Helpful Hints and Innovative Tools Make Gardening Easier for Seniors
April 16, 2004
- Gardening can enrich life in many ways, physically, mentally and spiritually. But it can also be hard work, especially as you get older. That does not mean you have to stop gardening, though. It simply means you have to rethink how you garden.
For starters, consider incorporating some of these garden planning principles:
* Raised beds and trellises are easier to maintain than in-ground beds.
* Garden beds should be no more than 4 feet wide to allow tending the bed without straining.
* Wide garden paths allow for safer walking and permit use of labor saving carts and dollies.
* Water weighs more than 8 pounds per gallon, so design your garden with easy access to hoses and water sources. Consider the ultimate water system: an efficient automated drip or soaker hose system.
Before getting started on your plans, however, it's important to obtain the proper tools. Avid gardeners recommend high quality, ergonomically designed tools specially developed to multiply cutting power and minimize stress to your body.
"Working in the garden can become a hassle, cause pain and, in extreme cases, lead to disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome," says Nate Fethke, ergonomics engineer, Fiskars Garden Tools. "That's why it's important to use tools that match your capabilities, limitations and any special needs," he adds.
There are a number of tools available today that do just that. Consider the Extended Reach grass and hedge shears. With a reach of 38 inches, this tool lets you trim grass while standing up, eliminating bending, stooping and kneeling -- something aging backs and knees will truly appreciate. The same tool also features an adjustable cutting head that rotates 270 degrees, allowing you to safely trim the tops of hedges without using a ladder.
If it's your hands and wrists that trouble you, the Power-Lever hand pruner will make your day. The mechanical advantage of the lever mechanism allows you to multiply your cutting power by more than 35 percent compared to ordinary garden tools. The handle design, which keeps the handles parallel throughout the cut, allows all fingers to assist in pruning, which minimizes strain and maximizes your power through a cut. Its sleek, lightweight form is also perfect for gardeners with small- to medium-sized hands.
Want to trim branches overhead without using a ladder? How about at ground level without bending, stooping or kneeling? The Pruning Stik is the most versatile pruning tool ever, and one of the easiest to use. It features a cutting head that rotates on a 240-degree arc, enabling the user to set the proper cutting angle for any pruning task. The tool is activated by pulling on the handle halfway up the Stik, or by pulling on the ball end of the Stik when needed at its full length. The Pruning Stik has an overall length of 62 inches, but weighs a mere 31 ounces.
Now that you've made plans and armed yourself with the proper tools, it's time to get gardening. Keep these helpful tips in mind to ensure a safe and healthy experience:
* Garden early or late in the day to avoid the heat.
* Drink plenty of liquids and wear light, loose clothing, a big sun hat and gardening gloves.
* Carry a whistle or cell phone along with your other garden tools.
For more information on ergonomic tools and other helpful gardening tips, visit www.fiskars.com. To locate a retailer near you that carries ergonomic garden tools, call (800) 500-4849.
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For starters, consider incorporating some of these garden planning principles:
* Raised beds and trellises are easier to maintain than in-ground beds.
* Garden beds should be no more than 4 feet wide to allow tending the bed without straining.
* Wide garden paths allow for safer walking and permit use of labor saving carts and dollies.
* Water weighs more than 8 pounds per gallon, so design your garden with easy access to hoses and water sources. Consider the ultimate water system: an efficient automated drip or soaker hose system.
Before getting started on your plans, however, it's important to obtain the proper tools. Avid gardeners recommend high quality, ergonomically designed tools specially developed to multiply cutting power and minimize stress to your body.
"Working in the garden can become a hassle, cause pain and, in extreme cases, lead to disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome," says Nate Fethke, ergonomics engineer, Fiskars Garden Tools. "That's why it's important to use tools that match your capabilities, limitations and any special needs," he adds.
There are a number of tools available today that do just that. Consider the Extended Reach grass and hedge shears. With a reach of 38 inches, this tool lets you trim grass while standing up, eliminating bending, stooping and kneeling -- something aging backs and knees will truly appreciate. The same tool also features an adjustable cutting head that rotates 270 degrees, allowing you to safely trim the tops of hedges without using a ladder.
If it's your hands and wrists that trouble you, the Power-Lever hand pruner will make your day. The mechanical advantage of the lever mechanism allows you to multiply your cutting power by more than 35 percent compared to ordinary garden tools. The handle design, which keeps the handles parallel throughout the cut, allows all fingers to assist in pruning, which minimizes strain and maximizes your power through a cut. Its sleek, lightweight form is also perfect for gardeners with small- to medium-sized hands.
Want to trim branches overhead without using a ladder? How about at ground level without bending, stooping or kneeling? The Pruning Stik is the most versatile pruning tool ever, and one of the easiest to use. It features a cutting head that rotates on a 240-degree arc, enabling the user to set the proper cutting angle for any pruning task. The tool is activated by pulling on the handle halfway up the Stik, or by pulling on the ball end of the Stik when needed at its full length. The Pruning Stik has an overall length of 62 inches, but weighs a mere 31 ounces.
Now that you've made plans and armed yourself with the proper tools, it's time to get gardening. Keep these helpful tips in mind to ensure a safe and healthy experience:
* Garden early or late in the day to avoid the heat.
* Drink plenty of liquids and wear light, loose clothing, a big sun hat and gardening gloves.
* Carry a whistle or cell phone along with your other garden tools.
For more information on ergonomic tools and other helpful gardening tips, visit www.fiskars.com. To locate a retailer near you that carries ergonomic garden tools, call (800) 500-4849.
