Ergonomic Gardening Tools Reduce My Pain
Friends and family hear me complain about my painful wrists a lot. These days I sometimes ask for help in chopping food or in opening jars packages. It’s all related to wrist damage that was done over the years I spent working in journalism, public relations and advertising. First I worked on a manual typewriter, then an electric typewriter and then moved to word processors and personal computers.
Just a few years ago I purchased an ergonomic keyboard for my office and that reduced the pain significantly. That was at the suggestion of friend Kathleen Wainwright who is an occupational therapist and a Feldenkrais® practitioner and a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She came over and did a work station analysis that helped in the office and then she came back and watched me garden.
She suggested that ergonomic tools for the garden would also benefit me and so I went online looking and found these great tools from Radius. I've been using them for two seasons now and it's made a huge difference in the pain I experience.
The Radius Root Slayer With Ergonomic Handle
More recently I learned about another great offering from Radius — the Root Slayer gardening shovel, pictured at the right. I ordered it and have it waiting for the first spring day when I can get out in the garden. So while I don’t have personal experience with the Root Slayer, it came recommended to me by a fellow master gardener who swears by it for taking out those horrible roots that I so often find when trying to dig a new spot for a new plant. Best of all — it also features an ergonomic handle with lots more gripping surface than your typical garden tool handle.
I'm not sure where you can find Radius tools in local shops - it may depend on the size of the city where you live and the type of gardening stores you frequent. If your local selection is limited or non-existent you can find them - as I did - on Amazon by following the “Buy on Amazon” button under the tool photo below. If you have any wrist pain I think you’ll be glad you did. They’ve worked well for me.
If you do buy Radius tools by following the link above I may receive a commission as I'm a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Photos of Radius Tools were provided by Radius which is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Creative and targeted programs that make an impact are the hallmark of experienced marketing professional Ruth Steele Walker. Focusing on results that improve the bottom line, she accelerates projects from conception to implementation with a mastery of writing, production, placement, budgeting and coordination.
During more than 25 years with Foremost Corporation of America, the nation's leading insurer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles, Walker consistently produced effective communications programs that resulted in increased net written premium. Her expertise in crisis communications was a vital part of Foremost's exemplary customer service in the wake of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Walker specializes in communications targeting the 50+ demographic, with an emphasis in communications for the 65+ segment.
Among other achievements, Walker developed communications for the merger of Foremost and Farmers Insurance, addressing audiences including customers, employees, trade and consumer media. For Foremost's 50th anniversary, she created a celebration program of internal and external promotions, special events, recognition and a 162-page commemorative book.
Earlier in her career, Walker was a newspaper reporter, a TV and radio producer, and worked in national sales and traffic at network TV affiliates. Walker earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and an MS in communications from Grand Valley State University.
She and her husband Scott operate a small vineyard in Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, producing premium vinifera wine grapes. The vineyard has been the largest local supplier for Suttons Bay wine label L. Mawby, recently named one of the world's top producers of sparkling wines.
