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Healthy gardening habits Healthy gardening habits
Healthy gardening habits ofHealthy gardening habits Think gardening is a gentle hobby? This misconception can sometimes lead to a long list of unnecessary complaints—sore shoulders, neck strain, repetitive stress injuries and aching muscles. “No pain, no gain” applies to rock-hard abs, not rock gardens. Weeding, digging, raking and pruning have all the elements of a gym workout and should be approached with the same respectful caution, says Sue Nash, a physical trainer from Guelph, Ont., who specializes in posture and body mechanics.Whether you're a weekend warrior or prefer to garden in small daily doses, it's easy to care for your body while tending your plants. Just follow Nash's Before, During and After tips for pain-free gardening. The only ache you'll feel is pride.BeforeRegardless of the temperature outdoors, you need to get the blood flowing and the joints warmed up. “Your warm-up should mimic what you're going to do in the garden,” advises Nash. "This is especially important because it alerts both your muscles and brain by sending the message that these muscles will be working.”If you'll be pulling weeds or pruning, do arm circles. Digging? Gentle lunges and squats. Mowing the lawn? Take a brisk walk around the block or jog on the spot.DuringOver-exertion causes most garden-related injuries. Even if you're moving modest molehills, rather than mountains, give your body frequent breaks. Fortunately, when it comes to physical activity, a change is as good as a rest, so remember to switch things up.• Work both sides: We tend to use our dominant side. This puts added strain on joints, tendons and muscles. To prevent injury when digging or raking, switch sides from time to time. Strike a balance by keeping count. If you begin to tire, switch more often.• Break it up: Alternate tasks every 20 minutes to prevent strain. Rake, plant, water and weed in rotation. However, if you're dedicated to a specific task, take a break every 20 minutes and stretch the muscle groups you're using to relieve muscles and joints.•Watch your back: Whether you're bending over to pull weeds, kneeling to plant bulbs, shoveling earth or raking, keep your back in a neutral position, with shoulders down and stomach muscles tight. Over time, stooping will weaken your back, leaving you vulnerable to injury.•Cushion the blow: Prolonged kneeling puts pressure on the kneecaps, decreasing circulation. Don't wait for arthritis to strike before using a cushion or garden stool. And remember to keep your back straight.• Slide your shoulders down: Whether you're working above your head or with your arms extended, make a conscious effort to keep your shoulders away from your ear lobes. Hiking up your shoulders can cause neck strain.AfterBefore rewarding yourself with a cold drink or hot shower, do a cool-down of gentle stretching to help prevent sore muscles. Yoga, TaiChi or Qigong provide a perfect wind-down and can be done right on the lawn. If you're not familiar with these practices, any type of gentle stretching will work.- Credit
- Charmian Christie
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Gardens that heal Gardens that heal
Gardens that heal ofHealing spaces that bring comfort and peace While therapy gardens can take as many forms as the plants within them, the end results are the same-healing spaces that bring comfort and peace to those who use them. The Healing Garden at the Cancer Treatment Centre at the Cape Breton Regional Health Care Complex in Sydney, Nova Scotia, is just such a place. A 186-square-metre enclosure adjacent to the hospital's receiving department, it provides a quiet sanctuary for patients, staff and visitors alike with its abundance of perennials and annuals, vine-covered arbours and fountain.In 1997, a committee of professional women from various health organizations hit upon the idea of creating a therapeutic garden where cancer patients could find emotional and spiritual support.The garden was designed by landscape designer Christene LeVatte of Highland Landscapes for Lifestyle in Sydney. A series of fundraisers was held to cover the $50,000 cost of the project, and the Healing Garden opened in September 1998.For the past seven years, Friends of the Healing Garden volunteers have looked after maintenance, working in teams that take turns planting, weeding and watering.