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Bring the Elegance of Stained Glass into Your Kitchen or Bath
Decorative Glass makes it easy to add color, texture
- Your home is your refuge from the outside world, a place where you surround yourself with family, memories, treasure and laughter. Because no two people are alike, no two homes are identical, either.
Even if your house looks like every other house on the block from the outside, on the inside, you have a chance to express your individuality, to make your house a place that reflects who you are.
There are countless ways to personalize your living space. Even a fresh coat of paint in a new color can make a big difference. When you think about ways to enhance your windows, instead of drapes, consider decorative glass. It is easier than you think to add the distinctive touch of stained glass to your windows.
Stained Glass Overlay (SGO) creates beautiful glass using colors and patterns that complement your existing design scheme. "We bring the traditions, craftsmanship and artisanship from early centuries to our art and trade everyday," says company president Michael Cassidy. The company offers over 200 colors and textures to choose from when making your selection. Each project is handcrafted; the glass is UV resistant and as durable as safety glass. "Our designers handle all the details as they work together with the customer to enhance the windows and glass that surround their life," adds Cassidy.
A decorative glass panel can be swapped out for existing glass, which is the case with smaller pieces, such as cabinet windows, or it can be installed up against the existing glass, creating a seamless appearance. The process used to apply the stained glass pattern to the glass makes it extremely strong and allows for versatility of installation.
While decorative glass can be used in any window, two rooms that really benefit from the color and interest it adds are the kitchen and the bathroom. The possibilities are endless. Your kitchen window looks out on your neighbor's garage? Choose decorative glass in the Rose Bouquet or Autumn Jewels pattern, and you will have a view of beautiful flowers all year round. In the bathroom, you can add privacy to the glass shower stall by adding decorative glass. Try "Seaside Whisper" for a water-inspired theme.
If you need help deciding on a design, don't worry. Your SGO designer has an extensive library and catalog of custom work the company has completed for clients over the years. The patterns represent blueprints of history, culture and modern design. Your designer can offer suggestions and provide valuable tips on which design and colors would work best for you.
For example, when choosing colors for your decorative glass, keep in mind that bright, intense colors will add warmth to north-facing rooms that get little or no sunlight. On the other hand, cool colors, such as blues and greens, can cool down a south-facing room subjected to too much sunlight.
In addition to adding interest to your windows, decorative glass can also solve some common problems by adding privacy, blocking out UV rays that can fade furniture and carpets, and dealing with unique shaped windows that can be hard to accessorize.
Decorative glass can also be used in front-door sidelights, skylights, ceiling light panels, light boxes, mirrors, sliding glass doors, cabinet and furniture doors and room dividers -- just use your imagination. "Any room and any home can be made more personal and more beautiful with the addition of decorative glass," says Cassidy.
Stained Glass Overlay serves customers across North America and in over 30 countries around the world. For more information on finding the designer nearest you, or to find out about franchise opportunities, visit www.stainedglassoverlay.com or call (800) 944-4746.
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- Your home is your refuge from the outside world, a place where you surround yourself with family, memories, treasure and laughter. Because no two people are alike, no two homes are identical, either.
Even if your house looks like every other house on the block from the outside, on the inside, you have a chance to express your individuality, to make your house a place that reflects who you are.
There are countless ways to personalize your living space. Even a fresh coat of paint in a new color can make a big difference. When you think about ways to enhance your windows, instead of drapes, consider decorative glass. It is easier than you think to add the distinctive touch of stained glass to your windows.
Stained Glass Overlay (SGO) creates beautiful glass using colors and patterns that complement your existing design scheme. "We bring the traditions, craftsmanship and artisanship from early centuries to our art and trade everyday," says company president Michael Cassidy. The company offers over 200 colors and textures to choose from when making your selection. Each project is handcrafted; the glass is UV resistant and as durable as safety glass. "Our designers handle all the details as they work together with the customer to enhance the windows and glass that surround their life," adds Cassidy.
A decorative glass panel can be swapped out for existing glass, which is the case with smaller pieces, such as cabinet windows, or it can be installed up against the existing glass, creating a seamless appearance. The process used to apply the stained glass pattern to the glass makes it extremely strong and allows for versatility of installation.
While decorative glass can be used in any window, two rooms that really benefit from the color and interest it adds are the kitchen and the bathroom. The possibilities are endless. Your kitchen window looks out on your neighbor's garage? Choose decorative glass in the Rose Bouquet or Autumn Jewels pattern, and you will have a view of beautiful flowers all year round. In the bathroom, you can add privacy to the glass shower stall by adding decorative glass. Try "Seaside Whisper" for a water-inspired theme.
If you need help deciding on a design, don't worry. Your SGO designer has an extensive library and catalog of custom work the company has completed for clients over the years. The patterns represent blueprints of history, culture and modern design. Your designer can offer suggestions and provide valuable tips on which design and colors would work best for you.
For example, when choosing colors for your decorative glass, keep in mind that bright, intense colors will add warmth to north-facing rooms that get little or no sunlight. On the other hand, cool colors, such as blues and greens, can cool down a south-facing room subjected to too much sunlight.
In addition to adding interest to your windows, decorative glass can also solve some common problems by adding privacy, blocking out UV rays that can fade furniture and carpets, and dealing with unique shaped windows that can be hard to accessorize.
Decorative glass can also be used in front-door sidelights, skylights, ceiling light panels, light boxes, mirrors, sliding glass doors, cabinet and furniture doors and room dividers -- just use your imagination. "Any room and any home can be made more personal and more beautiful with the addition of decorative glass," says Cassidy.
Stained Glass Overlay serves customers across North America and in over 30 countries around the world. For more information on finding the designer nearest you, or to find out about franchise opportunities, visit www.stainedglassoverlay.com or call (800) 944-4746.
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