I don't know how it is outside the Netherlands, but the avarage Dutch amateur gardener doesn't like to spend much money. The main motive for gardening is often the growing of cheap vegetables, and that's why the costs must be kept low. Such a amateur gardener for instance begins a vegetable garden on a piece of land behind his house, because nothing else is done with it, he gets his sowing-seed for free from his neighbour, because he has too much anyway, and he makes his own compost because that way he can get rid of his garden waist. His garden tools he gets for free from an uncle who is too old for gardening, and because the tools get in his way anyway. This is the way a Dutch amateur gardener can grow vegetables cheaply.

That amateur gardener will never buy an APPELSPADE. He rather ruins five pairs of wellingtons on his uncle's spade, and rather strains his wrist year in and year out, than spending so much money on the APPELSPADE, because that runs counter to his philosophy, as he calls it. Others call it false economy, or even stinginess, but he doesn't care. For such a person the APPELSPADE is the ideal gift, for instance for his birthday, fathers day, Christmas or a wedding anniversary.

Quite a different case it is, when an employee has to quit his position after many years of faithful service, because of retirement or (mental) health problems. Such a person often gets depressed because his main pastime suddenly has gone, and he is stuck with a lot of time on his hands. Gardening is an ideal hobby then, so what better parting gift for him (or her) than an APPELSPADE ? It's a useful present and a nice change to a golden watch with inscription. Such an inscription gives the yet exclusive spade a personal touch and furthermore such an inscription is handy if the spade would be stolen.

So if you are head of personnel in a somewhat larger company and you want to give a useful parting gift for a change, please think of the APPELSPADE.