If your garden in anything like ours, then all of the tools do not make it back to the tools shed. I will not point any fingers, but there is one culprit in our brood who is more guilty of this than any other. I refer to it as “not putting the toys away”. Over the years I have learned that it is best to bargain with this offender, and to get them to clean up by making it easier in one way or another to do.
When it comes to the tools, I was at a bit of a loss for awhile, and then I came across this gem. It is the perfect tool container, as it efficiently does more than just old tools. Make one of these, and you might also find those you garden with are more inclined to return the tools to the allocated space.
The container itself is simply a metal trough, suitable in size for the handheld tools. Fill it with sand up to an inch from the opening. Stir one fourth of a cup of motor oil into the sand to make a moist concoction. This will assist in keeping the tools clean, sharp and rust free. Well as long as they are first wiped down and then actually inserted into the container.