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[harryinfrance]

"Go on " she said  " make your yourself a veggie plot, everybody grows their own  over here"

Ok, I thought , I have retired, have plenty of time on my hands ---after the gardening --- the painting ---laying floor tiles --- taking the dog for a walk --- getting the wood ---sawing it up  --and  a few other  !little! odd jobs.

Measured out an areea 15 metres x 15 and started to turn the sod, what I didn't realise was the French soil ( where we live ) consists of flints-stones-etc held together with a little soil ----- and its hard work  for a fella of my age -- who has the added ability of never grown ANYTHING  in the ground before .

Now --- the "Dearly beloved" is telling me  that I'm working too haed  and shouodn't have started in the first place  ------  but as old Magnus used to say ----Iv'e started so I'll finish ----but  ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh  my aching back   

[Username]

I just sent a reply to Frenchy about garden probs...
I think the same solutions I suggested for Frenchy might do your backache a good turn too.
Look at Frenchy's message 'DEAD YARD' in this part of the forum,....for my suggestions.
Raised bed gardening is miles easier and MUCH better for growing things.
It can also be VERY low maintenance, with minimal work.
username

[patheslip]

Definitely go the raised bed route.  The standard size is 4' by 12', or it's nearest metric equivalent.  Then you can reach to the middle easily and won't be tempted to step on the bed because it's too long to walk round. Make them as high as you can, within reason, or start low and raise them as you age.  Never walk on the bed, ever. Use landscape fabric on the paths (which you can cover with gravel to keep everything clean) or make the spaces between the bed the width of your strimmer or mower if you like grass and work.  If you're worried about chemicals from treated wood getting into your veg then line the boxes with a strong impervious layer, though you may find this irritating to work round. You can start with a few and add to your collection as you give into temptation.  You can make a mini polytunnel and use the same frame for birdproof netting or horticultural fleece for crop protection.  Plant and sow things closer together and get stunning early and late crops.

[Bertie]

I note this post is about three years old, but if your back hasn't given up completely by now, why not adopt the no-dig deep mulch method popularised by Ruth Stout.  You'll find a summary here:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2004-02-01/Ruth-Stouts-System.aspx
We've used this for the past three years on our rock hard clay soil and it works wonderfully well.  You must have a good source of organic material: old straw is perfect, ask around your local farming community for paille abîmé and a couple of cartloads should suffice.