Gardening for the Handicapped

[bergere]

I figured that it would be a good idea to get ideas on how to garden with handicapps. This is from one of the web sites I was reading.

Hello Gardeners:
This article is on physically challenged gardening. Physically challenged can refer to many things like being in a wheelchair to having arthritis. I find every year that it seems like it gets harder to bend over for long periods of time because of arthritis in my back which is why I have decided to write this article. My hope is if you are on the verge of thinking that you can't garden any longer maybe this article will get you to thinking of ideas for you to meet the challenge.

Dirt Ideas:
For those folks who can't crawl around in a garden the answer is if you can't get to the dirt then bring the dirt to you. This can be done by a number of different ways, primarily raised beds and container gardening. If you are in a wheel chair either a raised bed or container garden could be an excellent choice.

If you have the ability to have a raised bed you need to determine how high you need the bed to be. The height and width should be something you can work comfortably. If you can only work the raised bed from one side the recommendation is it should be no wider than two feet. If the raised bed can be worked from both sides then it could be four feet wide. Remember this is only the recommendation and if you can't reach two feet the bed should be built to your requirements.

Another advantage of a raised bed is that it can be built with an edge wide enough to sit on. So in the event a gardener had a problem standing they could sit on the edge of the raised bed if it was built for the gardener to sit down and garden. If you don't have the ability to construct a raised bed you have some options. The first option is you can hire someone to do it for you. Or maybe you can get some volunteer labor to help. Some civic groups will provide volunteer labor if you provide the material.

www.gardengrapevine.com/HandicappedGardening.html

www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/books.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Container.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Considerations.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Pathways.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Raised.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Trellis.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/agrability/GardenWeb/Health.html
www.fse.missouri.edu/AgrAbility/GardenWeb/bigtoolshed.html

And
www.gardeningfordisabledtrust.org.uk/

This looks like it might be an interesting handicapped gardening forum.
forums.gardenweb.com/forums/accessible/

[bergere]

There does seem to be much more info on this in the UK than here. Am wondering why?

I have seen some light weight but sturdy black steel step down plant benches in cataloges that I think would be helpful to bring potted plants up where a handicapped person can care for them. That is one of the problems I am having now.
When I sit on the front porch for short periods of time.. I would not mind removing a wee weed or two while I am there. But most of my pots are on the ground and too heavy for my son to pick up.

Also thinking of some hay rack window boxes...measured to length for under my large windows. If I can find a place that does not charge an arm and a leg!

Was hoping for a couple of raised beds this year....but not sure even one will happen. The herbs would be much more happy there.

Also wanted to put down that landscape fabric on the paths I have now and then put more of the 1/4- sharp stone down over that. The sharp stone will pack down to a smooth level surface and the landscape fabric will stop the weeds from growing on the path. Have plenty of 1/4-...
Just need the Fabric and hubby or son the time to get it done...at least around the house.

Sure you all can come up with many more ideas.

[bbird]

I love the look of window boxes! That is a great idea, as later you could just stand and play with the flowers and think of all the butterflies that you would see hanging out at your windows. I bet your ds could make some window boxes too.

I might have to steal that idea, would give the boys something to build and the plants would be out of the way of the dogs and cats.

There is a house that has the neatest raised bed. Not really accessible for the handicap because its so large, but they have a raised bed that is probably 2 ft tall and it's in a kidney shape about as big as a kidney shaped swimming pool (great description huh? lol) They hae steps that let you enter the raised bed. It always looks so pretty, and clean. Kind of like a island of plants you can enter. I notice they have a few big dogs that are always laying in the yard, and it makes me think that they did that so the dogs could run around but would likely stay out of the garden area. My only drawback would be that I would have to have dirt hauled in to fill it up and that is a heck of a lot of dirt.

My mom had a rock wall built a couple years ago. The inside fo the rock wall is hollow and filled with dirt and she plants at the top of the rock wall. Looks very pretty now that things have grown and hang down the wall. Too spendy for me to do, but again...would make easy gardening and allow a person to play in the dirt without bending over.

Good topic, I think as everyone ages (not just being handicapped or injured) we will have to be creative on how we get our gardening done. Especially for people like us who feel so much better if we can have our hands in the dirt!

[bergere]

Maybe later this spring DS would be willing to try to make some window boxes. Right now he is so busy with stuff he doesn't have a whole lot of extra time.
But window boxes would add a prettiness to the place..that would make people smile.

For the raised beds..I would prefer real stone..but there really isn't stone here like the old Farm..we had huge granite boulders that hubby used for his Rock wall. Stone here looks to be spendy. So was thinking the fake stuff at Fred Meyers would not be too bad. And would be easier and faster to build. Would have it at easy sit height.
Could wire the bottom with heavy duty fine mesh wire to keep the gophers out.
Then put that land scape fabric down with the 1/2- down for the paths. Would be very little maintenance needed.

They have to clean up behind the ugly shed before I can even think of hoping one raised bed would happen. We too would have to move in dirt...but we have been here long enough to have some real good mulch..AKA old horse manure to use! As long as the old tractor keeps working it is do-able.

Will also be looking for good on line sources for good quality Handicapped tools.
And other things that would make it easier for many different kinds of handicaps.