In 1997, Noel Valdes stumbled upon a novel gardening tool. While using an antique five-tined cultivator to pull weeds, one of its tines came loose. He added a short cherry wood handle to the single tine, creating a lightweight tool for precise gardening tasks. It worked even better than other hand weeders to tackle pesky weeds in his raised garden beds. This seemingly small modification brought new life to a tool that had been a favorite of home gardeners for nearly a century.
He assumed his new (old) favorite gardening tool already existed – but found that it was vastly better than other handheld weeders for sale. A quick check by market research students in the Master of Business Administration program at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater revealed that there was indeed a market for this unique product.
In 2002, Noel and his wife Judy established CobraHead Tools in Cambridge, Wisconsin, and ran it for two decades. In recent years, day-to-day management has transitioned to their daughter Anneliese Valdes and her partner Andy Young, keeping it in the family.
“We love being able to garden in Southern Wisconsin,” explains Anneliese. “It has amazing soil, wonderful seasons and it’s a nice place to run a business.”
For years, the original tool was their only product, but after customer requests for a long-handled tool that would make it possible to garden and weed without kneeling or bending down – the CobraHead® Long Handle became available in three lengths to accommodate gardeners of different heights.
“I have always been an organic gardener and committed to the sustainable approach to life,” explains Noel. “So I made it my mission to have the tool made locally instead of overseas.”
All of the steel parts for the Original CobraHead Weeder and Cultivator and CobraHead® Mini Weeder and Cultivator are made of forged, tempered steel, by Green Bay Drop Forge in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The recycled plastic composite handles for the Original and Mini are made by Zeier Plastic of Madison, Wisconsin, which molds the handle right onto the blade. The plastic handle is made of 100% post-industrial recycled polypropylene and either 100% post-consumer recycled wood fiber or flax fiber. Ash handles for the Long Handle and broadfork are made by Bowman Handles in Batesville, Arkansas. The broadfork and other parts are made locally in Cambridge, Wisconsin by Structures Company.
“It’s like having a tiny tractor in your hands,” says Noel. “It wants to plow through soil, lift out smaller tap roots and remove weeds with ease.”
CobraHead tools are sold in stores across the United States, with many retail distributors in Wisconsin, Texas and California. The tools are also available in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Most people learn of the tool through seed and garden catalogs.
“Anyone who gardens can use our tools,” says Anneliese. “They’re even great for container and patio gardening.”
Home gardeners usually opt for the 13-inch long, 9-ounce Original or 8.75-inch long, 4.5 ounce Mini Weeder and Cultivator. Farmers market growers and small-scale farmers use the CobraHead® Long Handle or Broadfork Garden Tool. The unique single tine design can easily uproot weeds next to shallow, closely planted crops like onions.
“There’s no such thing as a universal gardening tool, (but this one comes close),” says Anneliese. “For many people, CobraHead is their desert island gardening tool.”
Its multiple purposes include pulling weeds, planting bulbs up to seven inches deep, loosening soil, scraping gutters, cleaning the bottom of lawnmowers and making seed furrows. The Impatient Gardener Erin Schanen uses it to scrape gravel and wily growing weeds from gravel and stone paths. Anneliese describes it as a steel fingernail.
“It’s very durable,” says Anneliese. “People who bought them 20 years ago are still using the same tool.”
Long-term maintenance is extremely manageable. Most people don’t need to get the tool sharpened, especially if they are working in a self-sharpening soil like clay. But those who prefer a knife-life edge, may get it sharpened as needed.
CobraHead Tools is also committed to giving back to the community. They sponsored the 2024 Youth Garden Grant for KidsGardening.org – resulting in fifty youth garden programs around the country receiving $500 each and a collection of gardening supplies. The grant increases youth garden projects in under-resourced schools and communities.
Find CobraHead Tools on Facebook at @CobraHead and on Instagram at @Cobrahead. Visit their website at cobrahead.com to view photos or YouTube channel at CobraHeadTools to watch the tools in action.
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