‍Tools to Help Us Garden, Create, and Thrive

On this page, I share some tools, supplies, seeds, and safety gear that I find helpful or just plain enjoy. Managing my own chronic health conditions can be a challenge, but these practical workarounds help me stay active in my garden. I hope they bring the joy of gardening back into your life, too!

Nurse's Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and gear that I personally use, or similar reliable models that I highly recommend for staying comfortable and active in the backyard.

The Nurse Farmer cutting Zinnias in his garden using joint-friendly pruning shears.

Joint-Friendly Hand Pruners

Pruning shouldn't mean paying the price with hand pain. Managing trigger-thumb, carpal tunnel, and joint stiffness can be a struggle for me. These lightweight shears feature a built-in spring that automatically opens the blades for me. This simple workaround saves my grip energy and allows me to trim with ease!

The Nurse Farmer kneeling on his garden kneeling pad while preparing soil in a clay pot

Comfort-Foam Kneeling Pad

Working low to the ground shouldn't mean suffering through joint pain. Managing arthritic knees can make repetitive bending up and down and kneeling on the hard surface of the soil a struggle for me. This extra-thick, high-density foam pad provides incredible cushioning saving my joints and allowing me to garden more comfortably!

The Nurse Farmer Holding cucumbers that he grew from seed with Mexican Sunflowers that he grew from seed in the background

Jiffy Seed Starting Soil

Heavy soil bags strain my back and worsen my carpal tunnel and trigger thumb. That is why I use a lightweight bag of Jiffy Seed Starting Soil. At three pounds per bag, it is light enough for me to lift and carry, yet large enough to fill several seed starting containers. It is my favorite personal workaround for a pain-free, highly successful planting season!

Let’s Garden, Create, and Thrive Together!

The Nurse Farmer, Pumpkins, Farm, Nurse

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