The Properly Shod Gardener

[Tulirose]

When gardening or doing any yard work, I have always worn sneakers but find that I am always tracking dirt into the house no matter how much I stomp and wipe my feet prior to entering.

I was in BJ's a few weeks ago and found something called "Okabashi Home and Garden Clogs". Advertised as "antimicrobial", "therapeutic" and "slip resistant". "Each step provides pleasant stimulation to vital spots of the foot, and the mere act of walking in Okabashi sandals massages the feet." And a 3 dollar rebate to boot!

I grabbed them. I wore them. I hated them. And I have yet to send in for that rebate!

After a short while, they started to hurt my feet. All those stupid little bumps in them were little pains! And then when pulling up a root in an area I was clearing, I slipped out of one clog and my bare foot stepped back onto another exposed root! Ouch!

However, I perserved in wearing these killers. I spent 12 bucks on them, by golly! I'm not throwing them in the garbage.

Two weeks later, something has happened. They no longer hurt and they do stay on my feet. The best part is, I slip them off outside my door and they are always there waiting for me to slip into them for a walk in the yard. No more messy or wet dress shoes when I take a quick walk outside just prior to leaving for work. No more dirt in the house.

So do you think that the "medically proven stimulation of vital spots on the soles of the feet by beaded insoles promoting good circulation and extremely effective in alleviating health problems" kicked in and did its job....or did my feet just get use to them?

 

[Mamu]

Tuli like all new shoes I think your feet just built up a tolerance to the areas that were bothering you. It sometimes takes 2 weeks to brake-in shoes. Like all my shoes, I can never find them when going outside so I just go barefoot.

My best advice for tired sore feet get a pedicure they are wonderful. Another tip always wear thick cotton socks, they do help when working outside. All this advice is coming from the barefoot queen. Unless I'm digging I always garden barefoot, a quick rinsing with the hose and walla clean feet. Except for the bottoms, and thats probably why I need a pedicure so often, nothing a good lava rock can't cure.

 

[Snowwark]

Although "pleasant stimulation to vital spots" has got to be a good thing..lol...I think Mamu may be right. I think your feet finally got used to them Tulirose. You persevered, and it paid off. I don't know if I would of had the patience.

I have couple pairs of old shoes that I keep on the deck (unless it's raining), that way I can slip in and out of them as I head out the kitchen door.

Oh....usually without socks!

 

[DixieDreamer]

I have "barn shoes" that are my old tennis shoes that are no longer fit to be worn in public. They are my shoe of choice for gardening and barn chores. Sadly, they do track the dirt in to the house...and DH yells at me alot about this little problem.... but I figure he can get over it!