Grow your own permalink
An overgrown allotment with a bad back
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Â
Posted by diggybob (U15143643) on Monday, 13th February 2012
Hello all, I have taken over a very overgrown, bramble infested allotment and have a history of back problems. I am using specuial tools to tackle the job and I am documenting my progress as I go on my blog. You can see this at
Please feel free to comment, follow ask questions etc. -
Message 2
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Monday, 13th February 2012
It sounds as though you have a struggle on your hands. If it is in a bad state, how about aproaching the council with a plea for help to clear?
If they say "Bog off, you signed for it", it will tell you how much help you will get in the future. Cheers, Tony. -
Message 3
Posted by kiocarp (U2370311) on Monday, 13th February 2012
I dont think you need any help as to what I can see on the photos .You are doing a fantastic job just keep doing abit at a time like you are and in no time you will be on top of it .The ground looks in great condition nice and dark rich soil .The golden rule is when it is done is to keep going and not let it get back in that state .Good luck and only do what you can dont push it or you may not go back which would be a shame as you have done a lot of hard work keep it going as you will get a crop this year no doubt about that .
-
Message 4
Posted by ordinarygull (U13469026) on Monday, 13th February 2012
Hi
I'm Diggybobs partner. He has done an amazing amount of work at the allotment so far, and in very little time. I'm just going to turn up down there to do the planting bits, I'll let him get on with the hard work!
From comments from the other people down on the site, it would appear that the council don't take a lot of interest in what goes on, but they have given us the first year rent free, so not all negative!
Our biggest fear is that we have cleared the wrong plot, as it was all a bit chaotic when we were shown the plots in the first place!
og -
Message 5
Posted by CelSue (U5036102) on Tuesday, 14th February 2012
This is good stuff! I'm still recovering from a back injury sustained in October and was wondering how on earth I'm going to keep up with the garden but will be watching your blog for inspiration. I want to do it, I just know that some of things I used to do will put too much strain on my back. Little and often and ideas of better tools for the job will do the trick.
CelSue -
Message 6
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Tuesday, 14th February 2012
Just a thought, how about tieing a hand fork onto a broom handle (that sort of thing) so you can extract the weeds without too much bending? Followed up with a "Picky uppy thing" the council lads use for litter to get the weed into the bucket. I have no trouble bending, it is the traightening up again that is difficult. Cheers, Tony.
-
Message 7
Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Tuesday, 14th February 2012
I'm not as flexible as I used to be, various reasons, and have found some ideas useful. Raised beds are something with which I am just starting, and think they are going to be very helpful. Maybe a few of these on your allotment? Long handled tools have their uses, but nothing beats getting down near the ground, it's the getting up again that can be the difficulty as Tony said - either a friend with a strong arm, or a set of small steps with a long pole attached for helping you up is good. Whatever you use, ensure it is sturdy enough, no good if it drops you down with a jar to the back - ouch!
If the wrists are a difficulty there are some odd looking, absolutely marvellous trowels and things to help - I know you said a bad back but they also reduce the amount of effort your back muscles put into a job. It's surprising how much your back is used in what appear to be hand work.
Keep the back warm whatever you do, it's one of the most important things. If you can, use a warm support around it, on the lines of a weightlifters belt, I use a strip of old thermal garments just to keep the mid and lower back cosy - it does help. Don't try and do it all at once, little and often gradually strengthens the back and does not make it so painful that you can't do anything the next day.
I love to use pots, and have begun to put smaller ones on top of upside down larger ones to raise them up a bit, or on sleeper dividers between the beds - again, just gets them up within reach. You'll want to put a small supply of slug pellets inside the upside down one as slugs find them a wonderful den. -
Message 8
Posted by diggybob (U15143643) on Tuesday, 14th February 2012
Hi CelSue
I hope I can provide some words of encouragement.
When my back went wrong a few years back it came out of the blue when I was trying to smash up a 12 inch thick concrete drive with a very heavy crow bar. It hit me out of the blue and I went through months of horrible agony and limited movement, I could not even sit in a car or lie in bed for weeks. MRI showed that the disk was prolapsed. I thought that that was how I was going to be for life and got very down at the time.
However I started to learn new ways to do jobs which involved back strain and also took to exercise such as press-ups and pull-ups to strengthen the muscles. (An NHS physiotherapist told me that I should try to build up my trunk muscles both on my back and abdomen to help take the strain of lifting off my bone structure.)
It worked... My back now feels very strong, I am totally free of pain and I can carry out enormous amounts of heavy work. I do watch carefully how I stand, no twisting of the back whilst lifting, try to lift with my legs etc. And keep all tools very sharp!
The Azada, and 3-prong fork shown on my blog have been a fantastic investment. I found that using a traditional spade on heavy digging was putting anenormous strain on my lower back and sciatic nerve. The Azada is all swing down, chop and pull so does not cause this strain and is much faster and more efficient than a spade. -
Message 9
Posted by rob (U11396917) on Wednesday, 15th February 2012
There is an easier way to save your back on a project like this. Buy some cheap roman coins and bits of pots from around the period. Tell the time team tv people you keep finding stuff while preparing your plot. Poke these items you have purchaced down in the soil,say about 6".
They come along,remove the whole top surface and your away. Just make sure they fill any holes back in ! -
Message 10
Posted by CelSue (U5036102) on Wednesday, 15th February 2012
Hi Diggybob,
Thank you - yes it all helps. I've irritated the edge of a disc so at least it got caught before I prolapsed it. That was painful enough - you must have been in absolute agony with a full prolapse. I've been working hard on strengthening my core muscles up with my osteopath and am all ready to start gardening again. That said, the last 7 metres of the garden is lurking at me. The previous owners chucked all their rubbish down there and it's very overgrown and this year, I was going to clear it all. I couldn't see how I was going to do it before I hurt my back let alone after, but now, having read your blog, I can see it. The Azada is the perfect tool and I'm going to take your advice and buy one plus the fork.
I'll keep you posted on how I get on!
CelSue -
Message 11
Posted by diggybob (U15143643) on Thursday, 16th February 2012
Hi CelSue, I think you will get on with the Azada but it will pay to choose the right one. I got mine from www.get-digging.co.uk and after speaking to them, I went for the medium-heavy which is about right for me, I think the very heavy would be too much. There is also a smaller one and if you like to take things a little easier and slightly slower, this would be the one to go for. I even used mine today to chop through some very deeply buried corrugated iron sheeting which you can see on the blog .
Good luck, I don't think you will regret the purchase, they are really great on rough stuff. -
Message 12
Posted by CelSue (U5036102) on Saturday, 18th February 2012
Thanks for the tip - well worth testing or at least talking to the seller before buying. I'll probably have to go for a small one and live with it taking longer but then I'm not very tall and although fairly strong, I'm female.
The soil mound I'm intending to shift is full of chicken wire, flints and bones of a dead dog (so far!).
CelSue -
Message 13
Posted by ladynovicegardener (U5368058) on Wednesday, 22nd February 2012
I just wanted to say well done on the work you've already carried out. Bad back or not you've worked so hard and achieved a lot on your plot. Happy growing.
About this Board
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú iD
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú navigation
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú links
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú © 2014 The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.