Adaptive Equipment - June 26th, 2005 at 11:41 PM
The "best" equipment or enabling tool is whatever allows you to safely and effectively do the task you want to do in your garden. Although there are many ready-nade specialty tools available, especially through catalogs, sometimes a home-made version is more than adequate, so don't be afraid to use your ingenuity and experiment. Also, keep in mind that just because a specific tool is highly recommended, doesn't necessarily mean it is the correct tool for you.
For people seated in wheelchairs who want to garden either in traditional planting environments, raised beds, or containers, the biggest issue will always be that of REACH.
Therefore, specially designed long-handled tools are useful as are tools you've adapted yourself by adding the necessary handle. You'd probably be amazed at how simple it is to solve the situation of owning an unuseable hand trowel that is worthless from a wheelchair into a truly splendid implement by adding the handle from an old rake or hoe. The possibilities are as limitless as your creativity.
Of course, for children with disabilities, reach can also be a factor. However, because of their small stature, it can be best to cut down a larger tool to adapt it for their use.
One ingenious veteran gardener in NJ found a way to set his plants into holes by sliding them down a 5 ft length of drainage pipe, then uses a long-handled tamping tool to firm them up.
For seeds, you can tape a funnel to one end of a long 1" pvc pipe or bamboo. You can add seeds as you slide the open end along the furrows or into holes.
For people seated in wheelchairs who want to garden either in traditional planting environments, raised beds, or containers, the biggest issue will always be that of REACH.
Therefore, specially designed long-handled tools are useful as are tools you've adapted yourself by adding the necessary handle. You'd probably be amazed at how simple it is to solve the situation of owning an unuseable hand trowel that is worthless from a wheelchair into a truly splendid implement by adding the handle from an old rake or hoe. The possibilities are as limitless as your creativity.
Of course, for children with disabilities, reach can also be a factor. However, because of their small stature, it can be best to cut down a larger tool to adapt it for their use.
One ingenious veteran gardener in NJ found a way to set his plants into holes by sliding them down a 5 ft length of drainage pipe, then uses a long-handled tamping tool to firm them up.
For seeds, you can tape a funnel to one end of a long 1" pvc pipe or bamboo. You can add seeds as you slide the open end along the furrows or into holes.