Kitchen Garden Forum

Malk
You got your horse to dig your allotment??!!

That's a good point, Malk. Its always a good idea to keep really warm when you are doing strenuous execise. For Carrie's calf problem perhaps some long thick boot socks would help. Not very elegant but if they do the job, who cares?

John

John, I do dress pretty sensibly for the lottie, and elegance and me are seldom known to walk hand-in-hand - there or elsewhere!

I find that when I'm digging a trench for say potatoes, that if I use a 'Lady' spade and push it in at an angle rather than straight down, then much less soil falls into the trench from the sides therefore less soil needs picking up to make the trench ready for whatever you are going to put into it. In the long run this cuts down on my fatigue.

Have you thought about raised beds to cut down on the digging/ I use a chillington hoe - best tool I ever bought. I'm near Tilton. Message me if you want to try it out - don't know where in Leics you are. Do you use a stainless steel spade? Allan is right about quality tools. Don't bother with a rotavator to get rid of aches. You just get different ones.Have you tried rubbing in emu oil? Over a period of time -week or so - it really does ease joint pain.I do take painkillers occasionally at the beginning of the season.

I was given a sachet of this new Biofreeze stuff from Olbas when we were at Malvern. I hurt my back yesterday (a recurring problem) and decided to give it a go; I slapped it on before I went to bed and it's great stuff. The menthol makes your back feel "cold" but it's a nice feeling and it does help with the pain, I'm much better this morning. It's herbal and sold in health food shops as far as I can see. I think I may just invest in a tube when I go out, it's got to be better than painkillers.

Like Richard I dig with a fork not a spade. Much easier to get into a clay soil and you're still digging lumps.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
Jane E - I'm in central Leicester, but thank you very much for the offer.
Last year I did dig with a border fork - graduated to a big spade this year, will have to revert back.
The good news is I've had little in the way of aching limbs this week, the bad news is it's because the weather has been so bad.
BTW the emu oil sounds interesting, as does the Biofreeze.

I also use a fork....or at least I did until the other day when I managed to snap my stainless steel fork in half!! Metal fatigue? It snapped at the point where the fork forms the tube for the shaft, I've only had it two years, OH was not impressed at all and will be demanding refund from expensive garden centre where he purchased it as a pressie for me. I obviously don't know my own strength....