Gardening is hard work, especially as we get older and develop aches and pains -- such as arthritis. Reduce lifting and carrying with a wheelbarrow or cart for tools and supplies. Reduce bending and kneeling by mounding soil into raised beds so as to reach them easily, without stretching. Always wear kneepads and a carpenter's apron to keep seeds and small tools handy. Foam rubber on tool handles makes them easy to hold. If you have stiff fingers, use young plants instead of tiny seeds, and wear heavy cotton gloves to prevent blisters. Always break down big, heavy bags of topsoil and other supplies into smaller, more manageable sizes. And, use a soaker hose or sprinklers to avoid hauling watering cans and hoses all season long. Pace yourself; quit long before you get tired, and in case of an emergency, wear a whistle. And that's the On The House tip for today.