Gardening
for the disabled - the enabled gardener
Introduction
to the disabled gardener
Just
because a person is disabled doesn’t mean
that gardening cannot be a worthwhile pastime.
Many enjoyable hours can be had if the appropriate
tools are used, providing endless hours of pleasure
and reward. Whatever your situation, take every
opportunity to get out from the confines of your
house and into your garden. You don’t have
to spend too much time at each session but just
do as much as you can so that your disability
does not become uncomfortable. Disabled gardening
and if you are a wheelchair user, gardening can
be achieved with the use of tools that are designed
for people in the sitting position. You don't
always have to have 'raised beds' to be a gardener.
It is also possible for people with back problems
and those paralysed on one side to enjoy gardening
from a non-bending position, especially helpful
tools for the disabled include the attachable
extension type, quick release tools, adjustable
cushioned handles, ratchet and pulley action and
the use of sturdy but lightweight components.
These lightweight tools are usually made from
aluminium alloy, carbon fibre or plastic and are
therefore easy to use, even if they have long
handles.Tools should be efficient, comfortable,
easy to use and long lasting. Here is a review
of a few of the types of disabled tools I have
found that may be useful and which may be of benefit
to those of you with specific disabilities.
Living
in the UK ? - If you live in the UK - you can
buy garden tools from my affiliate site as below
- brackets ( ) indicate number of garden tools
available per category - so there are plenty to
choose from :
Knives (20) Shredders (18) Grass trimmers
(102) Lawn mowers (81) Rakes (51) Axes (61) Bulb
planters (3) Edging irons (15) Loppers (57) Spades
(41) Hand Forks/Trowels (76) Lawn scarifiers (18)
Scythes& hooks (6) Tree pruners (9) Chain
saws (74) Hedge trimmers (9) Log splitters (3)
Secateurs (99) Watering hose & accessories
(50) Garden shears (5) Shredders (9) Spreaders
(3) all from Wilkinson Sword, Wolf, Spear &
Jackson and other top makes.
Getting
down to it (and up again)- disabled gardening
at grass roots level
For those of you who can not get down to the soil
level, there are tools specially manufactured
for people with disabilities with handles that
keep the hand and wrist in a neutral, stress-free
position and provides a firmer grip on the tool.
An example is the range of long wooden handled
tools. These are lightweight and have thicker
shafts than most for an easier grip.
Those
that are able to 'get down to gardening' but have
difficulty in getting up again would perhaps find
a kneeler/stool with raised handles a very effective
piece ofdisabled gardening equipment. These can
also be used as a stool when attending to raised
beds. Quite often a simple reacher stick can assist
with gripping plants and retrieving tools and
equipment.
Seated
gardeners - garden tools for disabled people
There
are a variety of multi-change tools that can be
used and adapted for wheelchair users. Snap-on,
twist or clip-on tool heads give that extra length
from the sitting position. Long-handled shears
especially for edging lawns are ideal, as are
the firm grip weed pullers like the WeedKey tool
below.
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Some
of the disabled gardening tools produced for those
working from a sitting position have an arm support,
which is recommended and gives the user better
balance and control. Standing long-range tools
are beneficial for those who can only work in
a standing position. These are manufactured in
lightweight materials as mentioned earlier. When
using some of these long shafted tools such as
rakes, hoes and brooms it is advisable to have
two add-on handles fitted which help to prevent
undue back strain and gives a wider field of work
without twisting the body. Long-handled disabled
gardening planters eliminate bending and are suitable
for planting bulbs and most bedding plants. Other
tools of the telescopic variety and can be used
up to five metres and is still manageable.
The
single-handed gardener - garden tools for special
needs
For
those who can only use one hand, there are 'cut
and hold' tools, which are available in various
sizes for such things as light pruning and dead
heading in difficult to reach areas, rose arches
and pergolas and at the back of borders. Some
even incorporate a swivel head which, are ideal
for pruning and collecting cuttings. There are
shears with adjustable blades that swivel through
180 degrees for disabled gardening next to walls
or fences and a two-wheeled wheelbarrow can be
very useful for a person who can only use one
hand.
Getting
a grip - specialist garden tools for people with
arthritis
Some
handles on forks, trowels and planters incorporate
a trigger grip, which is useful for those with
a disability like arthritis. They are shaped to
include a thumb pad on top and a trigger underneath
to give a better grip. Ratchet pruners are ideal
for those who cannot exert much pressure. Certain
types can produce up to ten times the force applied
and cut easily through thick, woody stems with
a ratchet action that just needs several gentle
squeezes of the handles. Thicker lightweight long
wooden handled tools are also easier to grip.
The
right disabled gardening tools
Spend
time choosing tools that will make your gardening
easier and don't be surprised if you develop an
extraordinary attachment to them for they will
become a joy to use when you have found the right
ones to suit your particular disability. Once
you have acquired a good set of tools, you may
find a tool bag that straps around the waist,
a tool holster or tool basket useful to keep smaller
tools close to you. Please browse through my shop
and select a garden tool for your needs. I am
adding to the range all the time so if you see
nothing at present, check back at a later date.
good
luck - and happy gardening
Steve
external
link to another disabled gardening site
patio
wheelchair friendly gardening
peta
easy grip tools
gardening
with arthritis
ergonomic
tools for the garden
dmoz
end
of information about disabled gardening
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