| Many "helps" for older gardeners are just plain ole common sense -- which only becomes 'common' and very obvious when folks get old themselves, like hub & me! Here are a few ideas (I hope they're not TOO similar to some good ones that have already been mentioned) ::: -- BEDS: Raised beds are good but we prefer actual BOXES, built only high enough for the gardener in question to sit down comfortably on the edge, and a bit less wide than the distance the seated gardener can comfortably reach across.
Or for a box that can be walked around, a bit less than twice as wide as the distance the seated gardener can easily reach across.
This goes for a person who uses a wheelchair too, of course.
Remember, the gardener won't be "just reaching" -- he or she will be working a good deal with hands or tools -- thus the "bit less than" the distance he or she can easily reach across. ... ... -- PATHS: Should be as wide as possible (or affordable), should provide some traction even when wet, and as flat as possible especially for a person who uses a wheelchair, cane, or crutches.
Even for other folks, flat paths help prevent tripping. A decent width will allow for a good-sized sturdy garden cart to prevent endless trips back and forth or the need to hand-carry an awkward load of loose tools.
[Speaking of garden carts, those with large rear wheels such as 'bicycle' wheels seem to be much easier to pull or push than any other kind.]
Back to the paths: Especially for wheelchair users, hard surfaces are great :: professionally laid concrete; or large square or rectangular stepping stones with no spaces between (underneath, a layer of sand topped with heavy-duty weed-barrier fabric helps); or possibly that tiny very-hard-packed gravel often called "crush & run," often used for driveways.
Remeber that concrete should be brshed before it sets or have stones added to the top or some opther methid of improving traction especially when it gets wet.
BTW, bricks are good too BUT they can crack or heave unless laid/ mortared professionally & perfectly, which can be quite expensive.
For many older gardeners, a well-packed long-lasting *shredded mulch* path is fine.
A good-quality shredded cypress always did very well for us, with shredded cedar our second choice. Those woods last much longer than others we've tried, which reduces the frequency, expense, & bother of replenishment. ... ... -- TOOLS: Some of the newer ergonomically designed tools and those made of lighter materials than the old wood-handled ones are great.
Also, as opposed to the usual short tools like trowels and hand forks, a well-made child-sized rake/ hoe/ shovel set helps extend reach when gardening sitting down, as from a wheelchair, or if turning-bending-reaching in a seated position is limited or painful.
There are also some specialty tools designed to maximize a weak grip or limited hand-arm mobility but I think those are available primarily through mail-order specialty catalogs, not at the average garden center.
Gardeners who prefer their familiar wood-handled or older tools or who cannot afford the newer ones can at least add something to the handles to cushion & improve grip and also to help avoid splinters for people who hate gardening in gloves (like me).
Some garden places sell special cushioned wraps or slip-ons, but here's something else that works: the fairly inexpensive narrow foam tubes made to insulate water pipes.
The foam is easy to cut with ordinary scissors, is pre-slit lengthwise, and can be well-secured to the tool handle with a little duct tape at each end.
However, because this foam is really an indoor pipe wrapping, I'd suggest it only on tools always stored indoors after use. ... ... FOR MORE INFO: You might find printed materials free or low-cost at your local county extension service.
If you don't already know where your extension service is, try looking in the county government section in your phone book -- in our phone book, the municipal-county-state-federal government section is the 'blue pages.' ... ... You might also check your local library or a local or online bookstore -- or even a web search. Try topics like horticultural therapy, accessible gardening, barrier-free gardening, enabled gardening, lifelong gardening, or similar topics. ... ... The four books below -- which we have & can recommend -- are several years old, but other newer titles (or perhaps newer editions of these) should be available ::: Easy Lifelong Gardening: A Practical Guide for Seniors - John Pierce & Roland Barnsley (both writers are seniors themselves) - Vermont: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1993. [paperbound] Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants - Janeen R. Adil (who became interested in accessible gardening for her daughter with a spinal condition)- Bethesda MD: Woodbine House, 1994. [paperbound] The Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-free Gardens - Gene Rothert, HTR (a wheelchair user and at one time President, American Horticultural Therapy Association & Manager, Urban Horticulture/ Chicago Botanic Garden) - Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1994. [paperbound] The Able Gardener: Overcoming Barriers of Age & Physical Limitations - Kathleen Yeomans, RN - Vermont: Storey Commmunications, 1992. [hardbound] Sorry this is sooooo long but as I mentioned it's been a special interest of ours, and for reasons besides just our own age, lol. |
