| Author | Content |
enya_34
Madison, WI
May 27, 2009
08:41 AM Post #6603731
| Thank you for this article. It's not a glorious topic to address but an important one.
My son ventures into the garden to "find things" as he says and find them he does
constantly picking up all sort of bugs and other crawlers. I on my part worry and
encourage his interest in nature, never being popular with the eternal mother's
call to wash hand. Although we don't have pets, the garden is open to visitors.
I'll read your piece to my son. It has a good balance of info, caution and humor in it. |
irisMA
South Hamilton, MA
May 27, 2009
08:49 AM Post #6603768
| Good reminder. the garden fairies stopped DH is time to avoid coyote turd while weeding--he does wear gloves. |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
May 27, 2009
10:32 AM Post #6604242
| I might even MAIL it to my kids, although they usually disregard my emails.  They both love other people's pets and are not careful enough about washing afterward. Of course our yard is playground to most of the above-mentioned animals in the neighborhood. Thanks, Geoff! |
nanny_56
Putnam County, IN
(Zone 5b)
May 27, 2009
10:33 AM Post #6604245
| Very good reminder for all of us...I always wash my hands after being outside just in case. How many times do you absent mindly reach down and pull a weed or touch something bare handed?? |
LouC
Desoto, TX
(Zone 8a)
May 27, 2009
11:44 AM Post #6604522
| This article needs to be run everyday until all have read it. Cannot quote where I saw this information but the remark was that a grocery cart is one of the worst carriers there is.
I have gotten almost paranoid about pushing a cart. Some, very small percentage, are providing the little towelettes to wipe down the handle and your hands.
It's a wonder my kids got grown...
Christi |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
May 27, 2009
12:58 PM Post #6604910
| Please don't run this article again. If I read it twice I shall be so paranoid I may never touch my backdoor knob again. I will however consider straining and sifting my half acre through a three micron filter. Having done that I will breathe easier if wearing a mask and goggles in addition to a laytex head to toe positive air protective suit.
I suggest presence in the doctor's office may be far more dangerous than spending the rest of your life gardening. By all means don't touch his door knob without sterilizing it first. Be sure and carry a baggy to isolate the wiping cloth. While there don't let your dog stick his nose where dogs all stick their noses and then come over and kiss you. |
Hemophobic
Kannapolis, NC
May 27, 2009
02:49 PM Post #6605313
| Good grief! I love gardening barehanded, but this article and all these comments make me paranoid about it. I always wash my hands and scrub my nails with a brush after gardening, but still, one can't be too cautious. Maybe I should start using those darned gloves for everything. Oh, who am I kidding? I'll go on using my hands as I have trouble grabbing the weeds with the gloves and, besides, I just like the feel of it!
The article contains valid and necessary information we all should heed. |
planolinda
Plano, TX
May 27, 2009
07:31 PM Post #6606469
| i did have toxoplasmosis while pregnant and it was very scary ---i am a statistic at the atlantic desease control center (CDC) because of it---
i am not good about wearing gloves in my gardening however--i start out with them and somehow i never end up wearing them! |
gabagoo
Yonkers, NY
(Zone 5b)
May 27, 2009
08:59 PM Post #6606873
| Hemophobic, Try latex (if allergic, there are non-latex ones) gloves.
They fit like a 2nd skin so you still get the "feel" of things.
I use regular gardening gloves when I'm doing heavy duty stuff (moving pots, digging, etc) & the latex for the finer things. |
Hemophobic
Kannapolis, NC
May 27, 2009
09:55 PM Post #6607134
| Gab: I've been meaning to try those and see if I like them. I'll pick up some soon and give it a try.