“We don't do any fundraising,” says team co-ordinator Deborah Crittenden, noting that volunteers often use their own money to buy supplies such as fertilizer. She also points out that Christene has donated mulch, annuals, soil and tools as part of her ongoing involvement. In Montreal, the hortitherapy garden at Hôpital Rivières-des-Prairies is the result of both patients and staff coming together. Initially, funds were raised through corporate donations in association with the Hospital Foundation, but financial support for the Horticulture Centre is now largely generated from the work of the psychiatric patients involved with the program, who assist with the operation of the centre's two greenhouses (growing annuals for plant sales) and outdoor garden. The calming environment helps the participants' concentration and alleviates stress. The centre also runs a small store; its sales help cover expenses as well.But even those who may only be able to contribute minimally to physical tasks still find joy in having their own patch of earth. For instance, at Peel Manor Long-term Care Facility (for the elderly) in Brampton, Ontario, an inner courtyard has become an “adopt-a-garden” family project, largely through the efforts of Julie Krahule, a Master Gardener-in-training pursuing studies in horticultural therapy. Bring life and beauty to your courtyard In spring 2002, Julie created a garden for her mother, who had recently moved into Peel Manor. “I wanted to establish a sense of normality, something beautiful for her to look at.” She went on to convince three other residents to do the same. With varying degrees of family involvement (from initial planting to ongoing maintenance), myriad gardens now bring life and beauty to the courtyard. And since this first effort, gardens have sprung up throughout the facility's grounds. Julie noticed that “people start talking with others they don't know, now that they have the garden in common.” Donna Clow, supervisor of activations and community service, has observed other benefits as well: “Our residents love to get their hands in the dirt,” she says, “and they like to see the end results.” Peel Manor day-program participants have even entered their vegetables and flower arrangements in the Brampton Fall Fair, and have won first place several times.The vision of psychologist Dr. Leonard George in 1999, who wanted to create a peaceful, comforting place to talk, led to the creation of the healing rooftop garden at Vancouver General Hospital, where patients, staff and families associated with the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit and the neighbouring Trauma Special Care Unit find solace.Coincidentally, renowned landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander was a patient in the unit and lent her expertise to the final drawings for the garden, which were based on designs submitted by University of British Columbia landscape architecture students. To meet the $100,000 budget, funds were raised through special events and corporate and private donations in conjunction with the Vancouver Hospitals Foundation. Since the rooftop garden opened in 2002, it has “grown tremendously,” says Lois Budd, patient services manager. “We've added tables and chairs, a larger cascading fountain and a sound system.” Lois notes that patients are encouraged to work in the garden weeding and watering, as well as to just sit and enjoy it. Volunteers do most of the planting and maintenance.“Not only does the garden soothe and heal you when you're outside,” says Lois, “it's also very therapeutic for the patients who are stuck in bed and yet see the garden out their windows. Many have told me what a wonderful distraction it is and how it's so calming.”- Credit
- Mary Lynn O'Shea
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Combatting allergies in the garden Combatting allergies in the garden
Combatting allergies in the garden ofCommon garden allergens If you love gardening but hate the allergies you suffer through, changing what you grow could help. Pollen-producing plants are the main culprits in allergy attacks; identifying plants that are the largest producers of pollen and keeping them out of your garden could help keep allergy symptoms at bay. While other substances such as mould can trigger allergy attacks, American horticulturist Thomas Ogren believes that the widespread use of pollen-producing plants may be contributing to the growing number of allergy sufferers.In the past 20 years, allergy rates have doubled in North America, and about 20 to 25 per cent of Canadians suffer from hay fever. Identifying the worst offenders is the first step in limiting exposure. Ogren has developed a plant allergy scale that rates plants on their allergy-causing potential. British horticulturist Lucy Huntington has designed low-allergen show gardens in the U.K. and U.S. Both horticulturists were motivated by having family members who suffer from allergies.Dr. Gordon Sussman, a staff physician and allergist at the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto, doesn't believe that allergen exposure can be completely eliminated. While people may control what goes into their gardens, they're still exposed to pollens from elsewhere, he says. But Ogren believes the benefits could have an impact on a larger scale if there were more widespread use of allergy-free plants in landscaping.When selecting plants, it helps to know how they pollinate; this can tell you how much pollen the plant produces. Some plants have pollen producers (male) and pollen receivers (female) together in one flower, which is called a perfect flower. An example is a rose.Pollen only moves within the flower--it doesn't need to travel through the air to reach its target--so such plants are low pollen producers. