A hand held spreader for 800 square feet will be more than adequate. There is more work involved in getting out, setting up, spreading, and then cleaning either a drop or broadcast spreader than is justified for that space.

$30 - $45 will get you a cheap piece of crap that will fail in no time. It took me several purchases to figure this out. I finally bought this one and am very happy with it. I finally feel like I'll never need to buy another.

http://www.earthway.com/c222006.htm

Sturdy, long-lasting *and* a joy to use.

I don't know but... golly, for 15 pounds, I'd use a pale or a bucket and my hand and just scatter it out there. Grab a handful and sling it left and right, grab another handful. I'd think you could spread 15 pounds in 15 minutes or less. I plant my cover crops up to 2 acres doing it that way by hand. Save the money.

Hey, I posted in the wrong forum, it was meant to be asked for the organic lawn forum. I understand you think I am overkilling things, I could save few bucks and distribute by hand for my lawn or use a low quality spreader and do a bad job. I actually did just that and the lawn looks a bit blotchy now due to uneven distribution of fertilizers

For crops and the results won't be noticable.
I didn't grow up doing this and I probably lack the motor skills do a great job with my hands.. as noticable from the outcome.

For the area as small as mine the engineer nature in me wants to get it done with a proper device. Sure 800 sq ft is very small but that is indeed even more focal than a large pasture, IMO I feel it is important to do the best job of distributing fertilizer possible.

I have over 2 acres of lawn. I still use a hand spreader. I just spread 20 lbs of clover seed.