It can be very frustrating to have back pain interfere with your garden plan. You end up watching plant starts or seed just sitting on the counter while weeds continue to grow in the garden beds. And you may not know when you will feel well enough to get back at it. I've hurt my back twice while gardening. The first was after clearing the garden bed to get it ready for planting. The second - and more severe - injury was at harvest time. I was trying to get ALL the tomatoes and veggies in before the first frost. It never pays to hurry in the garden! That's why I've written about ways that you can enjoy gardening while protecting your back.

Winter in Idaho can bring a LOT of snow. And we've already accumulated a bunch this past week. This article lists some tips for protecting your body during snow removal - while using a shovel or snow blower. Most are common sense, yet still worth reviewing.
1. Warm up muscles to prevent straining. Like bubble gum, warmer muscles stretch better than cold ones. Use a stationary bike or treadmill if you have one. If not, walk up and down the stairs a couple of time. Try a simple stretch by slowly reaching for your toes, then stand with hand on hips and lean backwards.