Hi Pat. It was so good to read your post this morning. You're so right... weeding and digging and heaving things around is part of it, but the other part is the looking closely, the holding up to examine, the clipping and tending, the planning, the sharing with friends.

I've enjoyed my pot garden all summer. All that growing going on out there! All the wonderful scents, the volunteers and other little things that surprise you. The hummingbirds chasing each other around. The smell of rosemary clinging to your clothes. Buying some new seeds, and looking forward to next year. Having enough to give some away. All of those are the important things.

I miss the strength and vigor I used to have, but I'm so glad for us both that we are able to have all those things.

Yes. having those places for frequent resting is essential. Even have a picnic table where I can stretch out on it if I need to rest. Also raised beds of thyme are restful.. Growing fragrant plants and herbs are reinforcing. Lemon balm requires very little care and makes relaxing tea. Chamomile self sows and is a good ground cover companion for everything else. Parsley makes a beautiful edging and is a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars. Oreganos are hardy too and provide beautiful flowers for wreath making along with the thyme.. Some perennials such as shasta daisies, cone flowers and platycodon require very little care and don't need freqent division. Annuals such as petunias and salvia self sow. Forget about having a disciplined garden. Just enjoy it. We train our cantloupe to grow up on a wire support and make slings for the ripening fruit. It take up very little space, keeps the melons off the ground , and is easier to harvest.. Lots of ways to adapt. The most important thing is not to get overly tired. Know when enough is enough.

It is always good to read how other people are handling the challenge of gardening when they have physical limitations. Right now the snow is falling outside, but the garden catalogs have started arriving in the mail, and I am planning next spring's garden! We have another old freezer to make into a planter, and quite a few large plastic tubs that contained mineral supplement (for cattle.) These will hold approximately twenty gallon, and make great planters. I am trying to get most of the vegetables into raised beds or planters. Just hang in there, people, even when it gets difficult. The rewards are worth it! Jenny

Hi Pat,

I too have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. You might want to read my post here.

Regards,
Newt

Here is a link that might be useful: Great to find this forum

I have been researching the web sites focusing on the herbal heat packs and experimenting with making them. Basically the heat packs are pouches filled with rice (or barley) with dried herbs for fragrance. The packs can be heated in a microwave oven to warmth desired for comfort (3-4 minutes). Had some jars of herbs harvested and dried from the garden, including dried lavender leaves, mint, and lemon verbena. Rosemary, sage, lemon balm or any preferred dried herb would be usable. Decided to keep the weght of the packs at 3 pounds of rice per pack and have added the dried herbs according to stregnth of the fragrance. The pouches may be sewn into any shape desired as long as it not too large to fit into the microwave for heating. Pouches measuring 28 X 7 inches are nice to drape around the neck, or wrap around an extremity.. Square shapes are nice for behind the back. I used cotton flannel or t-shirt material for the pouches and made removable covers as the pouches are not washable. I am finding these to be very beneficial and relaxing when the fatique hits or there is discomfort in any particular area. The herbs add fragrance to the warmth of the rice. These would also make nice 'cuddle' pillows for those in wheelchairs. Best wishes to all.

An informative post. I got a couple ideas from it.
vickie