We tend to think of the
human body as a machine that wears
out from constant use, but
actually the body stays in better condition,
and ages more slowly, with
exercise like gardening. When you say
"I can't anymore" you are
sending amessage to your brain that you
are giving up.
WARM UP
Before you go out to the garden,
try the following
preparatory movements suggested
by the
American Physical Therapy Association:
1. Slowly move your head
from side to side.
2. Slowly raise each knee
as high as possible
above the waist.
3. With feet apart and
hands on hips, gently
rotate the upper body.
4. Clench hand tightly
and release .
5. Rotate wrists in circles.
Every year new tools and equipment
are designed and
produced to make gardening
easier.
Following is a list
of some that are most widely available and one place it is available.
RAKING--There is
a small helping handle that can be
added to rakes you already own.
Walt Nicke Company
36 McLeod Lane
Box 433
Topsfield, Mass 09803
There is a rake on wheels.
It looks
like a mower but between the
wheels is a rake that is height
adjustable.
McFayden Seeds
30 9th Street
Box 1800
Brandon, Manitoba
DIGGING--A trowel
that will not break, bend, or rust.
The handle is angled and shaped
to
fit into the palm of your hand.
It
takes the strain off your fingers,
so
that even with arthritis or
carpal
tunnel syndrome you can keep
using it.
Mellinger's
2350 West South Range Road
North Lima, Ohio 44452
There are also tools that have
wrist
straps so you won't drop them.
You
can use them either sitting
down or standing up.
Dominion Seed House
Box 2500
Georgetown, Ontario
L7G5Z6
WEEDING--To avoid
weeding try mulching with black
paper mulch that lets air and
water
to get to the soil and is biodegradable.
It comes in fifty foot rolls.
If you enjoy
using a hoe for weeding, use
a scuffle hoe.
You can do your weeding
while sitting down
with a long handled weed
puller
from England. It is designed
to grip and
pull tough weeds in cultivated
ground,
and can be operated with one
hand.
Walt Nicke Company
36 McLeod Lane
Box 433
Topsfield, Mass. 01983
There are many such tools available. Look in seed