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers, but they are on the same plant. Corn is one example: the tassel is the male flower and the kernels are the female flowers. Pollen is airborne while it travels to the female flowers, where allergy sufferers can breathe it in.Dioecious plants also put pollen in the atmosphere; all the flowers are either male or female, and pollen has to travel between plants. For example, many junipers are separate-sexed. One key strategy is to select female plants--not easy to do as the sex of a plant is rarely listed alongside growing recommendations.Ogren says that allergy-provoking culprits are often male plants, which are widely used because they don't litter the ground with seeds or pods. "I'm keen on pushing female plants because they actually remove pollen from the air," he says. There are no simple, visual clues as to the sex of a plant, though non-berry producing plants are often male and some cultivars are entirely male, such as Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold', which is propagated by cuttings. Plants that have small, light pollen, such as oak trees, should be avoided as the pollen is easily blown about and inhaled into lungs, says U.K. horticulturist Huntington. Many grasses also fall into this category. She advises against daisy-like flowers, while most of the big flowers, such as peonies, are okay because their pollen is heavy and sticks to the plant rather than becoming airborne.If you can't get rid of all your high-allergen plants, keep them away from windows or patios and keep them at the back of beds and borders. For many high-allergen trees and shrubs, pruning hard once a year results in few or no blooms, and therefore less pollen, says Ogren. Best and worst allergy-provoking plants Grass is troublesome, particularly when pollen and mould are churned up by lawn mowers. Since pollen levels are higher between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m., mow in the afternoon and wear a mask, he says. Better yet, hire someone to mow and stay indoors.Other surfaces matter, too. Gravel mulch is better for paths and patios since pollen sinks below the surface. Smooth concrete surfaces, on the other hand, enable pollen to sit on the surface and be blown about. Bark or organic mulches are not recommended because they trap mould spores.If you have allergies, choosing the time of day when you work can help minimize problems. "The worst time to garden is when it's hot, dry and windy," says Ogren. "There's all manner of stuff moving around." Damp, still weather means less pollen will be airborne. "Don't bring flowers inside, and leave your pollen- covered gardening clothes outside," Huntington adds.RATING PLANTSThe Ogren Plant Allergy Scale rates plants from 1 to 10, where one represents the best plants and 10 represents the worst. BEST PLANTS (1-2)- Red maple (Acer rubrum 'Autumn Glory')- Allium- Columbine (Aquilegia)- Sea Pink, Thrift (Armeria spp.)- Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)- False indigo (Baptisia australis)- Bellflower (Campanula spp.)- Coleus (Solenostemon)- Crocus- Cyclamen- Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)- Coral bells (Heuchera spp.)- Hosta- Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)- Impatiens- Lobelia- Saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana)- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia spp.)- Orchids- Peony (Paeonia)- Petunia (Petunia x hybrida)- Solomon's seal (Polygonatum)- Rhododendron- Pearlwort (Sagina spp.)- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum spp.)- Periwinkle (Vinca spp.)- Pansies, Violas, Violets (Viola spp.)WORST PLANTS (7-10)- Red maple (Acer rubrum 'Autumn Spire')- Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)- Artemisia 'Powis Castle'- Silvermound (Artemisia schmidtiana)- Painted daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum)- 'Golden Chalice' and 'Mary Stoker' chrysanthemums- C. segetum, 'Wisley Bronze'- Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)- Forsythia- Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)- Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)- Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum)- Sycamore (Platanus spp.)- Oak (Quercus spp.)- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)- Meadow rue (Thalictrum spp.)DIOECIOUS PLANTS (males rate high, females low)- Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)- Pampus grass (Cortaderia selloana)- Ash (Fraxinus spp.)- Junipers (Juniperus spp.)- Mulberry (Morus spp.)- Willow (Salix spp.)- Credit
- Anita Dubey
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West Nile know-how West Nile know-how
