Wellies. I have a hierarchy. Newest wellies are for dog walking. Then they become 'spares' for visitors to use in a pinch. Then they become gardening wellies. Then they are used to make patches, tool handle repairs and boots for the dog.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Old walking boots, mainly. Previously my own, but when they fell apart before my current pair were ready to be relegated to the garden, my daughter's old ones came in. Always have a pair of crocs by the door and slip them on if I'm just popping out or not doing anything heavy duty, but boots most of the time. Like @Allotment Boy I have pair of steel toecap boots I had to get for college, but they're none too comfy so they're just on hand for if I really need protection.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Having accompanied a fellow student to hospital while we were wall-building at college, because she'd dropped a rock on her foot, I always wear steel toecap shoes (amazingly, purchased in a charity shop, and the right size!) when doing "proper" gardening. Otherwise, old walking boots, or wellies if in the meadow (always wet). However, for nipping out with the bins or feeding the birds in the winter, I have my dad's fur lined boots with the stuck zips, size 10 (my feet are size 4) which I can just slip on quickly, and which keep my feet wonderfully warm. What the neighbours think of my Charlie Chaplin impression I have no idea.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
It depends on what kind of gardening I’m doing. If it’s just cutting stuff back and I need mud protection alone then a pair of trainers my son outgrew many years ago. For serious heavy work then I use a pair of wellies with tough soles. As interesting I think are gardening gloves. After experimenting with all kinds, I find the ones that work best for me are ones with a tight fit but flexible, with rubber on the palms and fingers to provide grip but thin enough to feel what I’m doing. I do still get stabbed though!
Of course. It's muddy round here and she has princess paws
(actually she has had recurrent foot infections that make her feet very sore walking on rough ground, so we put boots on her in Winter. She scuffs them all the time though so they wear out quickly)
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Yes, I know those gloves @Cambridgerose12 I wear them for most gardening tasks - easy to spruce up in the washing machine too! I've got about 3 pairs plus winter versions which are slightly thicker. I've got a tougher pair of suede like gloves for dealing with sharp edged grasses and roses.
This leads to another question - do real gardeners wear gardening gloves? (Many gardening presenters obviously don't but it would be unkind to comment further 😊.)
Just read this thread and it seems most of us wear similar things on our feet when it comes to gardening depending on weather and time of year and usually cast offs from other uses. These are my must haves, kept by the back door to nip outside when I don't want to be bothered putting gardening shoes on. I haven't shoved them in the washing machine yet but plan on doing so when they get filthy inside.
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“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
(actually she has had recurrent foot infections that make her feet very sore walking on rough ground, so we put boots on her in Winter. She scuffs them all the time though so they wear out quickly)
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
This leads to another question - do real gardeners wear gardening gloves? (Many gardening presenters obviously don't but it would be unkind to comment further 😊.)
These are my must haves, kept by the back door to nip outside when I don't want to be bothered putting gardening shoes on. I haven't shoved them in the washing machine yet but plan on doing so when they get filthy inside.