TY |
joeyramone
Schenectady, NY
May 28, 2009
08:20 AM Post #6608510
| I recently read that there are non-dangerous bacteria in garden soil that actually increase serotonin levels, a possible explanation for why some of us seem to crave direct contact with the soil! They're saying more research is needed, of course, but very intriguing. The doc is right though- thorough hand washing after gardening is crucial. Just yelled at Barney cat for trying to use a new bed as a litter box this morning. My trowel has had to do double duty as a pooper scooper more than once! |
Hemophobic
Kannapolis, NC
May 28, 2009
08:26 AM Post #6608522
| Joey, I share your woe. All three of our cats think my new garden bed along the fence is a new large litter box, so I am constantly scooping cat poop out of the bed!
No yard work today as it is raining hard as I type this! A really gullywasher. |
docgipe
NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA
(Zone 5a)
May 28, 2009
09:52 AM Post #6608857
| I did not mean to be abrasive to this article. We believe in some sort of common sense but there is more good in most soils than bad. The good controls and ballances the bad given half a chance. Not using harsh chemicals is a step in the right direction and all most folks need do to have a very healthy soil. Over worry about all the possible bad things that exist in all soils is best left to soil building with organic principles. I have used manures since my time began. What the other animals deposit is no better or worse than the horse or cow manures commonly used by most organic growers. Added to that is much chicken, bat guana over the years, rabbit and sheep to mention just three more. It enters my program both raw and composted to no ill effects. I used to think cat and dog deposits might be bad. Today I believe manure is manure and it is that simple. Common sense indicates that manure from sick animals only should be set aside and not used. Otherwise one manure is as good as any other and is a sound building block in anyone's gardening. All organic principles include manures, elements of compost, compost and trace minerals from rotting plant and animal life as well as commercial available trace minerals are all a part of solid healthy soil building elements. The ballanced approach is the only secret...a little of this and that is always best. A whole bunch of any one element is not the best approach. I would then not seek the waists residules from any source that is known to come from a dog kennel or other hospital like source. That seems to be the common sence element when using raw materials. Likewise I skip adding other people's grass clippings the first month of each growing year. They if any contain the harsh chemicals from lawn and garden applications commonly used today. One month later grass is a very good bet to be excellent after the spring rains leach the chemicals downstream. Only ten percent at the most of the harsh chemcals remain if any remain as trace elements or components in the grass after the first month each year. Your neighbors cat deposits nearly non measurable remain as a soil builder too. If thirty cats line up twice a day to do their thing you may have a problem. I've never seen such a production in my time. LOL |
Hemophobic
Kannapolis, NC
May 28, 2009
11:45 AM Post #6609316
| Doc: No; it's just our 3 and it's annoying, not offensive. But we love them so it's okay.
|
planolinda
Plano, TX
May 28, 2009
06:46 PM Post #6610950
| docgipe i like that idea of waiting for the grass clippings! i pick up bags of grass in the alley and never thought of your great idea of timing my pickups!
and of course you're right that common sense rules and no one should fear getting into the dirt--my bad experience might not have even been from the garden since i didn't garden much at all at the time
nice to have articles like this one to remind us to use common sense tho |
joeyramone
Schenectady, NY
May 30, 2009
07:29 AM Post #6617084
| I "planted" 8" sticks all through my newest beds to deter the cat. Seems to help a bit. He loves the freshly turned dirt and new mulch the best. Doesn't look great, but beats scooping! |
shirleyd
Starkville, MS
June 01, 2009
07:04 AM Post #6625445
| Why don't people do the logical thing and wear gloves? I am a long time gardener (20 years)------and the first thing that I do before I go out----is put on gloves. I used to use the little cloth ones with some rubberized parts---------but now I use the Bluettes----which are all rubberized and supple. Please, if not for safety reasons, wear them to preserve the moisture and softness in your hands.
Shirleyd |
TerriKG
Woodstock, NY
(Zone 5b)
June 01, 2009
10:22 AM Post #6626127
| I wash my hands when I come in from the garden and then I kiss my dog on the mouth. |
LouC
Desoto, TX
(Zone 8a)
June 01, 2009
10:31 AM Post #6626168
| hahaha |
