I know it looks really funny, but I'm in love with this wearable gardening stool (yes, you wear it on your butt). Last spring, I injured my back trying to lift a behemoth television set into my sunroom. I know you're supposed to use your legs to do this, not your back, but I forgot this rule, and before I knew it, I was on the floor and unable to move. It was a humbling experience, as I've always prided myself on being strong and able to do most of the heavy tasks around the house that my friends tend to leave to their husbands (now I occasionally borrow those same husbands when I have to move anything bigger than a footstool).

I don't have a green thumb, but I love to get out in my backyard and weed and trim and mulch, especially when I need to think something through (beats chewing on my knuckles). But these days, I last about 15 minutes before my back gives out. This wearable, lightweight stool (about 4 pounds, made of "sturdy co-polymer"), available from Clean Air Gardening, allows you to easily walk around the garden and plop down whenever you want to work on something closer to the ground (the height can be adjusted). According to the background story on the website, this European gadget was designed for milking cows. Wisconsin vegetable farmers adapted it for their workers, to reduce strain on knees and backs. I'll use mine inside the house too, when feeding the dog, vacuuming under beds, fixing plumbing. It sells for $48.95 at Clean Air Gardening.

Note: I've refrained from using the real name of this gadget lest some unwanted results show up in our google ads.