West Nile know-how ofAnti-bug bite; mosquito lamp; natural repellents A wet, rainy summer means more breeding grounds for mosquitoes; more mosquitoes means potentially more cases of West Nile virus. In an ideal world, our ecosystems would be in perfect balance, with fish and birds keeping mosquito populations in check. So what can you do to give nature a hand keeping the pests at bay? Here are a few suggestions.ALFRESCO ANTI-BUG BITEFor a more luxurious approach to bug control, these moisturizers and atomizers offer DEET-free protection. Essential oils of lavender, melissa and geranium provide the perfume and are the active ingredients that repel mosquitoes. Manufactured in England, the company ships worldwide; the products also have some star appeal. According to its literature, Alfresco was the bug repellent of choice on the set of the film Cold MountainOFF! MOSQUITO LAMPA new product from the company that brought us the ubiquitous mosquito coil, this bug repellent has an insecticide pad that hangs above a small candle in a plastic lamp. Heat from the candle activates the pyrethroid insecticide, which is a synthetic form of an extract from chrysanthemums. The active ingredient, which can be harmful if used improperly, is the same as that found in the coils but comes in a much more attractive package that provides a pleasant glow.BITE METhis line of natural repellents is available in three fragrances-Mostly Lemon, Mostly Lavender and Mostly Mint-and was developed and is produced in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province known for its voracious mosquitoes. The fresh-smelling creams and sprays contain eight essential oils: lemon grass, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, cedarwood, rose geranium, vetiver and citronella; they're being marketed as “the natural bug fighter with attitude.” Bugwear; topical repellent; pond remedy NORTHERN BUGWEARDon't forget that your pets need bug protection too. According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, all animals risk being infected with West Nile virus. DEET-based products are not safe to use on animals, as they may be ingested. So Maximum Bob is modelling a suit made from netting and hemp, while Deanna (our associate editor and Bob's “mom”) is showing off the human version, a jacket (with the hood unzipped) and pants (SHOWN). The cuffs and sleeves have Velcro closures for extra protection. The dog version is available in extra small to extra large sizes; make sure you check your dog's dimensions before ordering. Northern Bugwear also carries a line of colourful outfits for children.TROPICAL TOPICALExtracted from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is native to India, neem oil is used as a topically applied insect repellent and pesticide. Because it's not registered with Health Canada for this purpose, retailers such as Veseys Seeds, for example, can only advertise it as having “many different agricultural applications.” According to Veseys' horticulturist Lois McDonald-Layden, the company started carrying neem oil because of customer demand. It's said to be very effective against lily leaf beetle, as well as other insects. “Despite not being able to say much about it, neem oil sells very well,” says McDonald-Layden. As for its safety for humans, it's been used in everything from toothpaste to scalp stimulators in India with no known adverse effects and is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use as an insecticide.POND PROTECTIONA larvacide for use in ponds, rain barrels and other enclosed bodies of water, Aquabac's active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium used as an insecticide by organic gardeners. Aquabac kills mosquito larvae within 24 hours of application and should be applied beginning in early spring. Larvae can only survive in stagnant water, says Sandy Mitchell, co-owner of Natural Insect Control, a company that sells environmentally friendly pest insect controls in Stevensville, Ontario. “[The larvae] have a proboscis they stick above the surface to get air, and they can't do that if the surface is moving.” It takes them just five days to hatch in warm weather, and even ponds with a fountain or waterfall can have pockets of still water around their edges. Swimming pool covers and low-lying areas should also be checked regularly for standing water. Other mosquito solutions; where to get them MARTIN MYTHThe huge mosquito-eating potential of purple martins has long been heralded as an effective form of mosquito control for home gardeners. However, while the birds will keep down populations of flies and some other pests, mosquitoes are not their meal of choice, according to Sandy Mitchell, co-owner of Natural Insect Control, which sells chemical-free pesticides and herbicides in Ontario. Purple martins tend to fly high and feed during the day; mosquitoes are low fliers and are most active after sunset. But if your garden attracts wrens, sparrows and other native birds, they'll certainly snack on mosquitoes, as will bats. And if you must spray, keep in mind that mosquitoes spend their days on the shady undersides of plants, so that's where to target insecticides. BITE BACKHere are a few more anti-mosquito strategies to help you enjoy the backyard:• Throw some sage or rosemary on the barbecue coals.• Mix one part garlic juice with five parts water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on exposed body parts or on strips of fabric that you can hang around the patio. (Bonus: also effective against vampires!)