Mattock - many people, especially those who are used to a somewhat colder climate, have commented to me about how hard it is to dig in our red clayey soil. If you have trouble with cultivation, try a mattock. For those of you who aren't familiar with this tool, a mattock looks like a pick-axe, only it has a broad flat blade. Some people prefer to use a digging fork, or a sharp-shooter shovel, but as for me, I like the way a 5 pound mattock head cuts through even the most ornery of clay soils with ease. Cold Frame - a cold frame is a bottomless box with a clear removable lid that acts like a miniature greenhouse.
Cold frames are sort of like a raised bed with a lid.
This ingenious contraption can be used to start vegetables or flower crops, to root cuttings, or to extend the growing season as temperatures drop. Personally, I like cold frames because they can be used to raise fresh vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and spinach well into the cold season.