Recently O Wise One talked to an old friend of many years ago who wanted to come visit. He was not bringing his wife because she did not like to travel where she had no place to work out! Now in all fairness I have never met this person nor do I want to make light of the need to exercise regularly especially at our ages. But that is one of those statements that I call a "come here and let me slap you!!!" statement. I feel the need to explain the Hickery Holler Homestead exercise/workout regime. Who knows maybe I will start marketing it.....
First of all it requires rising long before our old friend the sun makes and appearance. Why because by 9:00 am it will be 95 in the shade and every animal on the entire farm will be calling your name wanting fed / watered / petted / walked or let out to pee! And every biting insect within a mile radius is waiting for you to emerge with that tender white meat exposed be it deer fly/ tick / sweat bee / yellow jacket / or gnat!
Now for equipment.
A garden hat is not broken in until it has atleast one hole! Mine is well loved...
For workout footwear garden clogs do nicely. No fancy ones just the everyday old garden clogs. These complete with a hole I just discovered in the bottom. Yes I have completely walked the bottom out of my garden clogs but they are a necessity for me because at the end of my workout I can simply walk over to the garden hose and wash off my feet and the shoes at the same time. Then they go on the back porch rail to dry until next time I need them. Maybe I'll charge extra for that hole ......
Next you'll need some gloves. I prefer the ones with the thick rubber coating on the underside to prevent those nasty stings from the stinging nettles that love my gardens.
The next necessity is his and her hoes. Razor sharp and always ready to go at a moments notice.
Now pick a row! Any row. O Wise One and I have a quota for ourselves we each have 3 rows a morning minimum we are responsible for hoeing. Not just the rows but the three foot space in between each row.
Most people when they exercise these days have to have music and have an ipod stuck in their ears. Not here in Hickery Holler cause we got class! Our music comes from the old radio set out in the middle of the garden under an old rusty tub. Not only does it give you some good country music from the local radio station called "The Farm" it also helps to keep the deer out of the corn fields at night.
Many exercise in a gym with a television monitor projecting scenery in front of their treadmill. Here in the holler we just have the Good Lord's gifts spread out for all the world to see spanning field and fence row.
And at the end of our workout we have left behind a pile of weeds and grass shriveling in between the rows in the hot summer sun. Testament to our accomplishments of that morning.
34 rows later and when you get to the other end of the garden in a week or so you get to turn around and start all over again. And that is just one garden.
Not done yet though. The eggs need gathering, lets pick some peas, and lettuce and digs a few new potatoes for supper tonight. The neighbor dropped by some zucchini and cucumbers in exchange for a dozen eggs. Hmmm supper is shaping up nicely.
Okay the morning garden workout is over. As for me I still have to shell peas. Throw 2 loads of laundry on the line. Wash and spin lettuce then cut up and put in jars in the fridge. And is it noon yet. Gotta get some lunch made up. Then finish the laundry, dinner and some more gardening maybe in the evening once it cools off.
So if anyone ever tells you they don't have anywhere to work out you just slap them up side the head or send them my way. Or tell them about this great new Homestead workout I promise you when I get finished working them they will think the gym is a piece of cake.
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
I have a similar workout here, though I let the animals out first thing, because if I don't, I hear about it! My husband is a gym rat, and when we work together, he's winded long before I am. It's not the same level of intensity, I always tell him. Homesteading is MUCH harder than lifting weights or jogging!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. My thighs couldn't get as good a workout in a gym. B-T-W, you could use a wheel hoe from my friend Greg at 'Hoss Tools' http://hosstools.com/. It's still a workout but a lot easier on the back than a standard hoe.
ReplyDeleteThis is the real deal workout!:) our day is full, from sun up to sun down. Just last week our pig had her piglets. We/She started at 1AM and went right through the morning till 6. Never went to sleep just had to keep going right through the whole next day! There is no day off from the workout routine!;)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a GREAT workout!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the workout here :) I only have 35 rows to hoe total but I have to squeeze milking and churning in too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't want a workout - she wants a workin - controlled environment, monitors etc.
ReplyDeleteYour way is better.
Your post cracked me up this morning! So true, so true sis that us homesteaders get a daily workout!
ReplyDeleteSo true. So true. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post, too funny! Farm life does give you a workout, just not the kind you would get in a gym. Your workout gives you fresh air and satisfaction of accomplishment when you are done!!!!
ReplyDeleteGeez.. Better workout that any other IMO too.. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha :o)
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence says it well - a workout in a gym is for fun, a workout in the fields is work. I do both & honestly... I really love working out in a gym more. I love relaxing in my garden too but you have to do a lot of hard work before you can enjoy it.
Long ago when I lived in the city I was fortunate enough that the corporation I worked for provided a gym for it's employees. I worked out before work every day. I agree it is a much less intense workout. No bugs : )Here the nearest gym is over an hour away one way. I'll stick to the garden.
DeleteLove this post! So true!
ReplyDeleteI just came in from gardening and building fence...93 outside..I weighed 2.5 pounds less than when I got up this morning, everything I was wearing was sweat drenched. And I didn't have to drive to town and pay a fee to do it.
The heat index heree was in the hundreds too!
DeleteGreat post!!!!! And interesting, too! Must have my husband read this also. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSusannah
CQ,
ReplyDeleteCan't go visit a friend because she needs a gym near by..............that's a sorry excuse if I've ever seen one. Living on a farm, ranch, or homestead will keep you extremely busy. You have exercise coming out your ears!!!! Most farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders stay healthy because they never seem to stop, they keep moving like the energizer bunny.
Maybe the country just isn't her thing! Who knows and to each his own!
DeleteLove your gym and you don't have to pay a monthly fee! I too enjoy listening to "The Farm" great station.
ReplyDeleteDon you must be in my neck of the woods : )
DeleteVera in NE, AR
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said, now that's some workout!!! You folks are hard working people and could teach many lessons to some city folk if they would just listen. I'm so glad to have found your blog and am enjoying keeping up with life on a real farm. Keep up the good (hard) work.
I can tell you from experience being raised on a farm that your living off the land day in and day out sunrise to sunset is more of a work out then anyone could ever get from a gym so called work out ! Working off the land no gym nut would be able to keep up and they would find muscles they never knew they had . Good luck to them I say . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteYou should start a resort where people pay you to hoe your corn. It's the new thing and you could just don your hat and instruct.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a post (set for tomorrow) about how gardening is my workout. And I just have a small (though it seems HUGE to me- largest space I've ever had) community garden allotment. I think her refusal to come is bizarre. I mean, no matter where you live/visit, you can always run or do your own workout for a few days. But I seriously got the best workout of my life weeding around my tomatoes in the 91 degree humid heat today for an hour and a half.
ReplyDeleteKK