quote:

Originally posted by cheshirekat:
This reply is probably too late but I'll offer it for anyone else who finds themselves in a similar situation.

I just bought a wheelbarrow this weekend after being without one for I think two years. The one thing that saved me from constant backache and much wasted time is having a sturdy tarp or two. That wheelbarrow looks like it doesn't hold more than about 2 - 3 cu ft of dirt. (If it is windy, much less.) However, you can move a lot of dirt with a tarp. Pile the dirt up on the tarp, then take the corners of the tarp and pull. You can use the tarp to drag larger quantities of soil than a wheelbarrow. In addition, the tarp won't allow the wind to blow all your soil away. To make the work go quicker, two people can drag the tarp for really heavy loads.

You can get a cheap tarp for under $10 at a lot of places. You can also use old blankets, old shower curtains, etc. but they tend to tear easily so you have to be on the lookout for sharp rocks, glass, nails, etc. as you drag. But they will work in a pinch for one-time jobs.

I also use tarps when trimming bushes and shrubs. I just spread the tarp under the bush, do the trimming, admire how easy the cleanup is when the trimmed limbs fall on the tarp, then drag the tarp of limbs away.

Hope this helps someone without a wheelbarrow or with a lot of dirt to move. And don't forget to bend your knees to use your leg muscles more and put less strain on your back.