Working Up To It (A Guide for Women and Men)

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You'll also want to make sure that your table or workbench is at the proper height. To allow for maximum leverage, your forearm should drop about 45° below horizontal before connecting with a table. If the surface is too high, stand on a stool or a platform to compensate. If it's too low, on the other hand, you could strain your back by bending over it for any length of time. To solve that problem, elevate the table, or find a chair or stool to sit on that places you in proper relation to the work surface.

Tractors and other farm machinery can pose problems for the female (or short male) homesteader, too. The seat on such machines is often too far away from the steering wheel, forcing a smaller driver to lean forward ... in a position that could lead to back stress. If that's the case with your mechanical workhorse, try moving up until you're comfortably close to the steering wheel, and then put padding between your back and the seat.

This solution, of course, won't alter the height of the seat. A good design is one in which the seat tips upward slightly in the front, thereby pulling the lower back into a supported position against the seat. Such a setup is all well and good for the long-legged individual, but it may leave the shorter person with his or her feet dangling in the air. To add to the problem, if you simply scoot forward to get closer to the steering wheel, the edge of the seat will dig into the bottom of your thighs rather than cradling you behind the knees (as its designer no doubt intended). So, if the platform on your riding implement is both too high and too far back, you'll need to put the seat on a sliding base and/or make it vertically adjustable (you might be able to get a welder friend to install a seat post similar to those used on bicycles).

Another problem with such motorized tools as chain saws and tractors is that they rattle and shake the body. The vibrations can numb your nerves—especially those in the hands and buttocks—in the course of a day's work. You can protect your body, however, simply by using padding. Gloves are helpful in this respect, but it's even better to apply a soft material directly to the vibrating object ... at the spot where it will come in contact with your body.

In addition, although most people don't consider their footwear as a "tool", the task of custom-fitting your equipment to your body should include properly supporting and padding your lower extremities. Most farmers and construction workers wear heavy leather boots, as such footwear is tough enough to hold up under rough, wet, and grimy conditions... and offers firm support for the ankles. However, I find that many boots—as they come off the shelf—aren't cushy enough for my liking... so I add sole inserts to provide an extra layer between my feet and the ground. Whatever you buy, though, make certain that the boots have good stitching, and look for a pair with steel toes and shanks. It's also best to waterproof the leather (try mink oil) to be sure your feet'll stay dry.

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