Garden Ergonomics, Anatomy and physiology for farmers and gardeners !

Previously I wrote on Soil as an essential part of GARDEN STRUCTURE.(1)

Today I will touch on a different GARDEN AWARENESS :The basics of HUMAN FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT ESSENTIALS .How to garden SAFELY without self inflicting injuries on your body.

Did you ask yourself how to use your body in a SAFE WAY , while working the garden without ending up for example,hurting your back or visiting a doctor or hospital?

Here are the basics you should know about your body .To start with you NEED:
I-BODY MUSCLES to garden.Gardening and farming was the oldest career man and woman had before hitting the age of Information Technology, or working simply by pushing a button !We learned how to flex a muscle and then do a yoga to stretch it.Now part of the equation is missing:We are doing yoga and simply pushing a button…not FLEXING a muscle!

This will remind me of a garden student who owned a Yoga Studio and wanted to build a garden.After performing the -KENISIOLGY -Muscle test :She was not qualified..Her muscles were so stretched and non-existing.But,despite my objections, she insisted to go ahead with gardening, she ended up seeing a doctor for a hand injury!

II-S.Florida Tropical Gardening Awareness:The Body-Garden-Mind connection!KNOW before you GROW!!BE MINDFUL before you getting your HAND FULL!

GETTING the RIGHT AWARENESS of being PREPARED and TRAINED in Body and Mind ,is half way done !! Before you start digging the garden up , learn THE KNOW HOW about S.Florida Tropical gardening from a S.Florida educated and experienced Horticulturist/Gardener .Do you want to learn what grows in the summer ,works and what does notto fight garden Pests .?Are you ABLE to work out doors in the sun,among the ants spiders?Are you prepared and ready to sweat and be smelly?

One time an enthusiast gardener came to my class.She had all the money to buy a garden ,but could not immerse her clean hands in the garden DIRT and her skin could not survive the outdoor sun to say the least !Learn about your body first before you learn about the garden.Taking Garden classes helps a lot but you need to do the work.More details on gardening classes (2)

III-HOW TO USE THE HUMAN BODY AS A GARDEN TOOL : Understanding Anatomy and Physiology for gardeners

What are the body parts that are usually used while gardening/farming?To start with let us be simple and talk BASICS!Let us say for example:
The main “Gardening work affects”Upper Shoulder Muscles of Posterior Torso that may include the following ;
A- ” Neck and Shoulder” :

1-TRAPEZIUS MUSCLES or upper back lower neck muscles that are responsible for contracting upon doing WEIGHT LIFTING ,PULLING,Carrying etc…
Your trapezius muscles are the ones that surround the spinal vertebrae starting at T1 right below the cervical vertebrae C7..
2-Rhomboid Major and R minor
3-Latisimus Dorsi…etc..

B-Middle and lower Posterior Abdominal Torso , arms and hands:

1-Longisimus thoracis
2-Illiocostalis lamborium
3-Serratus anterior- -posterior inferior
4-Extrimities:Hands and arms:Extensors and reflexers muscles..etc..

C-Muscles of the lower back below Coccyx vertebrae and legs :
1-Erector spinae
2-Thorasculumbar muscle etc..
3-Legs muscles and feet…etc..

May be you will have hard time spelling the above words as they are named in Latin and Greek .Instead pay attention to those muscles and spinal vertebrae if you want to avoid injuries.Yes, we need to learn more, as gardeners and farmers,about how our body works safely at the garden.

Sometimes,I ask myself:How many people do I know who garden with a bad back ,stiff or whip lashed neck,carpal tunnel wrist,tennis elbow…injured knee or pelvic or leg or feet..or you name it???SO… many..that I lost counting!!

IV-HOW TO PRACTICE ERGONOMICS ,BODY AND TOOLS, AT THE GARDEN:

I would recommend before you hit the garden grounds , that you check out the garden tools ,which ones are safe to use?

They must be chosen taking into consideration the garden ERGONOMICS standards.
What is garden ERGONOMICS?/.(3)

You will not encounter this kind of garden JARGON from the commercial self acclaimed garden experts or authors…NO ONE WILL TELL YOU UNTIL YOU HIT THE HOSPITAL BED OR END UP AT DOCTORS OFFICE.PREVENTION IS KEY TO INJURIES.PAY ATTENTION TO PREVENTION BY LEARNING GARDEN ERGONOMICS AND PRACTICING IT!

THERE ARE SO MANY EXPERTS OUT THERE WHO ARE simply good book sellers who like to harvest the GREEN BUCKS from your wallet and pocket.So , it all depends where you look for help!! REAL GARDEN HELP IS AT THE GARDEN.USUALLY IT IS NOT WRITTEN IN A BOOK.

V-GET A GARDENING CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION .Be safe.Put on garden gear!

Personally , I went to school and learned the PLANTS BOTANY and HUMAN BODY ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY BASICS.I got certified .I did not simply read a book or apprentice with a FAMOUS farmer.I went to school and studied!There are emerging theories about climate change that are not yet available in books but already available by practicing gardeners and farners who have tested the waters and spent decades farming and learning how to communicate with mother earth and learn by observation!This summer ..it is going to be simmering out there in the garden.Put on garden gear:Wear a hat,hydrate,wear sun glasses ,put on garden boots rather than flip flops..beware of spiders and snakes..Be alert!(4)

Gardening is a process.It takes years to learn and apply.It takes time, in other words it is not something that you want and can have RIGHT NOW!!!!!

I have learned my lessons ..NOW IT IS YOUR TIME TO LEARN YOURS.ALLOCATE SOME TIME TO LEARN AND APPLY!
A PRE-REQUISITE is needed:Take a course in being : PATIENT, before you commit to gardening.
Otherwise-you will end up with a garden syndrome called BPBSM or :Bi-Polar Botanical Schizophranic Maniac !!!

BE HAPPY BE SAFE GARDENING!!

If you need help at your garden or want to learn more about S.Florida Tropical Organic Productive Gardening ,or have a garden question simply visit our web site for more information at: www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618

Sources:
(1)https://mail.google.com/mail/#search/anatomy+and+physiology+of+south+Florida+Organic+Garden/1456c9126f4d3cb1
(2) gARDENING CLASSES: www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618
(3)The Ergonomics of Gardening:http://www.working-well.org/articles/pdf/Gardening.pdf
(4)http://www.fwfonline.org/News-and-Pressroom/CLIMATE-CHANGE-AND-GARDENING.aspx#.U3E1cid4W1g