A hand tiller has an elongated handle with a left tiller wheel and a right tiller wheel coupled to an axel and configured to rotate about the axel to till the ground. Each of the tiller wheels has a plurality of tines that have a curved geometry, wherein the tines curve circumferentially toward the extended end that is paddle shaped to more effectively penetrate the soil and lift the soil while tilling. Also, the tines taper toward the connected end. The tiller wheels are retained on the axel by tiller wheel retainers that couple with the axel, such as by being threaded into or onto the axel. The handle extends a handle length from the handle-end to the axel-end. The handle has a thumb flange on both the top side and bottom side to provide a resting place for a person's thumb when operating the hand tiller.