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Part 1 The Shift in Aesthetic

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The Shift Series By Bobbie J Herbs This 4-week series is about 21 st century design and management of our yards, landscapes and gardens. You will discover innovative practices that can reduce the time and money you spend maintaining your yard and the individual plant species that live there. Expect to learn about changes in aesthetic outcomes and plant selections as well as the rationale for these shifts, such as climate change and the beneficial role insects play in our lives. Part 1         The Shift in Aesthetic Photo by: Piet Oudolf Your yard matters. It’s home to song birds, the moths and butterflies of summer, furry, scurrying critters like squirrels and chipmunks and if you’re lucky the music of frogs and toads or the sighting of a sauntering turtle. According to Douglas Tallamy, PhD Entomology, University of Delaware and author of Bringing Nature Home , only 5% of US land remains untouched by humans. More than half of our land is cleared for agriculture, whi
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Ergonomics For Gardeners - Series 7 Article 3 - Applying ergonomic principles to common garden tasks

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By Marilyn Fishman  When working close to the ground Bend from hips, not the waist . Keep the chin off the neck or chest . Keep the back straight . Work close to the body, the further away from the body the arms are, the rounder the back will be . Avoid twisting sideways: face you work area directly, for most people the muscles for lateral movements are weaker than those for forward movement . If kneeling hurts, use a cushion or knee pads. Consider trying a padded kneeler that doubles as a stool. Knee with one knee on the cushion and other bent at 90 degrees with the foot on the ground. Change position often . Avoi d working close to the ground with raised planters or beds. The height of a bed should be 24 inches for wheelchair gardeners or 30 inches for someone who wants to stand and has difficulty bending and reaching. Telescoping tools can be helpful. When carrying Avoid wheel-barrows; a two-wheeled garden cart causes less strain . Try to push rather than
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Ergonomics for Gardeners - Series 7 Article 2 - Applying ergonomic principles to common garden tasks

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By Marilyn Fishman  When using hand tools - Keep the wrists in a neutral position (wrist straight with thumbs up or wrapped around a tool handle to meet the forefinger) RI 9684 page 5 - Avoid bending or twisting the wrist to get that last weed or prune that last branch - Cushioned grips and tools with grip handles may prevent wrists from bending forward or sideways - Note that indentations in tool handles do not fit every hand - Tool handles can be enlarged by wrapping with electrical tape and/or foam padding - Some by-pass pruner models are easier on the wrist than others, but try before you buy - Wear gloves to protect the hand. Gloves can also protect and cushion joints. In colder weather, keep the finger joints warm by wearing gloves with foam padding or wear disposable gloves (latex or nitrile ) under gardening gloves When using long handled tools On shovels and spades - Wikipedia defines a spade (from the Old English
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Ergonomics for Gardeners - Series 7 Article 1 - Introduction

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By Marilyn Fishman This series of articles will review what ‘ergonomics’ (also know as ‘human factors’) is and how it applies to gardening. I became interested in ergonomics when a co-worker’s chronic arm, neck, and shoulder pain was relieved by having her desktop lower: it had been four inches too high. The proliferation of personal computers, tablets, and smartphones have put ergonomic concerns into the hands of the general public (pun intended). Repetitive Stress Injuries are no longer limited to assembly line works, cashiers, and musicians. Gardening is hard work; learning some of principles of worker safety could help save a gardener from pain and discomfort. The Center for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health defines ergonomics as “the scientific study of people at work”. The CDC states that “the goal of ergonomics is to reduce stress and eliminate injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of muscles, bad posture, and repeated
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Invasive Species in New Jersey - Series 6 Article 2 - The Ubiquitous ‘Bradford’ Pear

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By Dave Parsons Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ blossoms in Spring. E+, River North Photography www.gettyimages.com      “Known for its iconic springtime blooms and signature, easy-to-identify silhouette, the Bradford Pear Tree is a symbol of the [Spring] season. Warmer months translate to a blanket of white blooms on each Bradford…blooms that tolerate a variety of hard conditions.   In fact, the Bradford thrives through pollution and drought.   Hot temperatures are no problem for the Pear Tree, and it’s perfect for lining streets, driveways and beyond because it’s not affected by smog or car exhaust.   Even better?   You can plant it in an array of soil types – and it still grows well.” [1]   So reads the description on a website selling one of the most problematic invasives [2] currently available in the marketplace.   A more truthful description might read:   “For only $60 plus shipping, you too can own one of these eco-un
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