• Plant marigolds in your beds. Mosquitoes don't like their scent. -from Eartheasy.comSOURCESAlfresco Anti-Bug Bite, Box 7401, London, UK N6 6BQ; 011-44-208/348-6704; alfresco.uk.com: 200 mL moisturizer, $50; pack of three 7.5 mL atomizers, $37.50. OFF lantern, Canadian Tire: OFF lantern and two refills, $23.99. Home Hardware Stories Ltd.: lantern, $13.99; refill pack, $7.99. Aquabac biological larvicide, Natural Insect Control, RR 2, Stevensville, ON L0S 1S0; 905/382-2904; e-mail nic@niagara.com: 500 g Aquabac biological larvicide, $24.99.Bite Me, Newfoundland Naturals, 1483 Unit 1, Topsail Rd., Paradise, NL A1L 1P9; 877/866-7627; bitemestuff.com for suppliers: 290 mL Bite Me lotion, $12.99; 140 mL spray, $9.99. Northern Bugwear, RR 1, Nipissing, ON P0H 1W0; 877/286-9327; northernbugwear.com: adult medium jacket in hemp, $56.70, adult medium pants in hemp, $46.20, dogwear, $31 to $41. Neem Oil, Veseys Seeds Ltd.: neem oil: 125 mL, $12.95.- Credit
- Christina Selby
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Stretch before garden chores Stretch before garden chores
Stretch before garden chores ofMake your gardening activity comfortable Like other physiotherapists across the country, Linda Adamson of Thunder Bay, Ontario, can count on seeing a few sore backs and shoulder tendonitis this spring. That's because people don't always limber up before attacking their gardens each year, she says. “The beauty of gardening is that it takes you through the full body range of movements—standing, squatting and bending. But as with any physical exercise, it's wise to ease into it,” says Adamson.“If you have a back problem, or to prevent one, the number one rule is to break up your day,” she advises. Adamson, who is also a Master Gardener, paces herself by doing all the prep work—such as walking about the garden to plan out her day—before she starts digging and planting. And that's after doing a few warm-up stretches first. She's also careful about moving heavy items.“When you bend to do a job, you add 100 per cent more of a load to your back than when you're standing; bending combined with twisting adds an additional 600 per cent, and that's before factoring in the weight of the soil or whatever it is you're lifting.” She recommends using wheelbarrows, with two wheels at the front for better balance, or garden carts to move things about. If you do lift heavy items, make sure your knees are bent so your back is straight, and avoid twisting or reaching. Move with the item; keep it in front of you and close to your body.April 24 to May 24 is National Physiotherapy month. For more information check out the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's website at www.physiotherapy.caTool timeThe right tools are your best friends for avoiding injury in the garden, says physiotherapist Linda Adamson. Herewith, a few of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's top tool tips.• Make sure gardening tool handles are comfortable to grasp.• Use telescopic or extended handles to eliminate strain from reaching. Watering wands, for example, are ideal for hanging baskets.• Keep digging and cutting tools sharp to reduce the amount of effort required.• Use knee pads or kneeling stools when working at ground level. Kneeling stools also provide support when you stand up. Warm-up exercises before heading to garden Warm-up exercisesTo reduce muscle strain, fatigue and the risk of injury, take a few minutes to do warm-up stretches before getting down to work, especially in spring, since your gardening muscles may have been inactive over winter. Movements should be slow and controlled; you should feel a gentle stretch of the muscle. Once you feel the stretch, hold the position for 10 to 15 seconds; don't bounce or jerk. Perform each stretch two or three times and repeat the series at the end of your gardening activity to prevent any stiffness.Start by marching on the spot until you feel warm. (For complete illustrations of these exercises, see the web site.)NeckWhile sitting or standing with good posture, do the following:• Tilt head forward, bringing chin toward collarbone.• Keeping face forward, tip ear toward shoulder. Repeat on other side.Shoulders• Grasp elbow with opposite hand. Pull elbow and arm across chest until you feel a gentle stretch at back of arm; make sure shoulder isn't hunched. Repeat on other side.• Clasp hands behind head. Press elbows back until you feel a gentle stretch at front of shoulders.Wrists• Holding arm straight out in front, point hand downward toward floor. With other hand, gently pull fingers toward you until you feel a stretch. Repeat on other side.• Hold hands in front of chest, palms together, fingers pointing upward. Bend wrists until you feel a stretch.Lower back and legs• While standing, place hands firmly on hips. Bend backwards until you feel a stretch.• Clasp hands together over head. Lean to one side, keeping back straight, until you feel a stretch in your side. Repeat on other side.• Using a wall for support, grasp ankle behind you. Push leg back to stretch front of thigh, keeping thigh in line with body. Repeat on other side.Good bonesGardening helps slow down bone loss and improve strength and balance.Weight-bearing exercises, such as gardening, are important for maintaining healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis, a condition whereby bones become weak and break easily, says Emily Cooper, a research assistant with Toronto General Hospital. Another bonus from gardening is the vitamin D your body produces from being out in the sun (but remember to cover up after 15 minutes or so to protect against excess sun exposure). Vitamin D works with calcium to build strong bones and reduce the risk of fractures.Postmenopausal women interested in participating in a TGH bone density study can call 416/340-4843 or e-mail bonehealth@uhn.on.ca.- Credit
