Disabled Gardening

The worlds gone mad ...

I'll be hearing that "Edible gardening" is overly vegetable-ist next :(

 

As promised here's a photo of Annes tools compared to a standard hand trowel and fork, the red part of the handles extends from 13inches to 26inches (twist to lock/unlock), plus the size of the actual tool. Anne finds the tool on the right the most useful for weeding as she can with a swinging motion pull out weeds with the three pronged fork. It must be remembered that Anne is doing this from a sitting position facing directly on to the beds and as such this extra reach of the tool is needed as she will be considerably further away from the beds than a more mobile person could get to. She cannot use the standard longer handled gardening tools.

Steve...

 

Maybe it is overly vegetable-ist, I dont really know yet as I'm only just trying it out for this my first year, I expect you have at least tried spending the day in a wheelchair amongst the general public?

If so I guess you'll be used to the fact that once sat down in a wheelchair you'll be talked to as if your a five year old...with every sylable overly pronounced? Or the fact that your no longer at eye level to "normal" people and become isolated due to that?

Or that when shopping your completely ignored and people will barge past, reach over you, get in the way of you...getting much closer than would be deemed ignorant to normal people going about their business.

These and many more incidents are part of daily life for those in a wheelchair. My partner Anne has all her faculties, is university educated has run her own business but due to her health problems has become a second class citizen. Not because people do this deliberatly, but because people are not aware.

Disabled people for the most part want to carry on as "normal" and be as normal as possible.

Most supermarkets have wheelchairs for customer use, why not try one next time your shopping for an hour...see what its really like!

Steve...

 

I had to hire a disability scooter at Gardener's World Live and it was awful the way I was treated by most people although I must say I did have a laugh with a few. People would look at me and walk in front of me so I had to stop, in the end I just ran them over and they appologised. They were tutting and giving me looks to say " what are u doing on one of those". I don't think I would go to a big show like that again unless I could walk round. I know why the old people get grumpy on their scooters lol.

Some days my disability isn't too bad and I can bend and get up and down easily and others is more difficult. I have been stuck on the ground in the garden waiting for my hubby to come home from work because I couldn't get up lol.

I help with Hamworthy in Bloom and the ladies that I weed with are great and bring a chair with them so I can sit and rest. They also tell me not to do certain bits and leave them for them. I think there are a lot of disabled people gardening and as long as they know their limits I think it's great. I love pottering but I always end up overdoing it and end up in pain but that's my fault lol.

 

" I expect you have at least tried spending the day in a wheelchair amongst the general public?"

No of course I haven't. Any more than I suppose you have tried being dyslexic.

I always offer assistance to anyone disabled that I see in the street, and I would never dream of talking down to them. I can well imagine that is not universal though. But to think that a forum needs to not have the word "disabled" in it, because it is some sort of insult, strikes me as nuts when specifically having the word in the forum name would concentrate all the extremely useful information into one easy-to-find place, which would, I think, then be of great service - compared to dotting it all through the forums.

It obviously makes no different to me, currently,and I will endeavour to answer questions where I think I have some knowledge that may be useful wherever they are asked.

 

Come on now fellas, no arguments :thumb: How about letting those it affects most decide how it can be tackled ? Just a thought
Cheers...freddy.

 

I like 'Genteel Gardening'. I'm in the same camp as you Daisies, dodgy knees and sometimes painful back.

Raised beds don't half make it easier......provided you can get someone else to build them for you.:wink:

 

No I have not tried being dyslexic, actually I am slightly dyslexic. We could trade blows back and forth all day, my wheelchair comment was in direct response to your "vegetable-ist" comment...which I am trying.

Freddy, I dont think we are arguing, reasoned debate yes.

Its not an insult to be called disabled, thats not my point at all. Its a label that given a choice most disabled people I have met would rather leave behind as they would much rather be included with "normal" people, after all thats exactly what they are. My words on previous posts highlight how simply being in a wheelchair can isolate a person from that, and Little Miss road rage also noticed the same things recently. I'm all for a help area for the less mobile and support Daisees forum title of "Gardening made easier" or some such title, but I dont think it should include the label "Disabled" is all. A disabled person, being normal can quite easily start a topic in the gardening made easier forum, and just as easily they can if they wish say.."I'm disabled and find it difficult etc", just as Mr Twosheds has done opening this topic.

And long may that continue, I for one would not be so far advanced with my graden if it where not for forums like this or people like yourself who are willing to share their knowledge.

Steve...

 

As an elderly person with dodgy mobility due to arthritis I find many gardening activities difficult.
As has been said, there are probably lots of people on here who would be pleased
to share their ideas to make gardening easier so I suggest -
........"Ideas To Make Gardening Easier" :thumb:


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Some excellent postings there :thumb:

 

There are so many replies I would love to quote here, but if I may, I would just like to say that I chose this forum particularly because of its easy to read layout.

Each section has a definitive purpose and the navigation is quick and easy. It basically stood out from all the others on the net. Now I am not here to campaign for the rights of the disabled, but I for one wouldn't be offended if a section was put aside for tips and hints that enabled me to continue to enjoy my garden.

Due to being disabled I have found new and innovative ways of doing things that suit my condition. I am sure that this is the same for other members here. I came here just to pick up some tips and in time share my own.

From a navigational point of view the idea of a section devoted to "Making gardening easier" (if I may quote from a fellow member) would be a great asset to all. Mind you I am not here to upset anybody and apologies if I have.

Lastly, I love the idea of a fibre glass, soil look-a-like sheet to stop the weeds.:hehe:

Pete.

 

Jjordies input sounds about right. "Ideas To Make Gardening Easier"

 

For my pennies worth I very much like
"Ideas To Make gardening Easier"
The title covers all members regardless of gender, abilities, age, and probable those amongst us who are looking for the easy way out.
I think that covers all of us.
A very interesting thread that I hope will evolve into something useful for all our members and thanks to Mr twosheds for opening up a new avenue of information, hints and tips.
I for one am fully able but I must admit to being interested in telescopic tools!. I have a very small plot with some awkward angles that are difficult to get to without trampling over healthy plants.
So, you see we could all benefit from.......
"Ideas To Make gardening Easier"
Thanks for your patience
robert

 

I would like people who put "Disabled" into Google to find it easily - my expectation is that forum will become a resource to be proud of, but a shame if not found by the many who could benefit.

Can you put a by-line on forums? If so that could be used to attract Googlers - "Hints and tips for gardening for the disabled and less able" should hit most of Google's search words (perhaps you can explicitly META tag a forum too?, that would help further).