Gardening is wonderfully therapeutic for some, but it can seem out of reach for others. Good design and practices can make gardening accessible for everyone.
“We all have challenges if we live long enough,” says Corinne Thomas-Kersting, an Oregon State University Extension Service master gardener and retired speech-language pathologist.
Corinne advocates for universal garden design—planning the landscape so anyone can access and enjoy it.
“It is my deeply held belief that we don’t need to label people as having a disability versus being ‘normal,’” she says. “Using universal design benefits us all.”
There are many ways to design a universal garden. Being aware of Americans with Disabilities Act measurements for pathways, using raised beds and appropriate tools are good starting points, but Corinne says additional efforts in design can open the space to all kinds of visitors and protect the gardener from potential injury at the same time.
For instance, a garden can be designed for a person with a visual impairment using water features, fragrant plants, bright colors and ornamental grasses that make a gentle sound as they blow in the wind.
“Think about texture—smooth, fuzzy, lacy, sharp,” Corinne says. “Variety and diversity in the garden and mindfulness in how it’s designed opens up the opportunity for more people to enjoy it.”
In her garden, Corinne converted steps into a ramp. Not only does it allow people in wheelchairs to traverse the path, but it makes it easier to move a wheelbarrow.
Stretching, resting and using the correct tools top the list of approaches to avoid injuries and mitigate everything from mobility limitations to medical challenges, such as arthritis. Set benches and chairs throughout the garden as places to rest.
Look for ergonomic tools with curved handles and indentations for fingers on smaller tools or modify yours by wrapping them with water pipe insulation, bicycle handles or tape used to wrap golf clubs. Handles on larger equipment should be long enough so you can keep your back straight.
Choose tools made from aluminum, which is lighter than steel. Sometimes, lightweight children’s tools do the job.
There’s much more you can do. Here are some tips to increase the ease of gardening:
- Use a kneeler with handles to support yourself as you stand up. Some versions can be turned over and used as seats.
- Sit on a bucket or seat made for gardening.
- Work in small increments. Biting off more than you can handle means more work and a greater chance of overdoing it.
- Build raised beds or tables out of wood, concrete blocks or thick pavers. Make them no more than 4 feet wide so you can easily reach into the middle. The height should be between 24 to 36 inches.
- Move the garden to you by planting in containers or window boxes. Containers are easier to weed and water than gardens in the ground. They also require less work to fill with soil than adding compost to in-ground gardens. Containers with wheels are easy to move.
- Use a light or expanding hose.
- Design wider paths with places to turn around.
For more information, refer to the Extension publication “Gardens are for Everyone” at http://tinyurl.com/9k2xpvju. Information courtesy of Oregon State University Extension Service.