- Lorraine Hunter
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A show of hands A show of hands
A show of hands ofA show of hands I have what used to be known as “capable” hands. They're no-nonsense peasant's hands that, over the years, have accumulated a fine crop of age spots, freckles and Lord knows what else. The thin, loose skin on the backs of my hands reminds me of a Shar-Pei puppy.The truth is, attached to my middle-aged frame is a pair of paws that would make Methuselah proud. Weather-beaten, work-worn hands the size of shovels. What a shame that lace gloves for day and sleeves with long, ruffled cuffs are no longer the height of fashion.show hands How could this have happened? I suspect that gardening is the culprit responsible for this a-paw-ling mess. More specifically, years spent gardening without thinking of putting suntan lotion on the backs of my hands or wearing gardening gloves. Years of using my bare hands as a sort of fleshy digging tool. (I wear gloves now, but it's a case of shutting the barn door long after the horse has bolted.)Am I the only one with hands this disgraceful? To find out, I conducted an unscientific mini-survey, which simply consisted of surreptitiously scrutinizing the hands of friends and neighbours who garden. And in the process, I came to the conclusion that there is a definite correlation between your approach to gardening and the state of your hands. In fact, I will take it one step further and offer the theory that there are two main cultivars of the genus Gardener: Gardener spp. ‘Sensible', and Gardener spp. ‘Kamikaze'.Gardeners who belong in the ‘Sensible' category make lists and have a long-term gardening plan. Their blooms open perfectly in sequence. Sensible gardeners do not need to wait for the sight of emerging spring shoots (and sometimes summer flowers) to remind them of what they've planted. More often than not, they have hands as graceful and blemish-free as lilies. They probably wore gardening gloves in the cradle.‘Kamikazes' are creatures of impulse-a harum-scarum lot. We head for the garden centre and load up the cart with plants or seeds we had no intention of buying in the first place (or actually, ever). Then we rush home and take our treasures straight into the garden and start digging feverishly, heedless of hands (and sometimes of shoes and clothing, too). It's simply a different way of doing things.So if you're a penitent Kamikaze like me, is there anything that can be done to minimize the damage to your hands that time and carelessness have wrought? I've rubbed lemon juice into my skin and left it on overnight (it itched). I've slathered my hands in petroleum jelly and put white cotton socks over them (which might explain why I'm now single). I've dipped my hands into warm paraffin wax, and that would have worked well had I been able to leave the wax on. . . forever.My latest nostrum of choice is bag balm. Yep, the evil-smelling stuff farmers put on cows' udders. This kind is sold in health food stores and fortified with camomile, so it's marginally less objectionable (even though the dog shies away in alarm when I put it on).Still, I live in hope. If you have any surefire tips or remedies that you would like to share, please send them along. Good ideas may merit mention in a future issue of Canadian Gardening (after being tested by yours truly). Until then, please pass the bag balm. And maybe the socks.AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIONBe sure to cover the backs of your hands with sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, but preferably 30, every time you go out into the garden to work. (Apparently, the sun's rays are now so powerful that sunscreen should be applied to the backs of hands even while driving the car in summer.) Find some gardening gloves you like-there are myriad varieties out there-and wear the darn things. Do this faithfully, and in 20 years you'll thank me. I promise.- Credit
- Aldona Satterthwaite
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Site sections Overview
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Latest issue
August/September 2008
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Give your garden a boost
Is your mulch a health hazard? Refresh container plantings; shape up your soil; plant the best phlox and junipers; late-summer lush gardens and more! more -
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Is your garden planned to perfection, or does the sight of a nursery fill you with zest and zeal? Take our quiz and find your gardening personality!
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