What Is A Trug?
So, What is a Trug?
A Trug is a wooden basket crafted in East Sussex, (hence ‘Sussex Trug’) where generations of makers worked within just a few miles of one another. Traditionally made from willow and chestnut, but for over fifty years birch has become popular for its longevity as it's far less susceptible to rotting and woodworm.
The word Trug is a derivation of the word 'trough' and was originally used for measuring grain and seed volume, with each trug size representing different proportions of a bushel, hence the variation of sizes. As more accurate mechanical scales eventually replaced the the trug as a tool of measurement, the trugs were gradually re-purposed as a basket for carrying garden produce and hand tools.
In a nationwide survey by a popular gardening magazine, the Sussex trug was voted the third most essential gardening accessory.
The Trug, a Heritage Tool with Modern Uses
Today trugs have become the traditional garden basket for carrying fruit, vegetables, flowers etc. from allotment or garden to kitchen. Also a popular kitchen storage accessory for chefs and cooks, featured in and popularised by many TV cooking programs. Their versatility has made them an essential accessory for gardeners and the kitchen.
Trugs Are Treasured
Among all the tools in a gardener’s shed, the trug holds a special place. Many become heirlooms, passed down through families. I am often asked to repair trugs that can be 30 to 40 years old, some even older, being brought in with stories like: “This was my grandad’s trug; I really want to keep using it.”
Even though repairing a trug often takes longer than making a new one, the joy of restoring a family treasure makes it so worthwhile, so out of respect for its history, I charge far less for the repair than the buying of a new one.
Whenever asked what do I do, when I reply: “I'm a trugmaker,” the reply is often: “What’s a trug?” When I start describing a trug, almost instantly their response is, “Oh yes, I’ve seen them in garden centres!” (which in fact is rarely true, as garden centres tend to stock very poor quality ‘trugs’ held together with staples, not copper nails).