So you’re gardening? Arthritis shouldn’t prevent it. Try these gardening tips to reduce your pain (and check out our links for additional garden tips.)
1. Ask for help. The first garden tip is to know your limits. Examine your to-do list and determine which tasks you can easily do and which tasks you may need assistance with. Consider hiring someone to do the heavy work.
2. Be kind to your body. Occupational therapist Kristan Monroe, St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio, suggests gentle stretches to loosen joints and prevent injury. Try this simple stretch: With your arms straight out in front of you reach forward as far as you can.
3. Use joint-friendly tools. Long-handled tools that allow you to stand, not stoop, and easy-to-grip hand tools are gardeners’ friends. Monroe suggests adding attachments that lengthen tool handles to gain leverage. Buy a kneeling pad or even a scooter wagon you can sit on while weeding.
4. Practice correct posture. Let your larger/stronger joints do the work when possible. Instead of using your fingers to lift an object, try using the flat palm of your hand, your forearms or even your elbows. Keep items close to your body as you carry them. Stand or sit up straight while you work, and change positions often.
5. Think “inside” the box. Instead of a traditional flowerbed, try a flower box or a raised flowerbed to eliminate stooping.
6. Take frequent breaks. When you're gardening, arthritis pain can build if you don't rest your joints properly. Stop and smell the roses and have a glass of lemonade. Well-earned, frequent breaks allow you to appreciate your garden’s beauty, plan your next tasks and get more done before fatigue sets in.
I too have OA quite bad in my hip.This of course makes gardeing very difficult which is a problem for me as I not only love my gardening but also the fresh vegies and beautiful flowers etc.
so my lovely son and I got togehter one day and built me a Raised garden out of bits and pieces.
It wasn't flash, but boy does it work.
to help with nutrients I work a little worm farm alongside it, which is fabulous.
I started my garden beginning of September here in New Zealand, which is part of our Spring. Got planting by the end of that month and by end of October was already using our fancy lettuces with all htier colours for our salads.
since then we have had Broccoli, Cauliflower, silver Beet, and now cabbages last night. Really yummy taste fo course.
I don't say this to sound like a skite or smart aleck, just to let you all know that even at the age of 73 with bad OA in my hip I can still grow my own vegies etc.
I do get a lady to come around once a fortnight and do some weeding for me on the flower beds around the paths etc.
I just simply hurt too much afterwards to do it myself anymore!
I set up my own blog etc to try to help others in the same way I have been helped.
You can find my blog here at:
http://make-raised-garden-beds.blogspot.com
Following through here should lead you to the worm farms too. Great little creatures!!!
I am also using quite a lot of things in buckets because with a handle on a bucket you can lift itonto a table or similar towork on, then put it where you want it to keep growing. Sort of like following the sun daily as they say. :)
anyway, I hope some of the things I have said here have helped some one on hteir gardening enjoyment.
I don't think there is anything gives me greater pleasure than to go to my "OWN" garden and pick vegies for our table needs! It's such a fulfilling time.
bless you all, and do enjoy your gardens.
Take the time to smell the roses.
Danella Rutherford.
Here's how I did it. Lay down about 4 inches of water soaked newspaper. That can even go right over grass. It will kill the grass and that becomes mulch in itself. Then lay a thick layer of mulch (kitchen greens etc.,----no meat, cut grass, weeds). This will decay and turn to soil, bring earth replenishing worms and hold the newspaper in place. Next several inches of manure. Cover with straw.
At first it looks strange sitting on top of the lawn but quickly settles down and flattens out. As I planted, I mererly put down a couple of handfulls of soil and placed the plants down into it. Burrow out a row for plants you want in a row. Fill the burrow with soil.
Bravo, no digging, fertilized and few weeds. Next spring, just repeat the same process.
Mary AKA Panda Lady
htt://www.pandalady.net
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
With this method you eliminate most digging and weeding by growing plants in 4 x 4 boxes that you can even put on a table top. A good soil mix means the soil stays loose, and so digging isn't necessary either. I don't have boxes, but my vegetable garden is in raised beds, easily accessed from both sides by the paths that run between the beds. We have been enjoying salads made from leaves snipped from baby lettuces, beets, and mustard greens, summer squashes, eggplant, and are now looking forward to sun ripe tomatoes. I use mulch everywhere and do very little weeding. A side benefit is a healther diet!
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