Vietnamese farmers are well covered from the sun.
Protective Gardening Clothes.
P.G.Cs are a great idea that came to me about 50 years too late. In the summertime, a hot sunny day meant a day at the beach or racing down that hill on your skateboard trying to miss the traffic.
When your friends were over it meant a day in the sun. And the normal color progression was pink, red, peeling, light tan then, if lucky, a darker tan or that achieved for look, brown. And somewhere along the way the years and layers of skin slipped away.
(Even though not tools or plants for your garden, protective clothes may well be the best investment in you and your garden you have ever done)
Protective UV Clothing.
One day my stomach swelled and I noticed I hadn’t been to the toilet for a few days. and my life was happening and things were very busy. Eventually, my wife convinced me to go to the hospital.
I was pleased when they said it was not skin cancer, but, in hindsight, I wished that was all it was. It turned out to be Bowel cancer and my cancer had completely blocked my bowel. It totally knocked me out and I ended up with a colostomy bag for 6 months. This changed my life and smoking was just one of the things I had to stop doing.
Taking care of my body and changing the “script” of my life was the start of my new life. My new life involved being aware of what I was wearing outside. And gardening was one area where I had to make adjustments to what I wore. But it didn’t mean I couldn’t be comfortable or fashionable, just more aware of the fabric I chose.
Not all fabrics are created equal.
Dark or bright colors keep UV rays from reaching your skin by absorbing them rather than allowing them to penetrate the fabric. That’s why these colors offer better protection than lighter shades.
And densely woven cloth, like denim, canvas, wool, or synthetic fibers, is more protective than a sheer, thin, or loosely woven cloth. If you can see through the material by holding it up to the light and the sun reaches your skin, so does the radiation.
The ‘build” of your fabric matters. Unbleached cotton contains natural “goodies” (called lignins) that act as UV absorbers stopping the penetration of UV rays into the body.
Loose-fitting clothing is better as tight clothing can stretch and open up the fibers letting UV light through. And, obviously the more body you cover the more UV you stop.
Hats, Trousers and Shorts and T,s.
Just like the 4 basic food groups here are, what I consider, are the 4 basic clothing (For sun protection) groups.
Hats.
I’m looking for substance over style when purchasing a hat for sun protection. The more I can cover, and still see, the better in my books.
The Columbia Uni-sex adult bora bora booney.
Really, who makes up the names for these products? And what is the title of the person whose job it is? This hat is 100% nylon and has a mesh panel for ventilation.
Omni-Shade materials block UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage. This is UV protection at its best. Long-lasting sun protection against the complete spectrum of sunlight is provided by the tight weave construction of the material. This hat comes in over 20 different colors, so there is one for each member of the family, with no fighting about whose is whose.
T-Shirts.
T-shirts have become a fashion statement expressing both our individuality and a sense of belonging to the “herd”
Whether you like a round or V neck, short or long sleeves there is bound to be something for you. My preference for choosing a T for gardening comes down to coverage, the more you can cover the better the product. So I generally go for a round neck and long sleeves, however, you will find many options that will suit your style.
Womens UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Workout Running Shirts.
This women’s long sleeve shirt has 4-way stretchable elastic fabric allowing you to move freely in the garden. They are a 92% polyester, 8% spandex mix that has a UPF 50+fabric rating.
Soft fabrics can help reduce friction and improve comfort for doing those chores in the garden. They come in 2 colors, pastel blue, and pastel green, and are about $33.00 US for both.
Men’s Dry-Fit Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt.
This “T” is 90%Polyester and 10% spandex which is machine washable. They come in packs of 4 with a range of different colors in each pack. These t-shirts are long-sleeved with a crew neck designed for comfort.
This T-shirt has a UPF rating of 50. A garment rated UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 50 permits only 1/50th (roughly 2 percent) UV transmission. Something I wish I knew about in my earlier years.
Trousers.
Similar to the t-shirts my preference is based on coverage. The more I can cover, the less chance of getting skin cancer or so I believe. I am not a doctor and give no advice on this matter, this is just common sense talking.
Solbari UPF 50+ Men’s Sun Protection Trousers.
These trousers are machine washable, light, breathable, and dry fast. The materials are 97% polyester and 3% spandex and do not need ironing.
They guarantee no shrinkage and boast excellent color retention and adjustable side fasteners and front zipper which may explain the rather high price, in my opinion, of around $110.00.
Columbia Women’s Anytime Outdoor Boot Cut Pant.
The material in these trousers is 96% Nylon, and 4% Elastane and is machine washable. The adjustable waistband provides additional wearer comfort. They have a UPF rating of 50 for maximum sun protection and the tight weave construction will block the full spectrum of harmful UV rays. They are also water and stain-repellant. The prices have quite a variation in the range from about $38.00 to $132.00.
Mens and Womens shorts.
My preference, as you know, are long trousers. However, if you do decide you want shorts, try to find something with a UPF rating of at least 30.
Columbia Women’s Sandy River Cargo Shorts.
100% nylon shorts with UPF 30 fabric protection.
Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Cargo Short.
Mens shorts with 100% synthetic fibers with UPF 50 fabric protection.
Final Words.
By the time you start worrying about sun protection, it is too late. The world is getting hotter and the longer we spend in the garden, the longer we are exposed to UV rays. And you have more chance of getting cancer.
By just changing a few things about what you wear and what you do in the garden will save you a lot of heartache later in life. None of us think about the bad things that will happen when we are younger. But this is something that you can do something about. Please take care of your body and skin.
Stephen.
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