In the “they don’t make ’em like they used to” category, I include the home center shovel.  Like this one:

So I decided to make a dibble.

Funny word.  If you don’t know what a dibble is, it’s a stick used to make planting holes, calibrated to let you make holes of specific depth.

I usually just use an actual stick, preferably a stick within arm’s reach once I’ve already crouched down next to the planting spot.

Not a big advance planner.

But I had this broken shovel handle.  And I like to whittle.  And make things with funny names.

So I made the world’s longest dibble.

First, I sawed the broken end off at an angle.

And whittled it down to a dull point.

After sanding, I marked one-inch increments with strips of tape and marked a line with a Sharpie.  Leave a space for writing in the number.  (I forgot, and then had to go back and whittle off a space).

I found a font somewhere that looked “dibble-y” and freehanded it as best as I could with the Sharpie.

I put a coat of spar varnish on it to finish.

I don’t know if I’ll get much use out of it, but the important thing is . . .

I have no idea.