First Step to Painless Gardening

Back Pain is the first thing that stops us from gardening.

This position is terrible on your lower back. One hour of this stooping over and you will find yourself in terrible agony the next morning.

The answer is to get off the ground and up to a position that is natural for the biped homo sapiens that we are. We have a brain that gives us the ability to change the way we do things so let's use it.

Your first thought is probably, "raised beds". But really look at the angle on this person's back. This is a little bit better but she is still going to have back pain from that angle and her knees are getting hurt on the edge as she tries to reach into the bed.

Raised beds are in so many back yards with the thought of how much easier it was going to be only to be met with  dissolution with how much effort it still was. 

Do not be ripped off by this idea of raised garden beds because it is not that much better.

Everyone's body make-up is different, some like to stand at the kitchen sink, some need to sit, some don't mind twisting slightly while others need to be able to shift positions.

The answer to painless gardening is to start with what you use now in your everyday life that fits your body. Don't purchase raised beds or any other idea because of price or it "sounds like" a good idea.

Test what angles your body can honestly stoop and bend first. Then look for the idea that fits that bill.

Some examples of better ways to garden without pain.

This is called table top gardening. This is more natural for the body and looks like a very good idea. But now that we have the proper height, what about the reach? Can this person easily reach the center of this table top?

One of the disadvantages of any raised bed is that the soil needs to be replenished and fed every year. Can this soil be removed easily and changed? How about watering? Will the material last or rot?

A better idea but maybe not complete in how to make it really work and not fail in the long run.

Before we start looking for answers to all the questions, let's get this first step done correctly. Take the time to "test your body" in how it can comfortably move to do gardening. Try some of your neighbors garden beds and see if the size and level works for you.

Take a little time thinking this through, why waste the time, effort and money on something that is going to fail later. Make sure you can do the garden design you want without pain.