronged claw on the other end.  It has some weight to it and an excellent grip.  With the spade fork and the hand tiller, I am able to accomplish something.  It will take me longer but I have tons of patience.  My goal is to spend the next 12 months digging (I will plant this year as I get a section dug) and by next year I should have a lot done.  By the time I retire, I will have a nice yard to lounge in. 

The positive side too is that doing it this way will increase my physical fitness.  Since I will have something to show for it in the garden, the workout won't be so depressing.

I already double dug a nice hole for my rose bush that I am going to order!

Hatman, I had never seen one of these tillers either.  It is  a bit different from a mattock in that, the handle is short like a hammer, the pickax part is a 3 pronged fork.  What is great is the weight. It is perfect.  Not too heavy to wear me out but can really break ground.  The hoe part is narrow and tough enough to get down in the hole and really whittle away at the earth.  Add the spade fork, it really cuts the work down into manageable steps.