Dealing with a large garden as one ages!

[big rockpile]

We used to heat with wood. Husband would go get the "free" wood. Somehow word got out, and folks had wood they wanted cleared off their property. We still even have a gas splitter. So, my job in the winter was to stack the wood inside the basement outside doors and get the wood stove in the basement started and keep it cooking. Was an awesome ugly stove, with two oxygen valves, but it put out the heat, even the walls of the house were warm, and the floor above the heat, even with a barrier above the stove, was warm. I'd say we did that for 28 years. Husband got tired of it all, now we don't do it anymore. It does cause dirt, carries soot through the house, even if its in the basement.

I bought a load of wood. Our Son said that is BS he would keep us in wood.

Splitter broke down it is in the shop but have been using it for years.

big rockpile

 

[redback]

I'm 73. I have a working acre and a spare acre that was meant for my daughter's horse fifteen years ago. I still chop wood, turn compost and grow a lot of my own veg. Fortunately for me there's about five blokes who like the eggs, fresh veg and fruit from my trees so they do come to my rescue when needed. They are a similar age; all are a bit younger.
Like you all said - I sit down a lot between jobs - ironically that keeps me going.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Here is what I figure. I just retired, will be 3 years this coming July. And for all those working years, I worked outside of my house for 50 years, (counting travel time). And I got all the housework done, I got all my garden stuff done, cooking, etc. etc. So I have down pat ----how to get those chores done" minus 50 hours weekly. Now with the extra 50 hours to play with, its a piece of cake. And yes, I am older, but still ----take my time, I got 50 hours now .

 

[Meadowlark]

As I've gotten older, I've found harvesting and processing produce is getting more difficult each year. I'm looking for someone who will come in and help with the canning and processing, but it is hard to find any help as others have mentioned. My donations to the local food bank have increased significantly the last two years because I just can't handle nearly all that I can grow... and cutting back is not an option, for now.

Otherwise, my garden soil is superior which virtually eliminates problems with insect, fungi, and even weeds. My techniques for organic gardening are pretty much automated. I have long argued that it is far easier to garden in a large space with proper equipment than it is to garden in a small space limited to manual equipment. I rely on equipment and techniques to extend my ability to grow nutrient dense produce. Extensive cover crops, plentiful well composted cow manure, crop rotations are integral to my garden. No synthetics are ever used.

I had thought that by this point in time, I would be confined to container gardening but thus far I haven't cut back on anything. The HK container techniques I continue to develop have added a great deal of flexibility to my gardening including growing things I could never grow in the past such as leafy veggies and winter veggies.

I'm at the point where I only do things I wish to do. As a result, I've leased out the cattle operation (retaining all the compost) and have plenty of time to take care of other things on the property including the garden.

Now if only I can find someone to help with the canning...

 

[cntrlwagdnr]

Actually, I'm glad I'm getting older - otherwise I would be dead. (Quote from the Swamp People TV show. Funny, but true.

You have to manage your scope and expectations realistically. The other suggestions are good ones, including higher raised beds, which I highly recommend. Also occasionally hiring some casual worked from your local supplier is good. Those temporary "guest workers" are hard workers just trying to make a living in my experience and often doing the stuff most other people turn their noses up at. I have always had good results and tipped them well. They would probably love to help out with your garden for a change. Plus it's better than paying them under the table because they get their SS and taxes paid and the company covers liability insurance and that's important for you.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

The Splitter Story
Many years ago when we gathered wood during the warm months stacking it etc. that was husbands job. Husband befriended this elderly gentleman named Jack. Jack had a nick name, One Eye Jack. and yep he had one eye. He had damaged an eye in an accident, don't know exactly what type. Jack also had a wood stove. Jack and husband would team up all summer gathering free wood. Somehow when the word it out that two guys for free will clear wood calls start coming in. Both men had good pick-up trucks for the wood gatherings and good chain saws.
At a certain point they both decided a splinter was needed for all the wood. So both men bought one together, each taking turns with it on each other's property getting the jobs done. A paper was drawn up so that if one dies the other gets the splitter. As time went by it became known that Jack's family was not the best toward him, all they wanted was any money he had. As some men do they don't always talk to each other daily or even weekly. We had not heard from Jack for a month. Husband called Jack and found out that he died. Thank goodness during this time, the splitter was on our property. We know the son's would not have given it up, and it would have been a big mess to get back to us. So that is how we have our splitter.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

He had damaged an eye in an accident, don't know exactly what type.

Bet I do, the surgeon who did my eye told me had done lots over the years, and they were all something mundane like mine, tripped and fell. Never an angle grinder, a car crash, or a spot welder, "Twice I had someone who fell out of bed and caught the bedside table, one on a radiator, never anything dramatic."

 

[big rockpile]

I should add l have use of one Arm from Elbow down and it has a mind of its own. My wife gave me a piece of meat one time that needed cutting. No problem I took my bad Arm stuck my fork in it started cutting with my good Arm. All of a sudden my piece of meat goes across the floor. Man I really wanted that piece of meat.

Another time I was cutting some metal. I needed this one piece held up high. So I use my good Arm to lift my bad Arm up, get ahold of the metal, got ahold of the metal, was cutting, all of a sudden my bad Arm dropped down on another piece of sharp metal.

Now I had a bad infection in my bad Foot had to have it operated on twice. Supposed to get stitches out soon.

Got one Leg that has bad circulation and in turn have Blood Clots. So I'm on Blood Thinners.

Driving is fun. I have to put my bad Arm up on my Leg to get stuff on my left side but it don't always work. I tend to get lost and I just don't have control like I used to. So they will no longer let me drive.

