Madeline deVries Hooper
GardenFit Television
After a trailblazing public relations career that included creating and building the leading marketing-PR firm DeVries Global, and then a career as a ballroom dance competitor and teacher, Madeline de Vries Hooper immersed herself in the world of gardening. She was invited to become a trustee of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and then of the Berkshire Botanical Garden, where she has been Vice Chair for the past 10 years. She has visited many of the finest gardens in the United States and Europe and developed relationships with leading horticulturalists, garden designers, and plantspeople.
However, her passion for gardening left her with many aches and pains. A friend recommended she work with a personal trainer and she learned new body awareness and techniques to relieve her pain and enable her to garden more enjoyably and productively. These newfound habits were the inspiration for the GardenFit television show and workshop program. Madeline and her husband live in Columbia County, New York, where for the past 30 years they have devoted themselves to maintaining Rockland Farm, a 10-acre garden they created from scratch.
Show Notes
You may have your favorite shovel, clippers, and other tools, but your body is your most important tool.
Position your body well and learn to use it with the tool—let the tool do the work.
Three key principles to keep in mind: Posture, Balance, Form of the body
Stop using your back as the main driver—use your hips and legs to avoid unnecessary stress.
For flower farmers, portable knee pads aren’t very practical, but wearable knee pads are a great option.
Take care of yourself while you take care of your farm.
Shoulders and backs should not be the body parts doing most of the heavy lifting—take them out of the equation whenever possible.
Adopt a mindset of making your space work for you so movements and tasks are more efficient.
Even if it feels like “one more thing,” a brief warm-up before you start makes a world of difference.
Remember: one muscle group can only work for so long. Rotate tasks when you can.
After each task, do small resets—stretch, stand up, or move around.
Wear good shoes and a tool belt to reduce strain and keep essential tools close.
