Get to know Ann Adams and Liz Brensinger of Green Heron Tools.
What are you going to speak about at the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR?
We’ll be talking about something that everyone should have learned in health class, but didn’t – how to prevent aches and pains, injuries and disabilities simply by being smart about how you use your body. This means following the principles of good body mechanics so that you utilize the correct muscles to complete tasks safely and efficiently, without putting undue strain on any muscle or joint. We’ll also be working with participants to learn how to pick the best tools for their bodies, so that everything they do – whether it’s lifting, weeding, shoveling or shearing – supports good health and well-being.
What are you most looking forward to sharing with FAIR attendees?
Tricks for staying healthy and thereby being able to do whatever it is that you love to do for a lifetime! And for women attendees, we’re incredibly excited about demonstrating HERS, our brand-new hergonomic shovel/spade hybrid – the first-ever tool scientifically designed to work with women’s bodies.
Tell us about your background with your particular topic.
Well, one of us is a walking advertisement for the benefits of good body mechanics, and one of us, sadly, isn’t. As a nurse, Ann learned how to use her body – how to move, lift and do other tasks safely – at a very early age. Liz, on the other hand, was trained as a journalist and later a public health educator – no such luck! Guess who has more aches and pains, despite being younger? Also: we’ve both been organic market growers for 15+ years and organic gardeners even longer; we’ve been working intensively with a team of engineers for 2+ years to design tools that work with (not against) women’s bodies; and we’ve done workshops and presentations for hundreds of people – including farmers and gardeners of both genders – on how to stay healthy longer.
Why should fairgoers attend your presentation?
a) It’ll be fun!
b) It’ll be interactive, with the chance to talk, ask questions & practice new techniques for staying healthy… leading to:
c) More fun in the future!
d) Oh, and you’ll get a chance to try our new shovel, too, as well as win an ergonomic grip that you can use to make your own tools safer and more comfortable to work with.
How will you get to the FAIR, and how far do you have to travel?
By car or van from eastern PA – 462 miles round-trip.
What are you most looking forward to at the FAIR?
Meeting and learning from and laughing with fellow fairgoers.
What advice do you have for attendees?
Expect a great time, a large turnout and some great workshops early in the morning (so forget about sleeping in!)
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one thing, what would you choose?
HERS, our new hergonomic shovel/spade hybrid for women! We could use it to dig a fire pit, knock fruit off trees, kill wild animals for dinner, reflect light to draw the attention of any nearby planes, smash mosquitoes, dig cat holes, dig for buried treasure and bury anyone who doesn’t make it.
Thank you both. We’ll see you at the FAIR!
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Please visit the FAIR website for more information about the Seven Springs, Pa. FAIR September 24-25, and upcoming FAIRs in other locations. Tickets are on sale now.
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