I can't get out of Bed or a Chair. Even with help it takes a couple tries.

I can bend over but can't get on my knees because I can't get up.

Basically I can't hear even with Hearing Aids they help a bit but still have to be looking at a person.

If I fall I can't get up. I had the bright idea one time on a trip. They didn't have a Shower so I thought I could take a bath. Found I had to have my wife wash my hair. Then found I couldn't get out of the Tub. My wife got my Son and another guy to get me out.

If I go to fall I can't do nothing but fall and I have no control where I fall.

Since they took my Prostate out because of Cancer. I have no control over my Bladder so they put a Valve in. On my stool I have a pull bar but some are a challenge. I no longer can have sex but they are giving me Hormone Shots so I'm not interested.

Oh and I have no Teeth and have a wife that gets me Gummy Vitamins. Finally I got it through to her to get pills.

Other than that I'm healthy as a Bear.

big rockpile

 

[redback]

Actually, I'm glad I'm getting older - otherwise I would be dead. (Quote from the Swamp People TV show. Funny, but true.

Chuckle.

Now with the extra 50 hours to play with, its a piece of cake. And yes, I am older, but still ----take my time, I got 50 hours now .

The extra 50 hours is a good thought but normally there are hobbies apart from gardening. Because work is also your social scene it disappears on retirement, so you start a new social scene which involves a lot of time as well.

I'm at the point where I only do things I wish to do.

This is also an operational rationale. We can make our gardens smaller, and the local contractors will slash the remainder for a reasonable price once or twice a year.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

@redback , your right about "work" being a social scene, I do miss some aspects of the chatting about with my staff. But for a good 50 years I was always in a supervisor/management position--meaning there was a line I had to draw with too much chumming about with staff. Also through years of observation I have see even parallel position at work not be a good thing, so my "friend" social was always the best with folks not work related. But some of those "friends" have died. But, yes, I do miss the mundane chatting. Other than gardening, I really never developed any "hobbies" . We do have a show car that takes up time. But, my current "hobby" is to try to toss out /give away/sell stuff in our house, we have too much stuff. Most the stuff are antiques we have collected over time that need to be sold. We do have an Airbnb now, that gives me a different focus. And of course more traveling to do .

 

[cntrlwagdnr]

Loved my job as a senior engineering manager when I retired more than anything I had ever done previously. I was always a work to live person, not a live to work person. Planned for my retirement and succession planning a whole year. We bought our new house and moved 9 months beforehand and I used our motorhome and commuted weekends. (Absolutely coincidentally 24 1/2 yeas to the day with them.) Politely declined a company party or cake. Said my goodbyes, walked out the door the last day and never even looked back. End of one phase of my life, beginning of another. Now I don't know how I ever found time to go to work! ... But if I don't want to do it today, I'll do it tomorrow...

 

[cntrlwagdnr]

I should add l have use of one Arm from Elbow down and it has a mind of its own. My wife gave me a piece of meat one time that needed cutting. No problem I took my bad Arm stuck my fork in it started cutting with my good Arm. All of a sudden my piece of meat goes across the floor. Man I really wanted that piece of meat.

Another time I was cutting some metal. I needed this one piece held up high. So I use my good Arm to lift my bad Arm up, get ahold of the metal, got ahold of the metal, was cutting, all of a sudden my bad Arm dropped down on another piece of sharp metal.

Now I had a bad infection in my bad Foot had to have it operated on twice. Supposed to get stitches out soon.

Got one Leg that has bad circulation and in turn have Blood Clots. So I'm on Blood Thinners.

Driving is fun. I have to put my bad Arm up on my Leg to get stuff on my left side but it don't always work. I tend to get lost and I just don't have control like I used to. So they will no longer let me drive.

I can't get out of Bed or a Chair. Even with help it takes a couple tries.

I can bend over but can't get on my knees because I can't get up.

Basically I can't hear even with Hearing Aids they help a bit but still have to be looking at a person.

If I fall I can't get up. I had the bright idea one time on a trip. They didn't have a Shower so I thought I could take a bath. Found I had to have my wife wash my hair. Then found I couldn't get out of the Tub. My wife got my Son and another guy to get me out.

If I go to fall I can't do nothing but fall and I have no control where I fall.

Since they took my Prostate out because of Cancer. I have no control over my Bladder so they put a Valve in. On my stool I have a pull bar but some are a challenge. I no longer can have sex but they are giving me Hormone Shots so I'm not interested.

Oh and I have no Teeth and have a wife that gets me Gummy Vitamins. Finally I got it through to her to get pills.

Other than that I'm healthy as a Bear.

big rockpile

Ya know, I was beginning to think you were yanking our cords but now I know you are. Nice to see you have a good sense of humor.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

My missus always worked, but her real friends who all see each other, have regular coffee mornings, special outings for birthdays and Christmas, and help each other out in emergencies are the other mums she ran the PTA with twenty plus years ago when Our youngest was in primary.

 

[big rockpile]

Well I shouldn't be upset got a woman next door watch me and call my wife letting her know what I'm doing.

big rockpile

 

[redback]

Other than gardening, I really never developed any "hobbies" . We do have a show car that takes up time. But, my current "hobby" is to try to toss out /give away/sell stuff in our house, we have too much stuff. Most the stuff are antiques we have collected over time that need to be sold. We do have an Airbnb now, that gives me a different focus. And of course more traveling to do .

A show car, downsizing, antiques, travelling, an Airbnb - Esther that makes five hobbies apart from gardening! Do you cook by any chance?