This summer is the second year that I am volunteering on a local organic farm for a share of vegetables. I absolutely love getting to spend half of my summer Sundays on a farm with my young daughter! We get to pick vegetables, chat with other volunteers, and enjoy the beautiful weather on a charming farm. It is so much fun!

Doing a working share at a local farm (or gardening in your back yard) has many benefits: fresh vegetables, exercise … the list goes on. Unfortunately, hard work on the farm or in the garden can take a toll on your hands.

Here are a few tips that will keep your hands looking and feeling great throughout the farming & gardening season:

Wear Gloves!

Durable and fitted gardening gloves are essential to protect your hands from the rough soil and pokey weeds. There are dozens of different styles of gardening gloves, thousands of brands, and millions of options out there to choose from. You are sure to find ones that are comfortable, durable, and stylish! I like these hemp/organic cotton and vegetable-tanned leather gloves by Angela’s Garden because they are durable and eco-friendly [$32 at Angela’s Garden]!

 

 

 

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

After working in the dirt cleaning your hands can be a chore, but the right soap and nail brush make all the difference. Nothing cleans the dirt and grime off like a biodegradable vegetable-based soap by Dr. Bronner’s. I the liquid Tea Tree soap is tough on grime, not on your skin [an 8 oz bottle is only $6 online at Dr. Bronner’s]. Used with a natural-bristle nail brush like this one from Earth Therapeutics [at the super-affordable price of $2.99], you will be able to get every speck of dirt out from under your nails!

 

 

 

Moisturize!

Moisturizing your tired skin is crucial to speed healing and keep your skin soft & radiant. When my hands need serious TLC after long hours picking peas and weeding rows of onions I turn to my favorite Organic Shea Butter Lotion — Pre de Provence. The thick, creamy, and ultra-luxurious crème soothes and protects like nothing else! And because a little goes a long way a 2.5 oz tin [only $18.99 online at Pharmaca] lasts for ages. [Read the review here.]

 

 

 

Paint your nails!

Keeping your nails long and lacquered is a difficult task even when you’re not digging in the garden — but giving yourself a relaxing spa-like manicure after a hard day’s work can be so much fun! I love this Organic Manicure Set by Karma Organic Spa. The biodegradable formulas are toluene-, DBP- and formaldehyde-free! [Get the whole set for only $50 at Abe’s Market.]

 

 

 

 

After laboring in the garden you deserve a little pampering. These organic, eco-friendly, and affordable products will help keep your hands clean, soft and looking beautiful throughout gardening season and the rest of the year!

Images courtesy of Angela’s Garden, Dr. Bronner’s, Earth Therapeutics, Pre de Provence, and Karma Organic Spa.