Arlene Wright-Correll

Taking Care of the Gardener



Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

We gardeners have a lot to take care of whether it be vegetable gardens, orchards, flower gardens, herb beds, container gardens, patio gardens, landscaping, mowing the grass, maintaining our compost heaps or just getting ready for the different seasons.

However, who takes care of the gardener? No one, really, except the gardener him or her self. With that in mind, here is some good sound gardener advice.

Remember to wear a hat when out in the gardens working and make sure it is a broad brim hat. You guy gardeners should do also. I see so many people working outside without a hat. Many of us say, "Well, I will just pop out for a couple of minutes." Please, even a couple of minutes may be too long out in the sun.

Remember to wear sun screen now or you will be regretting it later.

Keep a bottle of water handy for drinking. You need as much water working outside as your plants need to grow. Do not become dehydrated.

Keep a wagon or wheel barrow handy to haul your heavy items around. Don't lift by bending over, lift from the knees and you won't have to worry about wrenched backs or a pinched sciatic nerve.

Wear gloves when working in the garden and it will save your hands and fingernails. I have all sorts of gloves for the garden chores. I especially like the long sleeved gloves for working in the rose gardens.

Work early mornings or early evenings during your hot months and you will probably enjoy gardening more and not give yourself a sun stroke.

Pace yourself. A gardener's chores are never done, so do not try to do it all in one day. Keep the pleasure of gardening in your heart by working smarter, not harder. I find that making myself a list each day and allocating so much time to each chore makes everything more "do-able" for me and it might help you also.

Give your knees a break by using knee pads or some kind of thick foam pad you can move as you work along. I see them all the time for only $1.00 in the dollar stores.

Don't bite off more than you can chew or in other words start you gardening venture small and remember as you increase it so will your labor. Remember at one point you may not be able to get reliable help and you will wind up feeling very bad as your garden goes to weed for lack of good help if you create more gardens than you can personally care for.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

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About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by straight talk
 3 years 91 days ago.
111 fans. Follow straight talk on twitter!
Yes, my knees, mine say thank you for that thought.
» left by Arlene Wright-Correll 3 years 91 days ago.
28 fans.
Robert,
 
We all take our knees for granted. Have you ever thought about how much work they do every day during our life time?
 

“Tread the Earth Lightly” and in the meantime… May your day be filled with…

Peace, Light and Love,   Arlene Wright-Correll

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