It's true. While it's been too cold here to do any planting out yet, I did attempt to spend about 2 hours pulling wild onion out of a bed this weekend. I garden from a sitting cart (rotten knees) and all that forward bending pulled out my lower back leaving an unpleasant ache for the rest of the weekend. Some "stretch and tone" through the cold winter months sure would have been helpful! But who had time?? - - -there were so many seeds to start!!!

Any excercise guru's out there who can tell us the perfect, quick, easy warm up for what we are about to undertake?

Thanks for the heads up, or rather down! While I do my pushups I'll imagine spring is here and I'm planting! Maybe that will inspire me to try harder

My back is killing me today and I was just sowing containers. I imagine that spring is going to be rough too. Of course I was in a lot of pain last year with all the regular digging. I guess I'd better start stretching. Oh and get those bath salts ready.

Begin by bending over until the top of your head is touching the floor. Repeat 800 times. Prepare large alcoholic drink. Consume.

LOL. I get plenty of this all winter picking up rocks that come to the surface. Do they float or something? And acorns. #$&^ing acorns.

"Begin by bending over until the top of your head is touching the floor. Repeat 800 times. Prepare large alcoholic drink. Consume."

lol, I love that sentence!!! My dirt here is so hard too. I have enriched the beds with soil and compost and mulch so it is better then when I moved here but the dirt is still hard and planting is a work out.

I guess I can do your routine... tonight I will practice with the alcoholic drink.

Karen

Acorns are the worst, those squirrels plant them so deep. I makes the thousands of maples seem easy.

just think of your boot camp as the training necessary for the battle ahead, I believe you call the mad dash here plunk-and-run. I don't know if I'm quite in shape for that one yet, I'd better go do a few more reps with my jugs.

And of course there's the never ending battle with weeds, rabbits, deer or whomever you fight on your front lines.

MARY

I'm already planning a "Plant Out Party". I'm helping a friend create a butterfly garden, and he's got a bunch of friends who hang out together (bowling, watching sports, happy hours). He said they'd all be happy to help for a decent meal and some good beer. Sounds like they're in college, right? No, they're all in their 50's! I guess they never grew up. But who am I to complain? I still like to play in the dirt.
As long as I dig the holes or put containers where I want them, their help may save my poor bones.

Martha

Martha those are my kind of friends!!! I need some of those. My hubby and kids are going to have to plant some stuff this year. However hubby is not the best at design. I have 2 flower beds with all the like plants in a straight row. I did not have the heart to dig them up he was so proud of himself.

Karen

In my yard I don't have a lot of space. I'm not sure I could let someone dig without supervision. I know where most things are or should be if they are still living. Mostly the bulbs and light issues, oh and flooding zones. Maybe I could get some help for my new annual beds though. Nothing to disturb there. Just bending over to check for sprouts is starting to hit me though. Although I was peeling back old fall leaves to see which bulbs are going to make it so that hit too. I wish I still had time for yoga. As it is, after the dog poo is all scooped up by yours truly, I will get to rake and then I can rototill and then i can dig and build and them hopefully starts the plunking and running. So I aught to get in shape by mid summer.