I have a system of "garden fork and spade. I had 2 hips replaced so no bending from the waist and only slight flexing of the knees.
I stick the fork in the ground next to where I want to plant. I have to stand over any hole I dig. No Leaning stretching or or awkward reaching,I would be flat on anything under me.
I plunge the spade in the ground ,hold onto the fork with left hand and the spade handle with the right and set my foot on the spade and push.
I have never planted anything at the required depth and yet things thrive.
The bench thing is a good idea. I had a garden cart but was cheap and didnt pay the extra 20 bucks for a stearing model. What a pain. I had to stand and position the kart in order to plant or weed a curved bed.
