Post Gardening Care

(Originally posted to Cheryl's Notes on April 16, 2008)Well, we are now heavily into spring shipping here at the nursery. At least through the next few weeks, I will continue working in the shipping department pulling orders that are ready for packing. Several times during the course of the day, I do go back to my office for lots of coffee and to make a feeble attempt to answer some of my emails. I always enjoy working in the shipping area, but after several years at my desk job, working in the shipping department is quite taxing and with pulling plants can sometimes be as messy as working in the garden.

After getting home, the first thing I wanted to do is wash with a good hand scrub to get all of the dirt off my hands and from underneath my nails. A sugar scrub is just the trick and it works famously after a day in the garden as well. Pour some granulated sugar (not much, a tablespoon should work fine) in the palm of your hand and add just enough olive oil to make a loose mix. Scrub your hands and wrists thoroughly while still dry. Then, rinse in warm water. (Serious Note: if you are diabetic, don’t use any sugar scrubs). I prefer the sugar scrub to a salt scrub as it doesn’t burn on the cuts and nicks that I get from the plants and even paper cuts. If you are diabetic, you can scrub with salt (kosher or regular table salt), corn meal, or baking soda. Anything that has a dense grinding will work with olive oil.

The best way to forget about the aches and pains associated with the physical aspects of gardening is to soak in a tub filled with water and Epsom salts. Epsom salts comes in bags and cartons. Generally, the directions say to add in about 1 or 2 cups of salts. Well……actually you can pour in several times that, especially for the relaxing and muscle soothing effects that you want you will need to go with more. Soak and relax. Even if it is only for 10 minutes, SOAK! Your muscles will thank you. You will be calmer and your attitude much better. It’s like a mini vacation for your body.

While I’m on the topic of taking care of ourselves with natural products, let me offer a couple of other favorites.

For any age and complexion type, an oatmeal scrub is the absolute best you can do. It will leave your face feeling so soft. Just take a cup or so of oatmeal, the regular cooking kind, and put it in a blender, food processor, or put it in a zippy type plastic bag and squash it. You want it in smaller bits, but not completely pulverized. When you are ready to scrub your face, just put a small amount, roughly just over a tablespoon, in your palm and mix in enough water to form a paste and scrub your forehead, around the eyes, nose, cheeks, chin and neck. Remember, upward strokes on the neck. Rise with warm water and pat dry. You may not even feel the need for moisturizer. If you have complexion issues, it’s great. With continued use, it can really make a difference and after a day in the sun, it can truly help to take the sting out of the burn.

To really feel like you are pampering yourself, boil some water, pour it in a glass or ceramic bowl, toss in some fresh or dried rosemary leaves, lean over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel. Rosemary steamers are great for a quick pick me up and, again, if you have complexion issues, it will help with regular use.


Okay, I have gotten off the subject of gardening. But, when you’ve been outside working all day on Saturday and feel a little rough, you’ll thank me.



Until next time……Cheryl

To respond to or suggest topics you would enjoy reading about, drop me an email at cherylsnotes@greenwoodnursery.com