Not quite too old ... yet.

[DWSmith]

A few weeks ago I did a marathon (for me) session of digging. First time this season. After a few days I had recovered and did another shorter session with a lot less soreness.

As I get older the recovery time gets longer but after a little while I feel like I'm a lot younger again.

I know the idea of doing a little and doing it often but seems like I need to stick with something more demanding all year long so I don't get so messed up each spring.

Any tips other than starting slow each spring? (And please don't tell me to join a gym. I hate the gym.) Would some Jameson whiskey be a good pain reliever?

[Greenleaves]

As a rub no, as a drink quite probably

[Baldy]

Have you got any vices? If so give them up... ah I've just spotted your edit

[DWSmith]

Have you got any vices? If so give them up... ah I've just spotted your edit

Give up my vices!?!?!? I've spent too much time developing them to give them up now.

[burnie]

The main reason I built raised beds, no walking on them, so no need to dig.

[Bren In Pots]

I don't dig either, well apart from to dig up parsnips and JA's but my beds aren't raised they just have paths in-between them.

[DWSmith]

Bren, how wide are your beds and how wide are your paths? I suppose length doesn't matter, just whatever fits.

[burnie]

The width is governed by the length of your arms, you should be able to reach the middle without falling on your face.

[DWSmith]

The width is governed by the length of your arms, you should be able to reach the middle without falling on your face.

I originally had beds and paths several years ago; 4' wide beds and 2' wide paths. Sounds pretty good right now. May need to resort to that again.

I had paths crossing in the middle and put a bird bath there. Prettied it up a bit.

[Bren In Pots]

Bren, how wide are your beds and how wide are your paths? I suppose length doesn't matter, just whatever fits.

Mine are 40 inch wide with paths are about a foot to 18inch, that sized works for me I can easily reach the middle. paths a bit narrow but I didn't have much space to start with.

[Snoop Puss]

I have a similar bed and path arrangement to Bren, but my beds are quite a bit narrower at 80 cm or so (just under 3 feet). Makes planting onion seedlings and weeding a bit easier on the back. They aren't raised beds, just a low raised border of earth around the edges. The only difficulty I find with this is weeds growing in the paths.

[Nicos]

Could you cope with swimming a couple of times a week?....once maybe?...

It helps me to keep my back arms and thighs stronger over the winter period.

[Nicos]

Could you cope with swimming a couple of times a week?....once maybe?...

It helps me to keep my back arms and thighs stronger over the winter period.

[rary]

Nicos puts her posts in twice so that it exercises your eyes to start with

[Nicos]

Ha!...thanks for that rary...hadn't noticed!