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Kathy’s Garden Writing |
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GARDENING HYGIENE AND HEALTH Gardening is often idealized as a pastoral frolic. However, this “leisure” activity can be dirty and dangerous. So, at this time of year, gardeners should be mindful of the hazards of their favorite pastime. First, let’s examine issues of hygiene. Some gardeners are only too happy to get down and dirty in the perennial beds. But for those who cherish their winter-clean hands and intact nails, gloves and a good hand scrub are in order. Gardening gloves seem never quite right – cotton ones fray after a day of planting; and the heavy-duty leather version are hot, cumbersome, and impossible to clean. However, Stanley Tools offers a promising alternative, called Utility Plus., with a stretchy cotton-knit body for comfortable fit, and rubberized palm and fingers for durability. You can find them at Wal-Mart in the home maintenance section, for $3.97a pair; or look for a floral knock-off in the gardening section, for about $4.50 a pair. If you forget gloves in your eagerness to play in the dirt, try a Kimberly-Clark product called “Wypall Waterless Hand Wipes.” A bucket of 75 12”x12” disposable cloths, smooth on one side for wiping away grime, and rough on the other side for scrubbing ground-in-dirt, will set you back about $12 -- well worth the price to save yourself a trip into the house every time you need to clean up. Now on to health reminders, because this labor of love can actually kill you, or at least cause severe discomfort. Besides the obvious risks of chainsaw accidents and attacks by killer bees, extensive sun exposure and tetanus infections are equally dangerous. Sunblock is a must for gardeners, for all areas of exposed skin including the scalp and lips. The American Association of Dermatologists recommends a broad spectrum (with UVA and UVB protection) SPF30 product, applied twenty minutes before sun exposure and every two hours thereafter. They also suggest avoiding exposure between the critical hours of 10 AM and 3 PM; wearing light cotton clothing with long pants, long sleeves and collars; and donning a wide-brimmed hat. And don’t forget your eyes! Prolonged sun exposure is one of the leading causes of early cataract formation. Wear sunglasses coated with a UVA blocking filter – but not too dark or your eyes will dilate, defeating the purpose. And last but certainly not least, gardeners are the largest group in the United States at risk of tetanus, accounting for one third of its victims each year. One scratch or puncture wound can introduce the tetanus bacterium into your blood stream, setting off a hostile takeover of your nervous system. Prevention is easy, however; just renew your tetanus booster every ten years for full protection. So the moral of this seasonal reminder is that, with proper care, gardening can indeed be a healthy pursuit, fulfilling the Chinese proverb: “If you want to be happy all of your life, be a gardener.” Kathleen Arcuri Published in the Benton News, April 5, 2009 |